Comparative Commentaries to Go: Homophobia
The following Comparative Commentary to Go is submitted to the website by David Preece. David is an intelligent, experienced, and engaged teacher who works at the International School of Phnom Penh in Cambodia. Both texts are on the subject of homophobia, a topic that is (quite rightly) likely to interest English Language and Literature students. The first text – Text 1 – is a cartoon, written by Pulitzer Prize winning Kevin Siers. The second text – Text 2 – is the lyrics of the song ‘Homophobia’ by the British group Chumbawamba (and readily available with music on the Internet).
David may acknowledge that it could be challenging for students to write with balance in this comparative commentary. Nevertheless, the combination of genres and the germane, contemporaneous subject matter make this an excellent comparative commentary for practice purposes.
David, thank you.
Homophobia - song lyrics (1994), by Chumbawumba
Text 2
Homophobia
Up behind the bus stop in the toilets of the street
There are traces of a killing on the floor beneath your feet
Mixed in with the piss and beer are bloodstains on the floor
From the boy who got his head kicked in a night or two before
(Chorus) No! Homophobia--the worst disease
Love how you want to love and love who you please
No! Homophobia--the worst disease
Love how you want to love and love who you please
In the pubs and clubs and burger bars, breeding pens for pigs
Alcohol, testosterone, and ignorance and fists
Packs of hunting animals roam across the town
And they find an easy victim and they punch him to the ground
No! Homophobia--the worst disease
Love how you want to love and love who you please
No! Homophobia--the worst disease
Love how you want to love and love who you please
Do, do, do, do (Repeat)
The siren of the ambulance, the deadpan of the cops
Chalk to mark the outline where the boy first dropped
Beware the holy trinity: church and state and law
For every death the virus gets more deadly than before
No! Homophobia--the worst disease
Love how you want to love and love who you please
No! Homophobia--the worst disease
Love how you want to love and love who you please
By Chumbawamba
(Song lyrics, 1994)