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Gay culture is rapidly becoming less isolated in the UK, and gay men are now starting to play a defining role in areas such as art, the media and politics. This is mainly because of Aids, which has led to much greater media coverage of gay issues and has also led to the deaths of a number of major gay artists. However, many ordinary gay men still feel that to be openly gay would be to endanger their career and their friendships.

The film 'Star Wars,' which was first launched in 1977, is now being relaunched following investment of $15 million in digital audio and visual improvements. The relaunch is mainly designed to test audience reactions before the planned release of a new 'Star Wars' trilogy, beginning with 'Episode One: The Balance of the Force' in May 1999. No 'Star Wars' films have been released since 1983, and there were fears that the concept could now be regarded as outdated.

With the New Homosexuality comes the New Homophobia. New Homophobia is much like the Old Homophobia - reliant on assumption, assertion, stereotype and assiduously cultivated ignorance - but shrewdly forgoes [...]

TAMMY WYNETTE dead. The Spice Girls failing to reach number one. George Michael in jail in LaLaLand for 'disorderly behaviour'. It's been a bad week for homosexuals. Oh, you didn't [...]

The novel 'Namedropper' is autobiographical in a way, according to novelist Emma Forrest. However, the novel's main character, Viva, tends to do things before Forrest did, rather than the other way round. The character Drew is not Richie, the lead singer from the Manic Street Preachers who disappeared, although Forrest used to spend a lot of time with the Manic Street Preachers. She became well known at an early age after writing a piece about Madonna for the Evening Standard when she was 14 and the Generation X column in the Sunday Times at 16.

The very harsh treatment of black, gay footballer Justin Fashanu, who recently committed suicide, highlights the extent to which homosexuality is still regarded as a taboo in football in the UK. It is acceptable for footballers to admire and even love each other for their sporting ability, but football as a whole has still failed to come to terms with homosexuality. Fashanu did not seem to fit in well with gay culture, and was also rejected by black culture because he did not seem to be an appropriate role model.

The outing of homosexuals is only justified in cases where public figures abuse their power to cause damage to other gay people. However, lesbians and gays are generally strongly in favour of the outing of homophobes, as homophobia is the cause of outing. Some observers dispute this view, claiming that there are never circumstances in which one gay person should rob another of the freedom to choose whether to be open about their sexuality. The confrontational techniques used by gay pressure group OutRage! cannot be justified.

Actress Minnie Driver is very different from other British actresses who have developed high-profile careers. She is not easily classified as being upper class, and has succeeded on her own merit. She has no national or cultural connections, and has experienced both success and failure. There is a strong sense that she is not concealing her real self, and she seems to subscribe to the view that position is something to be achieved, rather than something you are born to.

The film 'Wag the Dog' was conceived some time before the scandal involving President Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky, according to filmmaker Barry Levinson. However, it shows a president in very similar circumstances to those in which Clinton was involved in real life. He feels that the real scandal helped to boost publicity for the film, but that most critics have not really understood what the film is about. He points out that the film was not intended to be about a specific president. Instead, it portrays modern presidency.

Screenwriter Anthony Minghella first came to public attention with 'Truly, Madly Deeply,' the film he made for BBC2 which later became a cinema success. He then began working in the US, and has so far managed to deal competently with the values and attitudes of Hollywood film stars. His Italian background has given him a great deal of warmth, and he has also gained respect for his great artistry and writing skills. He has recently won an Oscar for his work on 'The English Patient.'

Many television documentaries which have been shown recently in the UK have not really dealt with serious issues, even though they have claimed to. In many cases, they are merely a metaphor for a wider social issue, and this gives them protection from being challenged directly. Documentary-makers like to give the impression that they are dealing with important social and cultural matters, but their main impact is to encourage viewers to be self-important and self-righteous.

Actress Kirstin Scott Thomas has until recently been regarded as interesting but second-rank. However, this has changed as a result of the film 'The English Patient.' She has rapidly gained star status, and this is reflected in the image of her which is now being conveyed. She has changed her appearance, and now only does interviews in the most prestigious locations. She now comes across as less domestic and more ambitious.

There has been shown to be strong demand among audiences for cinematic adaptations of classic novels by writers such as Thomas Hardy, Charlotte Bronte and Jane Austen. Costume dramas of this kind are popular because they good taste and clear cultural values, but adapting classic tales for the screen can bring serious problems. The demands of the cinema often force the writer's original intentions to be obliterated, and in many cases producers are simply looking to exploit a trend.

