Cultural depictions of Matthew Shepard

Cultural depictions of Matthew Shepard lists notable plays, films, novels, songs and other works created from the 1998 Matthew Shepard murder, investigation and resulting interest the case brought to hate crime issues. The best known is the stage play The Laramie Project, which was adapted into an HBO movie of the same name. Matthew Wayne Shepard was an openly gay university student who was brutally attacked near Laramie, Wyoming in October 1998 and left for dead by his attackers. Shepard later died from intracerebral hemorrhage and hypothermia. The incident was a major news story and this case brought national attention to hate crime legislation at the state and federal levels. His two assailants, Russell Arthur Henderson and Aaron James McKinney, were convicted of the crime and imprisoned. Henderson is serving two consecutive life sentences and McKinney is serving the same but without the possibility of parole.^[1]

People in the entertainment industry expressed outrage and responded in various ways to the attack. Ellen DeGeneres hosted Shepard's memorial services in Washington, D.C. Three narrative films were made about the Shepard story: The Laramie Project (based on the play of the same name), The Matthew Shepard Story and Anatomy of a Hate Crime. The Laramie Project and The Matthew Shepard Story both won numerous awards. The documentary film Laramie Inside Out focuses on the murder's effect on the Laramie community in the aftermath of the murder.

Stage play

The Laramie Project (2000)

Main article: The Laramie Project

The Laramie Project is a play by Moisés Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project about the reaction to the murder of Shepard. The play draws on hundreds of interviews conducted by the theatre company with inhabitants of the town, company members' own journal entries and published news reports.

Films

The Laramie Project (2002)

Main article: The Laramie Project (film)

The Laramie Project is a 2002 drama film written and directed by Moisés Kaufman, and based on his own play of the same name mentioned above. The film feature an all-star cast. It premiered at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival and was first broadcast on HBO on March 9, 2002. The film was praised by TV Guide's Matt Roush for its emotional range, its examination of homophobia, and the unique investigation at its center, saying that viewers would be "enlightened" by it.^[2]

The Matthew Shepard Story (2002)

The Matthew Shepard Story is a television movie about the trial of the killers of Matthew Shepard. It premiered on NBC on March 9, 2002, the same night as HBO's The Laramie Project. It starred Shane Meier as Matthew Shepard, and depicting his parents were Sam Waterston as Dennis Shepard and Stockard Channing as Judy Shepard. The film won a Primetime Emmy Award in 2002 in the category of Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie for Stockard Channing's performance as Judy Shepard. The film's cast also includes Kristen Thomson, Joseph Ziegler, Makyla Smith, Damien Atkins and Wendy Crewson. The ending featured Elton John's song about Shepard, "American Triangle", from his album Songs from the West Coast.

The film seeks to illuminate the decisions Judy and Dennis Shepard had to make as to whether the death penalty should be sought for their son's killer. Throughout the movie there are several flashbacks of Matthew's life. It also shows the experiences and hardships Matthew endured throughout his life from junior high through college, including his first kiss, his first boyfriend and a rape scene.

Matt Roush of TV Guide criticized the film as unoriginal, and NBC for scheduling it on the same night as HBO's The Laramie Project, which Roush felt was the far superior effort. Roush opined that although The Matthew Shepard Story had some merit, and that some might even be moved by it, its decision to open with a depiction of Shepard's murder was "grotesque", and that overall, it did not possess the depth of Project.^[2]

Laramie Inside Out (2004)

Laramie Inside Out is a 2004 documentary that explores the repercussions of Matthew Shepard's murder on the town of Laramie, Wyoming in the year following his death. Filmmaker Beverly Seckinger, who grew up in Laramie, was compelled to return to her hometown to see how this event had altered the site of her own closeted adolescence. Along the way she meets "God-hates-fags" Westboro Baptist Church Reverend Fred Phelps, who condemns Shepard and all homosexuals to a merciless eternity in hell. But Seckinger meets many more—students, teachers, parents, and clergy—wrestling with painful complexities, speaking out and taking action.

Dear Jesse (1998)

Dear Jesse is a 1998 documentary film about the U.S. Senator Jesse Helms (R-NC). It was released theatrically by Cowboy Pictures and on DVD by Sovereign Entertainment in 2007. Written and directed by Tim Kirkman, the film won numerous awards and was nominated for the Emmy Award for writing (nonfiction feature film) in 2000 after airing on the HBO/Cinemax "Reel Life" series. An interview with Matthew Shepard appears as a postscript in the first-person narrative at a political rally at Catawba College in Salisbury, NC, a small liberal arts school Shepard attended briefly in 1996.

Television

In the episode "A Private Life" of the HBO television series Six Feet Under, a gay man is brutally murdered in a way that mirrors Matthew Shepard's death.

Titus, a dark sitcom from Fox, had Christopher Titus mentioning the death of Shepard when dealing with Tommy, whose father was beaten by Titus' friends because of his homosexuality.

