vol. 2, no. 1

Fall Semester, 2021

This issue contains analyses of Head Over Heels (2015/2018), Mercedes Sosa (1935-2009), Luca (2021), Spring Awakening (2006), The Silence of the Lambs (1991), The 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee (2005), Evita (1976/1978), and I May Destroy You (2020).

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Head Over Heels and Its Revolutionary Intersectionality of Sexuality, Gender, Race, and Weight

Anjalie-Nicole Coates

Abstract
Abstract: I believe that Head Over Heels is the Broadway musical we have all been sleeping on. The show itself ran for less than a year with 164 performances, and when I tell people I had the joy of playing the role of Mopsa my junior year of high school, people simply look at me quizzically. Especially in my small town, no one under-stands how important Head Over Heels is for covering several LGBT issues while providing a variety of body types and racial representation in its original Broadway casting. In the following analysis, I will be mainly focusing on gender studies and queer theory and referencing articles by Jackson McHenry, Brennan Carley, Mikaela Warner, and Ryan Donovan, in order to argue that in comparison to other Broadway shows, Head Over Heels is currently the most ideal representation of intersectional identities onstage due to its diverse cast, celebration of the LGBT community through the spirit of Zelmaneship, and healthy portrayal of body positivity.

Mercedes Sosa, the Voice of Latin America: Revolutionary Activism vs. Zionism

Nalini Hasenbalg Moreno

Abstract
Abstract: In this essay I will explain the political impact of one of the most important artists of Latin America of the 1970s, Mercedes Sosa. She didn’t consider herself a political factor, but she was, and I will explain how and why through articles by Elena De Costa and Tamara Spira. I will also add some context using the biography of Mercedes Sosa by Rodolfo Braceli. The goal of this essay is to explain why I consider an artist’s political activism important and to do that I will explain her importance not only in Latin America but also in Israel.

The Progressive Nature of Luca: Pixar's Anti-Establishment Tendencies and Queer Media in the 21st Century

Stefany Delacio

Abstract
Abstract: Luca is a film that I never thought would leave a lasting impact on me. The Pixar film had initially caught my attention because the main character Luca shared a remarkable resemblance to one of my close friends. But that soon became a rather irrelevant aspect of my feelings about this movie as I and many people across the globe were captivated by what seemed to be a very obviously queer story. Imme-diately after the film’s release in the summer of 2021, debates were sparked over the queer nature of this film. Using Ginger White’s analysis of queer tropes found in the film as well as Judith Halberstam’s thoughts on Pixar’s transcript of anarchist movies, I not only answer the simple question of whether Luca actually is queer coded, but I dive into the other progressive aspects of the movie that have yet to be acknowledged.

Spring Awakening: The Value of Sex Education, Healthy Adolescent Sexuality, and Overshadowed Mental Illness

Ashlinn Blevins

Abstract
Abstract: To obtain a more complicated view of Spring Awakening, I have looked through the lens of Shawn Marie-Garrett, a discontented reviewer who claimed Spring Awakening was nothing more than a vehicle to perpetuate the censorship of rape. Benjamin Walton, who took a psychoanalytical approach, was right in his assessment that mental illness is a strong component of this show. Where he gets it wrong is by focusing only on one of the male leads and is completely ignorant of the mental health of Wendla, the female lead. Elizabeth Harelik gives insight through a gender and sexuality view and sees the “right to sex education” aspect of Spring Awakening. She even mentions the complicated gender roles portrayed. The female characters deserve more dialogue and opportunities to let their thoughts be heard. Wendla is the one female lead women can relate to, and she represents something all women have struggled with.

The Silence of the Lambs: Perpetuating Gender Issues or Deconstructing Them?

Kelly Fuller

Abstract
Abstract: The Silence of the Lambs is arguably one of the most effective and terrifying American films ever made. It has garnered a humongous cult following, including myself, who praise its exploration of intense social issues while remaining at its core a purely unnerving and chilling film. In this essay I will explore the issues of gender imbalance and sexism, as well as the suggested homophobia represented. These issues are portrayed through lead protagonist Clarice Starling, Hannibal Lecter and Buffalo Bill. To further complicate and deepen my understanding of these issues I’ve turned to academic articles written by Diane Dubois and Andrew Schopp to expand on this idea of representation within film.

Scrutinizing The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Wrian Grandstaff

Abstract
Abstract: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a musical about a group of children and their experience at a spelling bee. While overly happy at first, the show delves into darker themes revolving around family and academics. Many audience members who see the show will take it at face value, such as author Michael Billington did. Others will delve a bit deeper, such as authors Robert Brustein and Gina Masucci MacKenzie, who both analyze different aspects of the show as conservative and how it strays from stereotypes. Robert Brustein focuses more on the political state of mind that the musical gives, and Gina MacKenzie focuses on character analysis of the inconsequential mother figures in Spelling Bee. The show is deeply complex with character struggles but is often overlooked because of its frivolity.

Evita: A Musical on Fashion or Fascism?

Antonia López Montoya

Abstract
Abstract: This essay will discuss Evita, the musical created by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice in 1978, and its influence on the American and global perception of Eva Perón as a historical and political icon. It will be analyzed through sociological studies focused indirectly on the perception of women in mainstream media and through a psychological theory called the “Culture of Narcissism,” both topics further dis-cussed by the authors Victoria Allison and Vangelis Siropoulos, respectively. The concept of megamusicals, the US understanding of Perónism, and the theories behind narcissism and its cultural impact are the lenses through which this essay will try to finalize whether or not Evita is in fact celebrating and glamorizing fascism.

I May Destroy You: The Futility of Believability

Erica McLaurin

Abstract
Abstract: I May Destroy You is a wonderful piece of cinema that very blatantly comments on societal issues that have been spotlighted ever since the #MeToo movement’s inception. It follows Arabella Essiedu, a writer, as she deals with her experiences with sexual assault and the repercussions that follow. Michaela Coel, starring as both Arabella and the series’ writer, demonstrates the labor that women of color and other marginalized groups experience to have their experiences heard and validated. As I have come to discover, many people simply enjoy the show for its visuals and strong female characters, yet this is not where its strong point lies. Benson-Allot, Banet-Weiser, and Higgins all touch upon individual strengths within I May Destroy You, but I argue that there is still more to be said about the pipeline within which race and queerness impact the concept of believability in the modern world. The strength of I May Destroy You lies in its message describing the journey of rape culture in the work-place that leads to the exploitation of women and the inevitable futility of having their stories told.