Hairspray

As soon as the movie started I could tell that there was a clear trend for society, what to look and act like. In the opening scene we see boys and girls using plenty of hairspray. The dress and style of dancing are important. It cries so loudly ‘if you don’t dance you are a square.’ Before the movie started we were told to see how media effects teens and all of society for that matter. It was not hard to see exactly what was being talked about as we see two teenage girls completely enchanted with a dancing TV show. The mother is disgusted and thinks the show is silly and does not need to be watched. It makes sense to me that the kids would want a show or ideal to hang onto in there early age where as the mother, with more life experience, understands that there is ironing to be done it life. My biggest surprise was when the mother is told to watch the show. I expected her not to care and even refuse to watch the show, which he, I mean she, does at first. Getting mom to sit in front of the TV seems impossible until she sees her own daughter on the show. Next thing you know, mom loves the show and is ready to make a fool of herself dancing in front of the TV, which she herself just yesterday thought was a waste of time. Now mom’s on board and wants to be famous too.

            The other thing that cannot be ignored is the fact that the main character is happy living her life and being a kid and not ‘going steady’ with anyone until she goes on the show. Suddenly there is this pressure to have a boyfriend and to kiss him. I don’t think having a crush or even boyfriend is bad, but I do find it ridiculously convenient that it is her dancing partner. Love? more like infatuation. It is the idea that is appealing and not necessarily the person.

            The could be lasting conversations about weight and violence, but I want to move on to the issue of segregation. The most poignant part for me is when the host of the TV show is told that there is a black girl outside who wants to come in. Without hesitation the host says, ‘well let her in already.’ But in this day it was not that easy. The officer reminds him that it could turn into a protest or demonstration. Also, the producer of the show, who is paying for the whole shebang, only wants one black day a month and today is not that day. I gained a lot of sympathy for the host because his heart wants to let her in, but there are bigger and badder powers at work her that he must please in order to keep order and possible his income for his family.

            I want to say that it was a happy ending for all, but really has is a happy ending for the people we are supposed to care about. One thing that this movie, and many movies I have seen, does is give the antagonist ‘what they deserve.’ Only who is to say that she deserves that, and even though the former dance queen is rude, how much better is the main characters if they just blast the enemy out of town. I think that there is a possible more powerful ending. Perhaps main character lets the bratty girl be co-queen and they both have a good time, or perhaps even better, what if the main character let her be the queen and became the bigger woman by understanding that the dance crown is not important.

            The movie is a great demonstration on how media affects us and the world around us and truly deserves some reflection.