6. Top Gun - Homosexuality
This one has been talked about a bit but always in a very joking way. The symbolism here may be humorous but there is actually quite a lot of validity to be found in the allegations that Top Gun has hidden themes of homosexuality. I'm fairly certain the filmmakers didn't intend for this one to be perceived the way it has been though. Top Gun is a movie so full of cheesy, macho 80s posturing that it really walks the line between being serious and comedic. The relationship between Maverick and Iceman is where the prominent focus of the symbolism lies. Maverick starts the film as a representation for a straight man who is on the verge, while Maverick and his associates are symbolic of the gay lifestyle. Maverick always has the gay lifestyle hanging over his head since he is in league with them in Top Gun flight school yet he always has an outlet for his straight tendencies with Terry McGillis' character, Blackwood. The main narrative drive of Top Gun concerns Maverick as he wavers through his alliance to his close friend, Goose, and the love interest Blackwood. The infamous "volleyball scene" really needs no introduction here. The scene shows Maverick leaning more towards the gay lifestyle. When Blackwood tries to reinforce his straight leanings he spurns her advances so he can go hang out with the flight cadets that he is becoming more and more attached to as the days go by. What happens next in his relationship with Blackwood is very important. The next time he sees her, after leaving her to see the cadets, she is dressed like a man. She is now desperate to do all that she can in order to make him embrace his heterosexuality over his homosexuality. Blackwood has decided that she will use subterfuge to her advantage in the situation. Yet, once again, her efforts go unfulfilled because Maverick is called in for an important dogfight with the Russians at the film's finale. This is Maverick embracing the gay lifestyle. He is no longer interested in Blackwood, which can be evidenced in the film's final lines between Iceman and Maverick. They defeat the Russians and as they're celebrating this line is uttered by Iceman to Maverick "you can be my wingman anytime". In deciphering pilot jargon, Iceman is basically telling Maverick that he "can ride his tail anytime". I think nothing more needs to be said here.