Outsiders in the films of Gus Van Sant : A Thematic Auteur Study

In this paper I have examined how the structure of society affects the characters in the movies of Gus Van Sant, and what there is that characterizes Van Sant as an auteur. I have also looked at the thematics and how the characters develop throughout from his first movie Mala Noche (US 1985) until one of his latest Milk (US 2008). Van Sant is open with his Homosexuality and those perspectives are of major importance for this study. He presents how his characters try to live a normal life in a society that is not made for them. I have chosen to analyze five different movies. I discuss more closely about problems and how the characters develop when they are not in an outsider position to the society. It is the homosexual perspective that makes Van Sant an auteur. I will also use queer theory because Van Sant movies show homosexuals are struggling against society and are fighting to find an Acceptance of their own identities