紫釵記 | THE LEGEND OF PURPLE HAIRPIN (1959)
dir. Lee Tit
Female entertainer Huo Xiaoyu and poet Li Yi are lovers kept apart by a powerful imperial courtier, Lu, who wants Li to marry his daughter instead. Lu sends Li to a faraway post on the frontier and spreads lies about Li’s change of heart over Huo, until a mysterious swordsman, Yellow Robe, intervenes to set things right and reunite the two. An adaptation of Tong Tik-sang’s Cantonese Opera piece, the film features divas Yam Kim-fai and Pak Suet-sin as the story’s lead lovers.
(link in title)
gelphie shippers are winning so hard rn with the new wicked trailer. elphaba showing up on glinda’s WEDDING NIGHT?? HELLLOOOOO DRAMA. do you know how many forbidden love fanfics are gonna come out of that scene alone? i can just picture the “don’t marry him” dialogue now. and don’t even get me STARTED on the romantic broom ride.
Have you ever reviewed the musical Calamity Jane with Doris Day? The subtext in that one is wild!
I haven't done a singular review of it but I do talk about it in my video about the Hays code - wild subtext is right! Maybe in the future I'll do a dedicated video about it because it sure is interesting.
I just read an article arguing that basically everyone in the Barbie movie is gay and:
I’m glad that there are like minded individuals in the world
And it’s not because she didn’t show interest/end up with ken Barbie just has insane chemistry with Gloria also the berkenstocks but the real question is did Margot Robbie know was she aware she was playing a lesbian
Here’s the article if anyone wants it
From The Wizard of Oz to Weird Barbie's Birkenstocks, we uncover all the hidden LGBTQ+ references in Greta Gerwig's Barbie.
It's probably time to make a summary post explaining the OUAT meta theory on this blog, seeing as some new people have joined the fandom since this blog was very active. All you really have to understand is that according to this theory, OUAT takes place in the collective unconscious - a shared mind between all people where all elements from stories and fairy tales are actually alive. The entire show is Emma interacting with this collective unconscious to learn from the tales and archetypes, and process her own traumas and issues in a physical environment - because let's face it, she just isn't one to sit still long enough and work with a therapist.
Once you see Once Upon a Time as a metaphor for Emma's psychological journey, both the lack and subtle omnipresence of queer elements make much more sense. Emma carries a lot of guilt and shame, shame about abuse, committing crimes, going to prison, and guilt for giving up her son. She is also ashamed of her sexuality.
In the Pilot, baby Emma is put into the closet - to save her from a dark curse.
During season 1, there is a lot of queer subtext, but it's dark and antagonistic, and it generally plays out between Emma and Regina. It is hidden - here it is clearly an aspect of Emma's shadow self. She does not accept it.
Early on in season 3, there is an almost-confession of love from Mulan to Aurora. While this was still subtext, there was no other way to interpret this storyline, and the intent was never denied outside of the show. This shows us that Emma's reluctance is not only shame about her sexuality, but fear of getting hurt if she opens up her heart.
Season 4 has young Emma and Lily stare into each other's eyes for a little too long and it has them share a promise of eternity through a shared birthmark/tattoo. Meanwhile older Lily's apartment has Tibetan prayer flags in the colors of the rainbow and she lies about having a husband and children.
In season 5, Dorothy and Ruby share a True Love's kiss. Dorothy shares her family tried to have her committed and Ruby empathizes by sharing her entire village tried to run her out of town with torches and pitchforks. Fairy tale speak for conversion therapy and not being accepted by family and friends.
Then finally, in season 7, the entire season showcases a lesbian storyline with Alice and Robin. The couple is accepted and nobody questions their sexuality.
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Of course, there are far more references to Emma's sexuality, but these couples clearly show the evolution in Emma's acceptance of her homosexuality. It also explains why all of the queer representation on OUAT were female couples and not male couples.
