https://padlet.com/vanessaweitner/xwf5d1kbgqdgzkx9 en-us 2023-06-27 15:19:41 UTC 2026-02-20 19:38:26 UTC hello@padlet.com vanessaweitner https://padlet.com/vanessaweitner/xwf5d1kbgqdgzkx9/wish/2634335487 2023-06-28 12:45:33 UTC https://padlet.com/vanessaweitner/xwf5d1kbgqdgzkx9/wish/2634335487 vanessaweitner https://padlet.com/vanessaweitner/xwf5d1kbgqdgzkx9/wish/2634340566 The film "Love, Simon" tells the story of Simon Spier, a gay high-school student who hasn't come out to his family or best friends. When Simon discovers an anonymous post on social media from a boy at his school who has to deal with the same struggles on coming out, he begins messaging via email with this boy who names himself "Blue". As Simon tries to uncover Blue's true identity, he must navigate his own fears of being outed and the social pressures of high school. Along the way, he also grapples with his relationships with his friends and family, including his close friendship with Leah and his growing feelings for Blue. All in all, "Love, Simon" is a heartwarming and touching coming-of-age story that explores the complexities of identity, love and acceptance.]]> 2023-06-28 12:53:49 UTC https://padlet.com/vanessaweitner/xwf5d1kbgqdgzkx9/wish/2634340566 vanessaweitner https://padlet.com/vanessaweitner/xwf5d1kbgqdgzkx9/wish/2634341707 2023-06-28 12:55:48 UTC https://padlet.com/vanessaweitner/xwf5d1kbgqdgzkx9/wish/2634341707 vanessaweitner https://padlet.com/vanessaweitner/xwf5d1kbgqdgzkx9/wish/2634344857 I decided to write something about Simon:
Simon Spier, one of the protagonists of the film, is a very smart and witty high-school student. He is well-liked by his peers and has a close friendship with a small group of friends. But on the other side, he is also hiding a secret: he is gay and has not coming out to anyone, including his family and best friends. Simon is also a relatable and empathetic character, as he struggles with the fears of being outed and the pressure to conform to societal norms. Despite this facts, he is a resilient and courageous individual who is determined to find love and acceptance. Simon's journey is not just about coming out, but also about discovering who he really is and what he wants in life. Through his experiences, Simon learns the importance of honesty, self-love and the power of true and close friendship :-)]]> 2023-06-28 13:01:13 UTC https://padlet.com/vanessaweitner/xwf5d1kbgqdgzkx9/wish/2634344857 vanessaweitner https://padlet.com/vanessaweitner/xwf5d1kbgqdgzkx9/wish/2634353765 There were a lot of memorable quotes that I really liked and I picked out three:

1) Blue: "Sometimes I feel like I'm stuck on a ferris wheel. One minute I'm on top of the world, the next I'm at rock bottom. Over and over, all day long. Because a lot about life is great. But nobody knows I'm gay."

2) Simon: "I've been thinking about why I haven't come out yet. Maybe it's because it doesn't seem fair that only gay people have to come out. Why is straight the default?"

3) Simon: "I'm supposed to be the one that decides when and where and how and who knows and how I get to say ist, that's supposed to be my thing!"]]> 2023-06-28 13:13:58 UTC https://padlet.com/vanessaweitner/xwf5d1kbgqdgzkx9/wish/2634353765 vanessaweitner https://padlet.com/vanessaweitner/xwf5d1kbgqdgzkx9/wish/2634368677 Besides the film "The hate u give", "Love, Simon" was the second favorite film of mine which we had to watch in this seminar. 
The main reason why I really enjoyed watching this film was the fact that the protagonist Simon was not portrayed as a stereotypical gay person as it is often the case in movies with homosexual characters. Another thing I liked was that the movie showed the reactions of his family and friends on his coming out: they were all understanding and supportive and didn't turn away from him. Very often when a homosexual person decides to come out, especially people who are very close to their hearts are outraged or react in a way that is not comfortable for the one who dare to take this step of coming out.]]> 2023-06-28 13:37:00 UTC https://padlet.com/vanessaweitner/xwf5d1kbgqdgzkx9/wish/2634368677 vanessaweitner https://padlet.com/vanessaweitner/xwf5d1kbgqdgzkx9/wish/2634434802 In my opinion the film "Love, Simon" is a very touching and important film that highlights the complexities of love, identity and acceptance. It portrays - in a really good way - the struggles many LGBTQIA+ people have to deal with everyday especially when they find the encouragement to coming out. All in all, the storyline is heartfelt and you are able to put yourself into Simon's situation and feelings because it is well-acted through the actor of Simon Spier who does a very good job in this acting role. 
What I also wanted to say is that I value how the film addresses the importance of themes like bullying, discrimination and the importance of self-love, acceptance and the power of supportive friendship. To come to an end, I'd say that "Love, Simon" is an inspiring film that can make a positive impact on our thinking and acting or behavior with regard to dealing with LGBTQIA+ people and looking at them with different eyes and accepting them for who they are.]]> 2023-06-28 15:25:12 UTC https://padlet.com/vanessaweitner/xwf5d1kbgqdgzkx9/wish/2634434802 vanessaweitner https://padlet.com/vanessaweitner/xwf5d1kbgqdgzkx9/wish/2634448834 The representation of LGBTQIA+ community in "Love, Simon" is done in a very positive and affirming way because Simon's experiences are shown in a relatable and emphatic way, pointing out the many challenges and struggles LGBTQIA+ people are confronted with when it comes to coming out and fighting for acceptance. Simon's journey is not just about coming out to other's, but also about learning how to accept and love himself for who he is.
Due to the fact that the movie has a diverse film cast (e.g. individuals who identify as gay, straight or bisexual) it is shown that sexuality has a spectrum and that there is not "the one and right" way to identify with. 
Another important fact to consider is the importance of allies with regard to supporting the LGBTQIA+ community. In that case, the film did not consider enough and could have been highlighted much more. But in conclusion, the movie shows the impact which homophobia and discrimination can have on individuals and their communities: even though the film is very positive it is not afraid of portraying the realities of discrimination f.e. in schools/social media and the work that still needs to be done in order to achieve equality for LGBTQIA+ communities. ]]> 2023-06-28 15:50:27 UTC https://padlet.com/vanessaweitner/xwf5d1kbgqdgzkx9/wish/2634448834