Looking for Langston strives to obtain an image of the past in order to bring these feelings and experiences into the present and "make visible" of it. The idea of bringing these feelings and experiences forward is Langston Hughes's way of embracing the past and making use of this time after it had been hidden for so long because of the homophobia and oppression faced by all men within the black communities. Author Monique Wittig of The Straight Mind demonstrates the effect that this oppression has on the gay community, "The discourses which particularly oppress all of us, lesbians, women, and.any society, is heterosexuality are those discourses which take for granted that what founds society, any society, is hetereosexuality.These discourses deny [homosexuals] every possibility of creating [their] own category" (53). .
Homosexuality and racism, for instance, are issues that echo throughout the length of the film. These themes are in reference to the issues of repression of the other. There are scenes that represent Hughes's funeral that are chock full of metaphors with the use of flowers and candles that represent the death and mourning of pain and hardships in life. These scenes, however, are accompanied with the nightlife of the Harlem Renaissance where jazz music is played and men are drinking and having a good time. And the scenes like these are shown as still-photos which are portrayed as timeless photographs of this idealized lifestyle within the nightlife and homosexual culture. These images are likely Julien's way of paying homage to the homosexual culture and as a way of defending this choice of living that would be difficult for many people to understand. Looking for Langston provides these experiences of Hughes's past with the use of old footage and recordings of Hughes while integrated with scripted scenes that director Julien blends together all into one non-linear narrative.
