With the release of a teaser trailer for the new Fox adaptation comes a lot of applause and intrigue from a new generation unfamiliar with the culture hit "Rocky Horror."
While this event marks a lot of firsts in our history, there's still an underlying problem. Now, I believe this production of "Rocky Horror" will be amazing and I don't personally dislike the people cast for the show. Rather, I ask we be critical of what is really going on here. Maybe for the general population there is a large sense of excitement as Laverne Cox, star in "Orange is the New Black" plays the famous Dr. Frank N. Furter, but why don't we ask ourselves if this excitement is clouding us?
What does it mean for Laverne Cox to play such a role?
If you think I'm going to start a "this is a milestone for transpeople article," I'm not. The amount of nostalgia or excitement may be the reason why this problem is flying over everyone's head. Personally, I have a mixture of emotions about this particular casting. I ask we examine the contents of "Rocky Horror" when it comes to our culture, the language, and the roles within the film.
Hollywood has a number of problems when it comes to equality as well as diversity, so you'd think I'd be ecstatic that Laverne Cox would have another opportunity to play a role in popular media. For the most part, you'd be right, but what can we say when the role played by a transperson uses language that is typically transphobic in nature? When the central character is practically a caricature of what people think of when they think of the trans population. Are you beginning to see what I mean?
How about we truly dissect the outcome of the new "Rocky Horror." The argument can be made that this somehow empowers Laverne as a transperson, and I won't argue that it might. In fact, I also understand how this can be a role worth reclamation in some sort of fashion. What better way than to give Laverne the opportunity to play such a role?
The issue is, can we as a population understand that, or will the majority of people unaware of what it means to reclaim something interpret it as an OK to use harmful language? Let us not forget one of the lyrics in the show is "sweet transsexual from Transylvanian." Transsexual in itself isn't really a derogatory word, but I can't recall a time I know of when it wasn't said by someone outside the queer population in a shortened, harmful way.
Does anyone else fear having Laverne Cox play Dr. Frank N. Furter isn't simply to give a trans actor a job, but an attempt to typecast her in only trans roles?
I bet you are asking, "Isn't this what trans actors have been asking for all this time?" Well, no. I'm almost sure trans actors have asked to play trans roles generally given to cis actors who win Academy Awards, but don't do any work to support trans folk or talk about the lack of trans actors in Hollywood. Of course, this is assuming we see Dr. Frank N. Furter as a trans character. Better yet, how can we not in some way come to this conclusion? Isn't the plot of the film about extraterrestrial transsexuals from a far away planet? Maybe people see the film as sexually liberating or even to some degree empowering.
What is it saying about transpeople? Who's thinking bout that? Well, I know I am.
Extraterrestrial transsexuals, isn't that alienating? I'm not trying to make a pun, but prove a point.
I can't say I don't see the other side of things, because as a critical feminist thinker, I do. What is difficult is believing other people will see the issues with "Rocky Horror" when you bring nostalgia into the picture.
Yes, I can already picture someone telling me to get off my soapbox and enjoy the damn remake. Maybe they're right. I should step down. After all, the original film was made in a much more transphobic time. Oh, wait! Things haven't changed all that much in 2016, have they?
The floodgates will open upon the release of this new adaptation of a cult classic. People will cheer or boo, but the epic music numbers will be reborn. The question is: Will the idea that people other than transpeople can use certain words to describe themselves and reclaim their identity become prevalent? Will people see Laverne Cox as even more socially deviant because of Dr. Frank N. Furter? What does this adaptation really mean, not only for our culture, but for trans folks?
I often wonder if I'm overthinking this too much, but based on our culture, I will enthusiastically say I'm not.
If we can't critically think of the things we see in media, then we aren't doing anything to create awareness for ourselves. So maybe before you do the time warp again, critically view "The Rocky Horror Picture Show."
