Samcedes Episode Analysis: The Rocky Horror Glee Show 2.05 (Part 2)
by Akilah
Sam: Sam doesn't know what the role of the "creature" is and Quinn defines it for him. "He's a cute blond like you, you'll be perfect for the part," she says. Santana, who is a Cheerio like Quinn, adds "You better start working on those abs." Sam is surrounded by pretty popular girls who are flirting with him and focusing on his good looks. Sam, wanting to impress them, plays along. "Are you kidding me, you can cut glass with these babies," he says. He continues to brag, "I don't have a problem showing off my body."
In the locker room he works out with Finn and Artie and discusses his strick diet. He says that if he skips gym or eats a hotdog, he hates his self for a few days. Its an extremely unhealthy body image to have. Finn questions him on it and Sam responds that if he "wants to be popular and win Quinn for good," then he "has to look the part." This statement shows that Sam is playing a role. He doesn't quite know who he is yet and he's allowing other people to direct him in the play called high school. But the statement also shows that Sam is motivated by popularity, so much so that he's willing to push his body to extremes in order to meet unrealistic expectations of his body. He thinks everything is based on his looks, including his relationship with Quinn. Its quite sad.
Sam may have talked a good game about being comfortable showing off his body, but when its time to get on stage in his little shorts, he's completely insecure. Later, back in the locker room with Finn (his proxy) who is also having body image issues, he lifts the weight off Finn's shoulders both literally and figuratively (Finn was bench pressing, and Sam helped to remove the weight above him). Sam reveals that he also has body image issues. Finn tells Sam that he's perfect, but Sam doesn't agree. Sam then tells Finn to "just be you, and the sexy will flow through."
Why can't Sam take his own advice? Perhaps because he can only recieve validation from others. He's not his own man yet, he still looks to others for guidance and direction, and what people think matters way more than what he thinks. He looks at his perfect abdomin in the mirror and sees fat that clearly isn't there. Maybe this has to do with the symbolic dyslexia. There's a disconnect between what's acutally there, and what he percieves to be there.
Its clear in this episode that Sam is very insecure and is using his body to compensate for his lack of self confidence and sense of identity. Sam is operating on a shallow level. He's shallow with his self, focusing on the physical because he doesn't really know his true (deeper) self yet. He's shallow in his relationships, believeing that the main way to win Quinn is through his body and good looks. He's shallow with other people, not in a malicious way, but in the way that he can't see what's underneath the facade they present to him. Sam is unable to "read" or see beyond the surface of his self or other people. But he is only at the beginning of an incredible arc of character growth.
Samcedes: When Quinn tells Sam that he's cute like Rocky and Santana makes a comment about his abs, Mercedes, who is only sitting one seat away, shakes her head and scrunches up her face in disgust. The conversation is so shallow that its repulsive. Mercedes is anything but shallow, and can't stand to see it in other people. I think its safe to say that she didn't think much of Sam at this point. She probably just saw him as another pretty popular kid, lacking substance. But who can blame her? Sam is playing the role convincingly. Its no wonder she didn't take notice of him until he was mature enough to leave the popularity game behind.
I don't have much commentary about Mercedes and Sam playing Frank and Rocky because I haven't seen the movie. But I do know that Frank created Rocky to be his lover. Perhaps it suggest that Sam is Mercedes perfect man. Unfortunately, the two never interact in the ND production, at least not in what was shown.
Showing posts with label frank-n-furter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label frank-n-furter. Show all posts
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Samcedes Episode Analysis: 2.05 The Rocky Horror Glee Show (part 1)
Samcedes Episode Analysis: 2.05 The Rocky Horror Glee Show
by Akilah
Mercedes: "That's part of the arts," Mr. Schuester says. "Doing things people say you can't do, for the sake of self expression." Mercedes takes this message to heart.
The episode begins with Mr. Schuester assigning roles for each ND member to play in the school musical, "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." There are no auditions. Mr. Schue just dumps people into roles that he thinks will "fit" them. Artie plays the guy in the wheelchair. Sam is the sexy blond "creature," Rocky. And Schue wants Kurt to play Frank-n-Furter, the "sweet" transvestite. Kurt refuses. He doesn't want to be stereotyped.
