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Listen. Dean Winchester–a bi man–liking Dirty Dancing is something that can be so personal. & he clearly DOES like it, since he quotes it.
Please allow me to elaborate in multiple tweets because I have a lot of Dirty Dancing thoughts & I need to write this out for Reasons.
Please allow me to elaborate in multiple tweets because I have a lot of Dirty Dancing thoughts & I need to write this out for Reasons.
Dirty Dancing is a film that is...
• written/produced by women
• directed by a gay man
• choreographed by a gay man
• shot from the female gaze
• feminist in premise
• effortlessly anti-toxic masculinity
• known for its iconic music, including some classic 80s tracks
+
• written/produced by women
• directed by a gay man
• choreographed by a gay man
• shot from the female gaze
• feminist in premise
• effortlessly anti-toxic masculinity
• known for its iconic music, including some classic 80s tracks
+
• a romance where the couple has a healthy, communicative relationship & are positioned as equals
• a story centering a character who wrestles with being her own person & not disappointing her father, while not apologizing for parts of herself
& yes, stars Patrick Swayze.
• a story centering a character who wrestles with being her own person & not disappointing her father, while not apologizing for parts of herself
& yes, stars Patrick Swayze.
In particular, what does "shot from the female gaze" mean & why does it matter? It means the camera angles are with Baby's POV–& often desire–in mind. Baby's not objectified; Johnny IS, & Baby's sexuality is empowered.
The "Cry To Me" scene shows this.
The "Cry To Me" scene shows this.
The first time I watched this, I immediately Googled who was behind it because I KNEW straight men didn't make it. I was right. Aside from being very feminist in story, the way this movie was orchestrated behind the scenes (by women & gay men) strongly validates desiring men.
This story doesn't play out on screen (or behind it) the way many romance movies tend to do. The man is never macho or posturing. The woman's convictions & desires are centralized, not downplayed. It disrupts the normative gender roles typically chained to het on-screen dynamics.
& it intimately invites you to be attracted to Johnny as much as (or arguably, in my opinion, MORE than) being attracted to Baby.
In that unique sense, it's very compelling for anyone who's into men.
& in part that's what I'm getting at: it would be (or is?) compelling to Dean.
In that unique sense, it's very compelling for anyone who's into men.
& in part that's what I'm getting at: it would be (or is?) compelling to Dean.
Not just in a "Dean has a crush on Swayze" way, though that IS true. But in a way of... Dean is attracted to Johnny as a character, while also being able to RELATE to Johnny I think, because they're not dissimilar. That's a double knockout & likely largely why he likes it.
I mean, all this aside, it's just a damn good movie. But... Dean's a bi man who is (much like Johnny) caring & can be tender, protective over those he loves, & not a stranger to being both unfairly sexualized because he's pretty & looked down on for not having higher education.
Johnny's also open & honest, & consistently the more emotionally vulnerable, which is part of what helps establish the idea that he & Baby do build something intimate & real.
Dean CRAVES romantic intimacy (& suppresses that craving). He'd both want to be with Johnny, & BE Johnny.
Dean CRAVES romantic intimacy (& suppresses that craving). He'd both want to be with Johnny, & BE Johnny.
Plus, after all: Dean always thought he could be a good dancer if he wanted to be.
It's really not hard to deduce he'd be imagining himself on either or both sides of that partnered equation, while just in general very invested in the overall aspects of the story &, uh, visuals.
It's really not hard to deduce he'd be imagining himself on either or both sides of that partnered equation, while just in general very invested in the overall aspects of the story &, uh, visuals.
So yeah. Stan Dirty Dancing, Frances is one of my favorite female characters of all time, there are many reasons the movie is a classic & ALL of them are why Dean canonically likes it. Swayze always getting a pass (which is a pretty queer thing to say) is the tip of that iceberg.
Not making the same mistake again and waiting a full day to do this sooooo hey this is also now on Tumblr! https://alwaysanoriginal.tumblr.com/post/641693709353779200