The Matthew Shepard incident and the subsequent introduction of the Matthew Shepard Act inspired a story arc which spanned several episodes in the first season of The West Wing.^[3]

Poems

Blood & Tears: Poems for Matthew Shepard (1999)

An anthology of poemteeds by seventy five poets in tribute to Matthew Shepard. The poets include John Ashbery, W. S. Merwin, and Harold Norse: Scott M. Gibson (1999). Blood & Tears: Poems for Matthew Shepard. New York, N.Y: Painted Leaf Press. ISBN 1-891305-15-8. 

"Dive" (2004)

Spoken word poet Andrea Gibson recorded her poem "Dive" about Matthew Shepard on her 2004 album Swarm.

Songs

"The Fence (Matthew Shepard's Song)" (2010)

Peter Katz wrote this song and it's featured on his 2010 album First of the Last to Know. In concert he performs it without a microphone usually in the middle of the audience.

"Above the Clouds" (2005)

Cyndi Lauper co-wrote her song "Above the Clouds" with Jeff Beck for her 2005 album The Body Acoustic in tribute to Matthew Shepard. Lauper's True Colors Tour 2007 for Human Rights provided information to fans, and a purple wristbands with the slogan "Erase Hate" from The Matthew Shepard Foundation.^[4] A dollar from every ticket sold was earmarked for the Human Rights Campaign, which advocates equal rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.^[5]

"American Triangle" (2001)

Elton John and Bernie Taupin wrote the song American Triangle which appeared on the 2001 album Songs from the West Coast with Rufus Wainwright on backing vocals. The song is dedicated to the memory of Matthew Shepard.

"And Sadness Will Sear" (2006)

Trivium recorded their song "And Sadness Will Sear" on their 2006 album The Crusade.^[6]

"The Ballad of Matthew Shepard" (2006)

Brian Houston recorded his song "The Ballad of Matthew Shepard" on his 2006 album Sugar Queen.

"Cheyenne" (2001)

Good Riddance recorded the song "Cheyenne" on their 2001 album Symptoms of a Leveling Spirit.

"Did You Just Say “Faggot”?" (2005)

Dangers recorded the song "Did You Just Say “Faggot”?" on their 2005 Self-Titled EP.

"Fear and Loathing in Laramie" (2003)

Protest the Hero recorded their song "Fear and Loathing in Laramie" on their 2003 album A Calculated Use of Sound.

"For Matthew Shepard" (2006)

Dorianne Laux wrote a poem "For Matthew Shepard" in her 2006 book Facts about the Moon.

"God Loves Everyone" (2002)

Ron Sexsmith wrote and performed the song "God Loves Everyone" on his 2002 album Cobblestone Runway. Reviewer Adrien Begrand said that "God Loves Everyone", "inspired by the brutal murder of gay Wyoming student Matthew Shepard, is a simple, acoustic song that is a wrenching plea for tolerance that sounds especially poignant these days." ^[7]

"Hail" (2003)

Hamell on Trial recorded the song "Hail" on his 2003 album Tough Love.

"Hinterland" (2006)

The Radiators From Space recorded their song "Hinterland" on their 2006 album Trouble Pilgrim

"Incinerate" (2006)

Elysia recorded their song "Incinerate" for their 2006 album Masochist.

"Into the Sun" (2000)

Jann Arden recorded the song "Into the Sun," listing Shepard among "decent men" who had been killed, for her 2000 album Blood Red Cherry. It was also released as a single. The album and single were charted hits in Canada.

"Jesus Is On The Wire" (2004)

Peter, Paul and Mary recorded the Thea Hopkins' song "Jesus Is On The Wire" for their 2004 album In These Times. The Matthew Shepard story-song is described by Peter, Paul and Mary as "... one of the most important songs we have sung in recent years."

"Laramie" (2001)

Amy Ray recorded her song "Laramie" on her 2001 album Stag about Shepard.

"Laramie" (2003)

Massachusetts hardcore punk band The Suicide File recorded their song "Laramie" on their 2003 album Twilight.

"Matthew" (2004)

Janis Ian wrote and performed the song 'Matthew' - about Matthew Shepard - for her 2004 album Billie's Bones.

"M. Shepard" (2004)

The New Brunswick, New Jersey post-hardcore band Thursday wrote and recorded a song about The Laramie Project production titled "M. Shepard" for their 2004 album War All the Time.

"Merman" (1998)

Tori Amos dedicated her song "Merman" to Shepard throughout her '98 tour.

"Poster Child" (2008)

A balladeer wrote and recorded the song "Poster Child", which appeared on their second album Where Are You, Bambi Woods?. The song and its impressive videoclip is a tribute to Matthew as well an indictment to hate crime.

"Sacrifice" (2001)

Best Revenge recorded the song "Sacrifice" on their 2001 album Starts With You.

