Extended Blog Post
This blog post is extra long. It's a make up for the week of Dawn when I didn't post, and for the week of Rocky Horror Picture Show. I’m just going to focus on RHPS though.
A few themes from RHPS really grabbed my attention and made me consider how well the movie connected with the class. The first is the “birth” of Rocky. Rocky was “created” by Frank; he was produced, not reproduced. A lot of attention is brought to his (re)production- it is celebrated, and the song immediately following his creation is about how Frank is going to “make” Rocky into a “man.” Rocky’s alternative reproduction makes an interesting comparison with other types of reproduction we have read about in the class- from out of womb brooders to assembly line production to cloning. Unlike the assembly line production of BNW and the cloning of NLMG, Rocky’s birth does not seem to be “for a purpose.” Instead, Rocky’s birth is simply a celebration of life and science, which is similar to reproduction in WOTEOT.
After thinking about the movie, I am still trying to figure out what each of the characters represent. Brad and Janet seem to represent normal, heteronormative society. They comply strictly with social norms, seem to be relatively happy with the life they are living, and do not recognize or know anything outside of what is considered normal. Frank seems to represent two things. First, Frank is the queer and often “closeted” side of society. This includes LGBT and other groups that are often looked down upon hated. Frank is satirically extreme and flamboyant; he is representing a group that is often stereotyped as such. He brings a simple message- give yourself over to absolute pleasure; however, his message is not a simple one to accept, if you are used to a heteronormative society. His appearance and his crazy actions are needed to get his point across. It also makes sense then that Frank’s castle is in the middle of a dark, stormy forest. He is an outcast of normal, safe society. Second, Frank is pleasure itself. Frank, or pleasure, and the desire for pleasure, creep up on Brad and Janet and “converts” them from “safe” and “normal” people to just people that enjoy life for what it is, by embracing what makes them happy and what satisfies them.
I guess Rocky would represent the young and developing youth in society. He is just born in the movie, and does not know much. Just like how sexual intercourse brings pleasure and leads to reproduction, Rocky is produced by Frank, who represents pleasure. Rocky is influenced by everyone in the movie. He is seduced by Janet, who represents the normal way of life in society. Normality and “fitting in” is tempting to youth in society. However, Rocky seems to have a natural allegiance to his creator, Frank. Rocky is conflicted, but he is somewhat loyal to his origin- an origin of pleasure, or of a LGBT identity. Rocky is tempted to turn to normal society, but he is still guided by his desire for pleasure, and his deep inner allegiance. Youth in society are tempted to be normal and fit in, but deep inside, they are often hiding their true feelings and queer identity.
A few themes from RHPS really grabbed my attention and made me consider how well the movie connected with the class. The first is the “birth” of Rocky. Rocky was “created” by Frank; he was produced, not reproduced. A lot of attention is brought to his (re)production- it is celebrated, and the song immediately following his creation is about how Frank is going to “make” Rocky into a “man.” Rocky’s alternative reproduction makes an interesting comparison with other types of reproduction we have read about in the class- from out of womb brooders to assembly line production to cloning. Unlike the assembly line production of BNW and the cloning of NLMG, Rocky’s birth does not seem to be “for a purpose.” Instead, Rocky’s birth is simply a celebration of life and science, which is similar to reproduction in WOTEOT.
After thinking about the movie, I am still trying to figure out what each of the characters represent. Brad and Janet seem to represent normal, heteronormative society. They comply strictly with social norms, seem to be relatively happy with the life they are living, and do not recognize or know anything outside of what is considered normal. Frank seems to represent two things. First, Frank is the queer and often “closeted” side of society. This includes LGBT and other groups that are often looked down upon hated. Frank is satirically extreme and flamboyant; he is representing a group that is often stereotyped as such. He brings a simple message- give yourself over to absolute pleasure; however, his message is not a simple one to accept, if you are used to a heteronormative society. His appearance and his crazy actions are needed to get his point across. It also makes sense then that Frank’s castle is in the middle of a dark, stormy forest. He is an outcast of normal, safe society. Second, Frank is pleasure itself. Frank, or pleasure, and the desire for pleasure, creep up on Brad and Janet and “converts” them from “safe” and “normal” people to just people that enjoy life for what it is, by embracing what makes them happy and what satisfies them.
I guess Rocky would represent the young and developing youth in society. He is just born in the movie, and does not know much. Just like how sexual intercourse brings pleasure and leads to reproduction, Rocky is produced by Frank, who represents pleasure. Rocky is influenced by everyone in the movie. He is seduced by Janet, who represents the normal way of life in society. Normality and “fitting in” is tempting to youth in society. However, Rocky seems to have a natural allegiance to his creator, Frank. Rocky is conflicted, but he is somewhat loyal to his origin- an origin of pleasure, or of a LGBT identity. Rocky is tempted to turn to normal society, but he is still guided by his desire for pleasure, and his deep inner allegiance. Youth in society are tempted to be normal and fit in, but deep inside, they are often hiding their true feelings and queer identity.