The only people in the cast who pick their roles are Rachel and Finn. Rachel volunteers herself and Finn to play Janet and Brad. Mr. Schue immediately agrees, going along with the status-quo. There are five girls left in ND but only 2 roles. He tells the girls that they will have to double up on Magneta and Columbia. Rachel thinks its a fine idea, since she doesn't have to share her staring role with anyone. "It will preserve your voices," she says as she turns around and looks at Mercedes. Mercedes body language looks defeated and depressed. "I want to preserve you in a jar, in my basement," she says. Its a harsh statement but it shows Mercedes growing resentment towards Rachel and the leadership of ND. Mercedes is tired of being over looked.
The other girls laugh at Rachel's expense, especially Quinn, who is sitting between Mercedes and her new boyfriend Sam Evans. Her chair is much closer to Sam's then it is to Mercedes, symbolizing the distance growing in their relationship as she pursues her quest for popularity and power. Quinn's relationship with Sam is an extension of this.
When the role of Frank opens up, Mercedes jumps at the opportunity. She asks Mr. Schue, meekly, if she could have the part. Mercedes explains to him that shes always dreamed of having a starring role in a musical. She quotes "Rocky Horror," "don't just dream about it, be about it." So she takes initiative and opens herself up to possible rejection because she wants it so badly. Wanting the role of Maria did not come out of thin air in 3.03.
Mr. Schue is shocked that Mercedes wants that role. He doesn't say anything. Its clear that she is not his idea of Frank-N-Furter. He just doesn't see it. He doesn't reject her, nor does he give her the role. Its Sue Sylvester who tells Mercedes "yes."
When Mercedes gets on stage and plays Frank-N-Furter, she is full of confidence and strength. She's wearing a risque outfit and is comfortable with her body. "I'll look sexy in that outfit," she says when giving reasons for wanting to play Frank. And she does. Her security and confidence in her body is juxtaposed to Sam and Finn's insecurity. Sam talked a good game about wanting to show off his abs, but when it comes time to perform, he's more than uncomfortable. Its an interesting contrast that transgresses expectations. Sam is a muscular, blond male athlete with a socially deemed "perfect" body. Yet, he's insecure in it. Mercedes is an "overweight" black woman who is very comfortable in her own skin, and doesn't have a problem showing it off on stage.
Speaking of transgressive, Mercedes is playing a transvestite, an individual who appropriates and takes on attributes of the opposite gender in a socially unacceptable manner. By playing Frank, Mercedes transgresses the role of transvestite. She isn't male, she isn't white, and she isn't thin. She's not at all what Will Schuester imagined for this role. But he is the one who said that the arts are about "doing things people say you can't do for the sake of self expression." Well, Mercedes is doing it.
On the theme of transgressive, Mercedes' Frank is terrifying to Rachel and Finn's Janet and Brad. Mercedes is powerful, confident and strong. Rachel and Finn's Janet and Brad react in an exaggerated version of their real reactions to Mercedes and Santana's "Rive Deep, Mountain High" performance. Mercedes is frightening as Santana and Brittney stand behind her, flanked on either side of her, participating in the seduction and eventual submission of Rachel and Finn's Janet and Brad. Hello, TroubleTones!
Speaking of Santana and Mercedes, its clear in this episode that the two girls, who may not be friends yet, are much more comfortable around each other than before. When Dr. Carl comes to audition for the role of Eddy, he says he doesn't want to play Frank-N-Furter because he would feel uncomfortable grinding up on kids. Santana raises her hand and wears a cheeky expression. Mercedes rolls her eyes and doesn't hesitate to pull the other girl's hand down. Santana does not protest. I don't know any other character, besides Brittany, who could come into Santana's personal space and shut her down before she has an opportunity to insult someone or embarrass herself. They may not be friends, but they understand each other and have developed a mutual respect.
by Akilah
Mercedes: "That's part of the arts," Mr. Schuester says. "Doing things people say you can't do, for the sake of self expression." Mercedes takes this message to heart.