"Scarecrow" (1999)

In 1999, Melissa Etheridge released the song "Scarecrow" on the album Breakdown. This ballad uses the image of a scarecrow because the bicyclist who found Shepard's body first thought that it was scarecrow lying in the fields. In her autobiography The Truth Is... she said that she and some of her friends, including Ellen DeGeneres organized a trip to the Denver hospital. Etheridge said that Shepherd's death made her especially sad since he looked like a gay friend of hers in high school which made her "cry uncontrollably."

"Scarecrow" (2002)

Kristian Hoffman wrote the song "Scarecrow" and performs it with Rufus Wainwright on the 2002 album &. The CD liner notes describe the song as evoking "the empty plains of Wyoming, the scene of the death of its subject, Matthew Shepard."

"Scarecrow" (2010)

American hardcore band, Stick To Your Guns recorded "Scarecrow" for their 2010 album, The Hope Division

"Sounds" (2002)

Performed by Suzzy & Maggie Roche, their song "'Sounds" appeared on their 2002 album Zero Church. The liner notes to the CD say that the lyrics to "Sounds" were written by the poet Karen Bashkirew in response to Matthew Shepard's murder.

"That Ain't Right" (2003)

Non-Prophets recorded "That Ain't Right", a song by Sage Francis, on their 2003 album Hope.^[8]

"Trouble the Waters" (1999)

Big Country recorded the song "Trouble the Waters" on their album Driving to Damascus, released in 1999. The song has a reference to Matthew Shepard's murder.

"What Matters" (2000)

Randi Driscoll recorded the song "What Matters" for as an "official benefit single" for the Matthew Shepard Foundation.^[9][10]

Albums

Lullaby (2002)

If Thousands recorded their ambient album 2002 Lullaby with a set of 10 songs on Matthew Shepard. Song titles include "he hade the smell of Wyoming sagebrush" and "we miss matt terribly".^[11][12]

Books

The Meaning of Matthew: My Son's Murder in Laramie, and a World Transformed (2010)

By Matthew's mother, Judy Shepard. Details Matthew's life from birth to death, the aftermath, trial, media coverage and Judy's work with the Matthew Shepard Foundation.

See also

• Matthew Shepard Foundation

References

1. ^ Cart, Julie (1999-11-05). "Killer of Gay Student Is Spared Death Penalty; Courts: Matthew Shepard's father says life in prison shows 'mercy to someone who refused to show any mercy.'". Los Angeles Times: p. A1. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Matt Roush. "The Lost Boy: Revisiting the Shepard Tragedy" TV Guide; March 9, 2002
3. ^ [1]
4. ^ Matthew Shepard Foundation: Home Page
5. ^ Lauper, Others Headline Gay Rights Tour
6. ^ Roadrunner Records Australia
7. ^ Cobblestone Runway reviewed by Adrien Begrand
8. ^ Pollach, Sam (2003-10-24). "Non-Prophets release new Hope to hip-hop community". Arts & Culture. Lewis & Clark College Pioneer Log. http://www.lclark.edu/org/piolog/arts2003oct24.html. Retrieved 2008-03-11. 
9. ^ Randi Driscoll "What Matters".
10. ^ "The story behind "What Matters"". http://home.earthlink.net/~randi7/whatmatters.html. Retrieved 2006-04-06. 
11. ^ Lullaby review by Dave Heaton
12. ^ If Thousands interview for QRD Interviewer asks " What’re the Matthew Shepherd samples & references on Lullaby about?"

Further reading

Chronological order of publication (oldest first)

• Loffreda, Beth (2000). Losing Matt Shepard: life and politics in the aftermath of anti-gay murder. New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN 0-231-11859-7. 

• Fondakowski, Leigh; Kaufman, Moises (2001). The Laramie project. New York: Vintage Books. ISBN 0-375-72719-1. 

• Garceau, Dee; Basso, Matthew; McCall, Laura (2001). Across the Great Divide: cultures of manhood in the American West. New York: Routledge. ISBN 0-415-92471-5. 

• Swigonski, Mary E. ;Mama, Robin S.;Ward, Kelly (2001). From Hate Crimes to Human Rights: A Tribute to Matthew Shepard. New York: Routledge. ISBN 1-56023-256-0. 

• Patrick Hinds; Romaine Patterson (2005). The Whole World Was Watching: Living in the Light of Matthew Shepard. Advocate Books. ISBN 1-55583-901-0. 

External links

• Songs for Matthew Shepard - List of 56 songs.
• The Laramie Project Official website
• Laramie Inside Out film website
• Family Values Ground 'The Matthew Shepard Story' By John Crook (Zap2it.com)
• The Tectonic Theater Project's website
• Dramatists Play Service, Inc.
• The University of Wyoming Rainbow Resource Center

• The Laramie Project at the Internet Movie Database
• The Matthew Shepard Story at the Internet Movie Database