Caricatures of homosexuality in legally blonde...

[Mealz1042]

Posted: 5/3/08 at 2:12pm

I was suprised that there was not more backlash from the gay community for the overt stereotypes in this show. While I did not find it offensive, I assumed people would see this as a set back to the progression of homosexual characters viewed as equal on the stage, yet I haven't heard of any people being upset about this.

Do you think its because the theatre world has come far enough in showing homosexuality as equal (for instance shows like rent, the color purple, spring awakening) that when it's paradied in such a way, people don't take offense?

Or am I wrong and just am missing something?

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 5/3/08 at 2:16pm

Are you taking a class in backlash or something?

[blaxx]

Posted: 5/3/08 at 2:17pm

Dude, it's LEGALLY BLONDE - are you an activist?

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 5/3/08 at 2:19pm

And the director is gay...

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 5/3/08 at 2:19pm

While I am usually the first to stand up when homophobia or "sketches of homophobia" pop up in the media, I don't think that's the case here. Jerry Mitchell would never allow his lifestyle to be treated without respect. Its a campy show and we aren't above camp. I think its a funny song/scene. The whole show is has a VERY gay slant to it anyways. I mean that much pink? Only a gay could have lead that!

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 5/3/08 at 2:27pm

For some strange reason, gays/homosexuals actually HAVE a sense-of-humor and actually 'get' the joke.

Guess you missed the memo.

Sorry for the oversight.


"... is he gay OR European?!"


Updated On: 5/3/08 at 02:27 PM

[Mealz1042]

Posted: 5/3/08 at 2:39pm

woah okay there, i was not saying i found it offensive. I did not. And I'm glad others didn't. I was just suprised. But that's not bad. I guess what I was getting at is what factors into whether people think something is funny or offensive? I would say it has to do with the intention but sometimes intention isn't the only thing (I.E. when people say "that's so gay" and then claim they didn't intend it to be offensive, people still get offended by that) or maybe it's who said it etc. I just wanted to know what you guys thought.

and prs, I'm taking writing class with the study topic of "heteronormativity in popular culture" and have been struggling a bit on my 10 page research paper due monday. But before anyone accuses me of plagerism or anything ridiculous like that i was just looking for a) inspiration b) by asking these questions it's helpful for me to get my thoughts out c)before using anything anyone says i would PM you for permission and ask how you woud like to be sited (i.e. an anonymous user on broadwayworld.com etc) and d) i think these are topics that people here may be interested so this isn't just about personal interest.

thanks.

[blaxx]

Posted: 5/3/08 at 2:43pm

But before anyone accuses me of plagerism or anything ridiculous like that i was just looking for a) inspiration b) by asking these questions it's helpful for me to get my thoughts out c)before using anything anyone says i would PM you for permission and ask how you woud like to be sited (i.e. an anonymous user on broadwayworld.com etc) and d) i think these are topics that people here may be interested so this isn't just about personal interest.

You could have started there, you were smelling of sock.

[Mealz1042]

Posted: 5/3/08 at 2:45pm

sorry?

[i*heart*fame]

Posted: 5/3/08 at 3:08pm

He means you were beginning to seem like a sock puppet.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 5/3/08 at 3:22pm

There was an article (or a post on this board, I can't recall) back around the time the show opened that talked about how some of the older people involved with the show thought the song was hilarious, while some of the younger people had issues with it.

[jpbran]

Posted: 5/3/08 at 3:26pm

I think Legally Blonde would have to work a LOT harder than that to top The Producers (pun NOT intended) as far as offensive caricatures are concerned.

[hermionejuliet]

Posted: 5/3/08 at 3:40pm

I'm not particularly familiar with Legally Blonde. The MTV version couldn't even keep my interest for free - which is sad.
But my concern is that the show apparently speaks to many young people, so I would think that a stereotypical/cariature wouldn't be particularly benefitial in this type of show. The Producers is a very adult show, and therefore I would think that this might be a bit more appropriate in a show that is equally offensive to just about everyone.

For the record, I pretty much disliked everything about The Producers and found it pretty offensive in general. However, that type humor fits in with the rest of the show.

[winter_sky]

Posted: 5/3/08 at 3:52pm

I actually was kind of offended by the Hanschen/Ernst scenes in SA. The Melchior/Wendla scenes are played as romantic and serious but the gay scene between Hanschen and Ernst is played for laughs. I would be more offended if they were respectful of the rest of their characters but most of the "issues" are trotted out and then pushed to the background. So whatever.

[hermionejuliet]

Posted: 5/3/08 at 4:04pm

I agree on Spring Awakening --- I think that this could be very actor based decision though. I had a chance to see Matt Doyle as Hanschen a couple of months ago, and I didn't find it AS offensive or funny. I thought it was just right.

I also think once an audience is used to seeing a scene for laughs that they will continue to laugh even if it is played a bit differently. And in the case of Spring Awakening, people are so ready for the "dirty" parts that they will often react to perfectly innocent lines by laughing because they interpret it differently.

[TomMonster]

Posted: 5/3/08 at 4:39pm

I think it's more offensive to Europeans...

[Mealz1042]

Posted: 5/3/08 at 4:40pm

I found this article which i think is quite pertinant.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/17/theater/17ishe.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=anti-gay%20slurs&st=cse&oref=slogin

[TooDarnHot]

Posted: 5/3/08 at 4:41pm

you were offended by the SPRING AWAKENING scenes?

clearly, you didn't get a chance to check out HOMO The Musical. it premiered in Houston, Texas about 15 years ago. I had the unfortunate pleasure of seeing it... it was so offensive that I left at Intermission.

[dalefully]

Posted: 5/3/08 at 4:47pm

I don't know, I was pretty offended by it, but really, there are so many more examples of blatant homophobia in mainstream media that this wasn't exactly my top priority to worry about, plus I already hated the show so it's not like it really changed my perception on it.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 5/3/08 at 4:47pm

Oh please! Im with Brody, gays have a great sense of humor; in fact a wicked one (Mommie Dearest anyone?). And since when was it Legally Blonde's job to teach tolerance to tween? It's a musical comedy directed and choreographed by a openly gay man with a large gay cast, including Michael Rupert, that would not allow themselves to mock their own lifestyle. Broadway, which features perhaps the largest perfcent of gay artists in the industry, owes so much to the contribution of gays (including those involved with Legally Blonde). If the show in any way was set out to mock gays, which its not, GLAAD would be on them faster than you could say European.

[uncageg]

Posted: 5/3/08 at 4:55pm

I will say that I was put off a bit that the gay scene in Spring Awakening was played for laughs.

[TooDarnHot]

Posted: 5/3/08 at 5:19pm

I'm not seeing it. how/why are you all offended by the homosexuality in SA?

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 5/3/08 at 5:33pm

You may be suprised to knoiw that there are more straight men in LEGALLY BLONDE than gay, but that is beside the point.
It's a comedy and therefore can get away with a lot.

Matt Risch, who plays one of the gay characters, told me a story about when he was collectingr for BCEFA after the show one night, and a young man aboiut 14 came up to him and asked Matt if he was gay in real life. When Matt said yes, young guy said, "that is so cool" and shook his hand.


Without hesitation Matt said, "yes I am"

[uncageg]

Posted: 5/3/08 at 5:35pm

I was not offended by it, it was the way the scene was played for laughs that I was not crazy about.

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 5/3/08 at 5:44pm

Updated On: 5/6/09 at 05:44 PM