The National Enquirer, which is currently celebrating its 25th anniversary, is the most widely read tabloid weekly publication in the world. It runs extremely detailed stories about the private lives of many different celebrities, and exercises strict control over its employees and former employees in order to ensure that stories remain exclusive. Its tactics have been widely criticised by other newspapers, but it is now fighting back, pointing out that other newspapers are constantly trying to steal its stories.

The television programme 'The X Files,' which is now in its third series, has proved extremely popular. It deals with strange phenomena, bringing obscure obsessions into mainstream culture. It has won a BAFTA award for viewers' most popular show, and three books relating to the series have become best-sellers. Its success seems to be due to the fact that it deals with the immaterial, having a strong overtone of permanent insecurity which fits in very well with current social trends.

The most interesting films are those which treat important things with humour, according to actress Victoria Abril. She trained originally as a dancer, but found that acting came naturally to her, while dancing was very hard work. She greatly enjoys making films, but found it very hard to work in Hollywood, where the pace of film-making tends to be very slow.

Some observers feel that people associated with Superman become tainted with a curse. They cite the example of Jerry Siegel, the co-creator of Superman, who ended his life in poverty, of Superman actor Christopher Reeve, who was paralysed in a riding accident, and of Margot Kidder, who played Lois Lane and suffered a bad road accident. With hindsight, it is perhaps possible to see that there is some sort of pattern of disaster, but other observers believe that this is simply coincidence.

Hollywood films have traditionally been entertaining and had a happy ending. This is no longer the case, as shown with recent releases such as 'Leaving Las Vegas' and 'Seven.' There seems to be an end of era atmosphere as a new century approaches, and many films give a bleak view of the future. Formats which have been popular until recently are now in decline, and a younger generation of actors with more discerning tastes is emerging.

Writer Paul Burston has attracted some very negative reactions in the gay media, even though he is gay himself. His book 'What Are You Looking At?' is critical of a number of aspects of gay society, and this has caused offense and confusion among some gays. He believes that it is important to adopt a critical approach, not necessarily simply accepting that all things gay are good.

There have been many changes in Belfast over the last year as a result of the ceasefire. Checkpoints have been removed, Protestants and Catholics are mixing more freely and many tourists have been attracted. To local people used to the noise and activity associated with many years of tension, Belfast now seems very quiet. Belfast has become much more cosmopolitan, and the atmosphere is now very relaxed.

The collapse of Communism does not seem to have reduced the relevance of George Orwell's 'Animal Farm,' which has now been in print for 50 years. It now has a much wider relevance than the story of Stalinism, and is seen by many observers as a seminal text. People living under Communist regimes regarded it as a vital tool in their struggle for human dignity and liberty.

Michael Barrymore has become an extremely popular television presenter, having won the Top Entertainment Presenter prize twice at the British Comedy Awards and being able to demand very high fees for appearances. He retains this position despite constant newspaper allegations that he is either gay or bisexual. If it is finally confirmed that he is gay, many of his fans may not really care. In fact, they may simply see it as a reasonable explanation for his rather vulnerable, sentimental character.

Bob Kane's original Batman cartoon strips were inspired by the real life experiences of Bruce Wayne. This has caused considerable problems for Wayne, who for many years was trapped in the cartoon persona. He felt that he had to behave in the same way as Batman, and was particularly guilty about his homosexuality. As an orphan, he had a particular need to feel accepted, but this was very hard when he could not acknowledge his real emotions.

Some homosexuals in the UK seem to have been tricked by political propaganda into believing that the government will put an end to discrimination against them. In fact, Home Secretary Jack Straw has dropped a pre-election promise of anti-discrimination legislation on the basis of sexual orientation, and Prime Minister Tony Blair, although he has condemned homophobes, has done nothing positive to assist homosexuals. It is important that homosexuals are not blinded to these truths by the fact that a few MPs are openly homosexual.

Some homosexuals in the UK seem to regard it as their mission to put great pressure on others to admit their homosexuality. This is particularly the case with the group OutRage!. The activities of these homosexuals rob others of the opportunity to decide for themselves whether it is appropriate for them to come out. OutRage! attacks its targets with great ferocity, but seems to be tolerated even though it will not show tolerance. It is now time to acknowledge that forced outing of homosexuals is not appropriate.

