Q: How have representations of LBGTQ characters on screen changed over time in coming of age films, shown with Call me by your Name [dir. Guadagnino, 2018], Rebel Without a Cause [dir. Ray,1955]

The film ‘Call me by your name’ directed by Luca Guadagnino along with the film ‘Rebel without a cause’ directed by Nicholas Ray are both known to be American coming of age films with references to the LGBTQ+ community. I’ve chosen these films as they’re both from different times in history where laws and societal ideals were significantly different, Call me by your name being filmed in 2018 where Queer people are more accepted and less demonized than in 1955, when Rebel without a cause was filmed. Guadagnino’s film is set in 1980’s Italy and follows a boy, Elio, and how he slowly falls in love with his father’s assistant Oliver throughout the summer and how he comes to terms with his sexuality despite how they’re relationship is unlikely to last. Ray’s film, however, follows a boy named Jim, a new kid in town who tries to avoid trouble to no avail after being challenged to a drag race by the local tough, Buzz, leading Jim to befriend Judy and the questionable Plato, two other troubled teens, which causes things to escalate, eventually leading to Plato’s death.