by Travis Mateer
I’m working on the 8th issue of my zine series, Mr. Batshit, and my plan is to end the series after the election. I’ve been using the synchronicities plaguing my brain to construct a cultural meta-narrative that shows, I think, how this world operates, and it’s nothing like you think.
The image above–created by my AI illustrator, Chatty–was inspired by the local production of Little Shop of Horrors, which is being put on by the Children’s Theater. My cultural interpretation, which you’ll have to wait to read in full, placed narrative value on the ECLIPSE, which I think is a much richer element to focus on than the WOMEN AS VICTIM trope Erika Fredrickson focused on.
Here’s what I’m talking about from The Pulp’s newsletter:
The musical comedy and absurd plot give it a light tone, even as the blood-thirsty plant and its relationship with Seymour creates a level of horror.
But if you want to dig a little deeper, past the monster story, you’ll find elements of true-life horror. For instance, Audrey’s backstory of being the target of an abusive boyfriend is a situation made bleaker by the times and what was expected of unmarried, lower-class women with few resources and low-self esteem. Meanwhile, Seymour’s low self-esteem and desperation to be the masculine object of Audrey’s desire results in some, uh, poor and gruesome choices.
In this WOKE interpretation of a movie about a killer plant, Audrey is simply THE TARGET of an abusive boyfriend with no apparent agency of her own. If Audrey has no agency, then she has no responsibility to make different life choices, and it’s this removal of responsibility that makes our growing victim culture so seductive, I think.
With two weeks before the election, and other elements of personal drama descending on me this week, I’m not sure how lengthy the posts will be, but stop by anyway because I guarantee my perspective will be SO MUCH MORE INTERESTING than whatever the perpetuators of victim culture put out.
If you appreciate my perspective, please consider donating to Travis’ Impact Fund (TIF). Any little bit helps.
Thanks for reading!