Rocky Horror & Tropes (good and bad)- Matt Hurley

 Rocky Horror is the first film this semester that I actually have previous experience with.  I've seen this movie more times than I can count and have even gone to a few midnight screenings complete with props and actors.  Upon this viewing though I found that I see the film in a different light after having been in this class.  For some reason I never realized just how many tropes, queer and it utilizes.  I mean I obviously noticed the "couple gets a flat and has to stay the night in a creepy house" but I was blind to so many others.  For example the character Rocky is a fun reversal of the usually straight female victims of the "born sexy yesterday" trope.  Another example is Riff Raff being the stereotypical creepy butler who answers the door.  There's also the narrator who is nothing like the serious type we come to expect, but in fact a fun goofy guy who joins the subjects of his observation in dance.  Unfortunately though, there are also some slightly more sinister tropes.  They really only apply to Frank N. Furter who's character arc includes the predatory queer person and "bury your gays" tropes.  Frank really exemplifies these tropes by A) being a murderous bisexual transvestite B) sneaks into Brad & Janet's rooms and tricks them into being intimate, and C) by being murdered along with his lover Rocky at the end of the musical.  While I truly love this film I don't really love that these same tragic ending stories kept being told about queer characters.  I personally give Rocky Horror a pass for this because the entire thing is meant to be a trope filled campy trip of a film, but I still wish Hollywood would give "Bury your gays" and the "queer predator" tropes a break.  

Comments

  1. Matt HMarch 12, 2021 at 2:22 PM

    After our class discussion I really want to elaborate on the concept of safe spaces. I'm glad to learn that rocky horror midnight screenings have always been a chance for queer people to meet together and have fun without fear of judgement for decades. I think it really mirrors how in the film the mansion/castle/lab is a place for everyone, especially Brad and Janet, to explore themselves and "give in to pleasure". I think that the one article we read is kind of right, a rocky horror screening is a bit like a religious event. Both can lead to a sense of community for folks. I'm glad that many of our classmates could see that after watching the movie!

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  2. Matt HMarch 12, 2021 at 2:25 PM

    I also want to mention something that isn't really connected to my follow up. I really enjoyed the costume choices in this film, especially the chorus. I loved how all of them were the same regardless of gender, but still had unique touches to each of their costumes to make each chorus unique!

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