The episode begins with Mr. Schuester assigning roles for each ND member to play in the school musical, "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." There are no auditions. Mr. Schue just dumps people into roles that he thinks will "fit" them. Artie plays the guy in the wheelchair. Sam is the sexy blond "creature," Rocky. And Schue wants Kurt to play Frank-n-Furter, the "sweet" transvestite. Kurt refuses. He doesn't want to be stereotyped.
The only people in the cast who pick their roles are Rachel and Finn. Rachel volunteers herself and Finn to play Janet and Brad. Mr. Schue immediately agrees, going along with the status-quo. There are five girls left in ND but only 2 roles. He tells the girls that they will have to double up on Magneta and Columbia. Rachel thinks its a fine idea, since she doesn't have to share her staring role with anyone. "It will preserve your voices," she says as she turns around and looks at Mercedes. Mercedes body language looks defeated and depressed. "I want to preserve you in a jar, in my basement," she says. Its a harsh statement but it shows Mercedes growing resentment towards Rachel and the leadership of ND. Mercedes is tired of being over looked.
The other girls laugh at Rachel's expense, especially Quinn, who is sitting between Mercedes and her new boyfriend Sam Evans. Her chair is much closer to Sam's then it is to Mercedes, symbolizing the distance growing in their relationship as she pursues her quest for popularity and power. Quinn's relationship with Sam is an extension of this.
When the role of Frank opens up, Mercedes jumps at the opportunity. She asks Mr. Schue, meekly, if she could have the part. Mercedes explains to him that shes always dreamed of having a starring role in a musical. She quotes "Rocky Horror," "don't just dream about it, be about it." So she takes initiative and opens herself up to possible rejection because she wants it so badly. Wanting the role of Maria did not come out of thin air in 3.03.
Mr. Schue is shocked that Mercedes wants that role. He doesn't say anything. Its clear that she is not his idea of Frank-N-Furter. He just doesn't see it. He doesn't reject her, nor does he give her the role. Its Sue Sylvester who tells Mercedes "yes."
When Mercedes gets on stage and plays Frank-N-Furter, she is full of confidence and strength. She's wearing a risque outfit and is comfortable with her body. "I'll look sexy in that outfit," she says when giving reasons for wanting to play Frank. And she does. Her security and confidence in her body is juxtaposed to Sam and Finn's insecurity. Sam talked a good game about wanting to show off his abs, but when it comes time to perform, he's more than uncomfortable. Its an interesting contrast that transgresses expectations. Sam is a muscular, blond male athlete with a socially deemed "perfect" body. Yet, he's insecure in it. Mercedes is an "overweight" black woman who is very comfortable in her own skin, and doesn't have a problem showing it off on stage.
Speaking of transgressive, Mercedes is playing a transvestite, an individual who appropriates and takes on attributes of the opposite gender in a socially unacceptable manner. By playing Frank, Mercedes transgresses the role of transvestite. She isn't male, she isn't white, and she isn't thin. She's not at all what Will Schuester imagined for this role. But he is the one who said that the arts are about "doing things people say you can't do for the sake of self expression." Well, Mercedes is doing it.
On the theme of transgressive, Mercedes' Frank is terrifying to Rachel and Finn's Janet and Brad. Mercedes is powerful, confident and strong. Rachel and Finn's Janet and Brad react in an exaggerated version of their real reactions to Mercedes and Santana's "Rive Deep, Mountain High" performance. Mercedes is frightening as Santana and Brittney stand behind her, flanked on either side of her, participating in the seduction and eventual submission of Rachel and Finn's Janet and Brad. Hello, TroubleTones!
Speaking of Santana and Mercedes, its clear in this episode that the two girls, who may not be friends yet, are much more comfortable around each other than before. When Dr. Carl comes to audition for the role of Eddy, he says he doesn't want to play Frank-N-Furter because he would feel uncomfortable grinding up on kids. Santana raises her hand and wears a cheeky expression. Mercedes rolls her eyes and doesn't hesitate to pull the other girl's hand down. Santana does not protest. I don't know any other character, besides Brittany, who could come into Santana's personal space and shut her down before she has an opportunity to insult someone or embarrass herself. They may not be friends, but they understand each other and have developed a mutual respect.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)