Actress and stand-up comedienne Ellen DeGeneres seemed tense at her Coming Out Party, at which she appeared with her lesbian partner, actress Anne Heche. This could have been because she was aware that ABC had decided to drop her show. This could be interpreted as an indication that her decision to come out as a lesbian was misguided. She had become very well known in the US, and was regarded with affection by many people. She had perhaps been counting on this affection to balance out the media backlash against her when she came out.

Some people take a very calm, restrained approach when they decide to make it public that they are gay or lesbian. This was seen recently with Labour MP Angela Eagle, who believes that making her personal life public knowledge will allow her to get on with her work. Those who adopt this approach emphasize their stable personal life and the fact that they have been supported by their family and friends. Those who choose to come out in a less decisive and organized way can experience considerable difficulties.

The United Kingdom media is interested in writing about homosexuality if the person concerned is seeking to hide it, but is not interested in gays who are happy about being gay. The media presentation of the suicide of Gordon McMaster, a member of parliament for the Labor party in Scotland, illustrates aspects of the way gays are presented in the media. there are allegations of paedophlia, and reports that McMaster was labeled a carrier of Aids. The media is not able to deal with the reality that he could have been gay, they are more concerned to deal with reportedly false accusations.

Portrayals of gays in the United Kingdom media include an assertion in the Observer that many serial killers are gay. Meanwhile, Anne Atkins of the Sun claims that gay men have 17 times more likelihood of being child molesters than do heterosexual men. This ignores the different preferences of paedophiles, which is for children, and gay men, which is for other men. The hypocrisy of the UK media is illustrated by attitudes to a case of a 14-year-old boy being seduced by a 33-year-old woman, which is seen in positive terms, while 16 is seen as too young for the age of consent for gays, in case older men should try to seduce younger people.

The London Evening Standard newspaper seems to have a very contradictory attitude towards gay men and lesbians. It is very critical of some elements of gay culture, for example, but also produces a weekly gay section. Its editors seem to feel that it is acceptable to both highlight the gay lifestyle and revile the lives of gays. This newspaper cannot afford to maintain this ambiguous stance in a city where there is a very large gay population.

A recent High Court case involving homosexual singer Boy George highlights the fact that it is very difficult for straight men to admit to having had a homosexual encounter. The court ruled that Kirk Brandon, now a married father, had been involved in an encounter with Boy George, and thus dismissed Brandon's writ for malicious falsehood against Boy George. Some straight men are able to simply dismiss their past, while others find such revelations extremely embarrassing.

Experiencing humiliation can make a person stronger, according to actress Kim Novak. She was treated rather contemptuously by Harry Cohn of Columbia, who was instrumental in getting her career launched, but she feels that this eventually taught her to resist and made her stronger. She stopped acting when she began to feel stereotyped, and has since then devoted herself to caring for a wide range of animals. She is currently visiting the UK to promote Hitchcock's 'Vertigo.'

The recent publication of 'Anti-Gay,' a collection of essays by 'non-heterosexuals' who are opposed to standard gay culture, has attracted considerable controversy. It has highlighted a conflict between homosexuality and being gay, with homosexuality being an attraction to people of the same sex while being gay also involves an attraction to gay culture as a whole. This conflict comes at a time when society is gradually becoming more accepting of homosexuality.

Pop singer Madonna has always defined herself solely through blunt sexuality, despite having transformed herself many times and presented a wide range of images. She had recently been losing her original fan base, and had been involved in a number of unsuccessful projects. She began to become more middle-class and less controversial, and this was reinforced when she became pregnant. She is now looking to create a new image as a diva.

Aids has had a devastating impact on the first generation of gay men who were open about their sexual orientation and were proud of their way of life. Gay culture had started to emerge and be regarded positively, but the gay community was then hit by Aids and old prejudices returned with force. However, Aids also created unity among gay men, whose refusal to become victims drove them into the mainstream.

Marilyn Monroe, who would now be 70 years old, has become the focus for many people's fantasies. She has been moulded into many different characters, and seems to combine both innocence and sexual provocativeness. She has developed into a myth, and has become detached from the era in which she really lived. The mystery surrounding her death enhances this, ensuring that her legend remains permanently fresh.

Actor David Caruso was rejected by Hollywood agents for many years, but this changed after he appeared in 'NYPD Blue.' He is now promoting 'Kiss of Death,' where he features for the first time as a fully fledged star, and is attracting considerable interest. He is now angry that the limitations of the film industry made him waste many years trying to develop a screen persona which which he felt comfortable.

Actor Johnny Depp first gained high-profile film roles because of his good looks. However, this led people to see him simply as an object or product. He responded by linking with director John Waters and making his problem into a pop culture joke, as seen in the 1990 film 'Cry Baby.' Recent films have portrayed him in a number of different ways, and he now seems confused about his identity.

There have been many famous cases over the history of Hollywood film-making in which the last-minute stand-in actor has gone on to become extremely well known. This has applied to people including Bette Davis, Humphrey Bogart, Richard Gere and Whoopi Goldberg. Most recently, Christian Slater took over the leading role in 'Interview with the Vampire' following the death of River Phoenix.

Pop stars PJ and Duncan are only 19, but have already had five hit singles and one gold album. They have recently won a 'Best New Act' award, and are greatly enjoying being famous. They first came to public attention in the BBC children's programme 'Byker Grove,' and have retained the names of the characters they played in the programme. They have had to come to terms with public recognition, but their agent wants them to remain as down-to-earth as possible.

Actress Judy Garland, who died in tragic circumstances at the age of only 47, used to be a cult, but she is now regarded in a less positive light, and is seen at best as merely a curiosity. Her work is still respected, but the actress herself is now rarely discussed. She particularly appealed to gay men, and was herself married to two gay men. However, her songs are no longer included in even the most unprofessional drag act.

Ireland's lesbians and gays now enjoy more freedom than their counterparts in the UK. Legislation has been passed to establish a common age of consent of 17, to make it illegal to discriminate against lesbians and gays in employment and to ban discrimination against them when applying for medical insurance. The Roman Catholic Church in Ireland still holds very strong views on sexuality, contraception and homosexuality, but gays and lesbians are playing a stronger role and now feel confident about making demands.

Until recently, teenagers portrayed in films were strong, rebellious characters who lived life at the expense of everyone else. However, teenagers in the latest films seem to be too hopeless and helpless to rebel against society, and either want to just drop out completely or lead a very conventional life. The fastest growing sector of the US economy caters for those aged over 60, and this means that teenage heroes are being dropped in favour of more mature stars.

Northern Ireland's political problems have affected writers and artists, who welcome the 1994 ceasefire agreement by the Irish Republican Army (IRA). For many writers there is a feeling of hope though the problems of Northern Ireland are deep-rooted, and it is not easy to find solutions, so there are also reservations about the idea that the ceasefire will lead to a lasting peace. The Troubles in Northern Ireland have also had an impact on southern Ireland, and the changes after 1994 will affect Ireland as a whole.

Tom Arnold's body language testifies to his continued attraction for Roseanne Arnold, his ex-wife. The break-up was stormy and included an accusation against him for wife-beating. He is in the UK to promote True Lies, a motion picture in which he stars with Arnold Schwarznegger. His ex-wife claims to have 19 multiple selves, and he is not sure which self was involved in filing divorce proceedings. Both husband and wife had problematic upbringings which led an extra dimension to their relationship.

Beavis and Butthead are cartoon characters who are proud symbols for teenagers who do not wish to mature, and represent the aspirations and lifestyles of white, suburban. middle class males. Their ancestors are Bill and Ted, from Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, and Wayne and Garth from Wayne's World; media-literate and concerned with bodily functions such as hurling, rather than involvement with women. Despite the presentation of this type of person as a loser, it could well be the future of pop culture, and has appeal to men well over the age of puberty.

Jonathan Demme's Aids drama 'Philadelphia' is the first Hollywood Aids film to have been made with a large budget. It shows signs of certain constraints, as the film studio was taking care not to alienate a mainstream audience, but it also tries to create sympathy for the homosexual lead character, a lawyer who is dismissed for 'incompetence' but is in fact suffering from Aids. It provides a strong gay role model in the main character, but has not succeeded in fully balancing the demands of art, social awareness and finance.

Sylvester Stallone, Humphrey Bogart, Barbara Streisand are among the movie stars which have features which enable them to stand out of the crowd. Streisand's nose, Bogart's harelip twist, Stallone's stone face, Marilyn Monroe's quivering upper lip, Kirk Douglas' dimple, Clart Gable's sticky-out ears, all distinguish them from the rest. Details of various stars' natural features and mannerisms are discussed in greater depth.