The White Gaze of Hairspray

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[@sxt4447]

As a Black woman, I’m not making John Waters out to be above reproach because everything you’re saying is valid, but that’s exactly the point of having those lines of dialogue included. We’re not supposed to take Tracy seriously. These little comments Tracy makes, suggesting that somehow she is Black because she can dance and experiences judgment for her size, are what undercut the sincerity of the movie. The original movie is not a traditional musical. It’s a satire of a musical. John Waters has never been one to make a sincere film whatsoever, nor make a “sentimental race film” which is its own genre in Hollywood (Imitation of Life, Heat of the Night, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, etc.) The film is just as much a commentary on the laughable white savior complex demonstrated in those types of films as it is a celebration of that era of dance culture in Baltimore. Not everything has to be so literal or on the nose to be justified.

[@LoneWulf278]

Exactly! Thank you for explaining this.

[@Uhohlisa]

That’s not going to stop Gen Z from complaining

[@kbb684]

As a fellow black woman, i wholeheartedly agree. I said this in the comments of the announcement of this video! So much weird outrage about how "racist" it is and how "cringe" Tracy is. It is 100% on purpose, pure satire. We are completely lacking in media literacy. (Also: the 2007 Hairspray is one of my favorite movies because of its satire and killer color palette/soundtrack)

[@peggy5686]

i feel like a lot of the video criticism these days doesn’t understand satire, even when it as obvious as this

[@rubyy.7374]

@@kbb684 “Media literacy”, AKA “I have a degree in film that got me nowhere and I want to feel important.”

[@Aishyo]

The intro 💀💀

[@AnalyticalVouyer]

Right 😂 I’m fully cackling right now

[@emperialyoung6338]

I knowww, I immediately went to make the same comment, it's... 😂

[@V4Vonnie]

Like, I was ready to get up and leave my home. MY OWN HOME!

[@levelupsinglemom6143]

I...😂😂😂

[@jennyrodriguez811]

I had only seen the musical in 2007, so it was quite a shock, I tell you.

[@harriyanna]

its so scary think about, how there is so much black history we don't know about bc it wasn't documented.

[@hanahayashi6374]

Or purposely destroyed 😔

[@Lolirock971]

Please always let the last thought you have please God please forgive me for all the wrong I've done.

[@hi.goodbye2167]

Fr

[@DarkNJuju]

@@Lolirock971 Save that for your white church. His followers have destroyed the world.

[@joydanleigh7711]

💜💜💜

[@LaurasBookBlog]

The bit about Tracey hitting the police officer is definitely a satire in that the subsequent news reports keep exaggerating the officer's injuries with every new broadcast (I think they say he's at death's door at one point) but I don't think the musical really ever thinks about it in terms of satirizing Tracey herself as an inept activist. The musical is too sincere and happy-go-lucky for that - it wants to buy into racism as the result of a few bad actors whose attitudes can be turned around with some catchy tunes (look, Amber's dancing with one of the black dancers at the end!)

[@barbicel]

Can you explain more of the last part? Sorry. I'm really interested on what you said I just didn't really understand it 😅

[@ames-inthe-grass]

@@barbicel think they’re saying that the movie is giving the idea that it’s just a few bad people that can be convinced in the end e.g. amber lightening up a little and flirting/dancing w a black boy at the end, but it just rings hollow (like those hairspray bottles ahaha) because that is simply not the case. racism is way more ingrained and systemic for that

[@barbicel]

@@ames-inthe-grass Ohhh! Yhea Like a "See? Racism is fixed now that the one single villian is gone. Applause" sort of thing. Right?

[@ames-inthe-grass]

@@barbicel yeah exactly

[@ZoraTheberge]

The end credit song “Come so far, Got so far to go” addresses this head on.

[@blightedroses2423]

This makes me think about something I was thinking about before. Like in school we read two books to learn about racism that black people faced, the key and to kill a mocking bird. I was thinking about how those books are written by white authors to teach us about the black experience, but I know there's black authors out there who could probably tell a more nuanced story. Even now they don't really get to tell their own story, a white person has to tell it for them.

[@kt68866]

I had to read maya angelou in school, but it was in an honors class in a black neighborhood.

[@Rose-qw7if]

Very thankful that my school had us read a lot of works by black authors such as Their Eyes Were Watching God, The Nickel Boys, Giovanni’s Room, Linden Hills, and Raisin in the Sun

[@mrbubbies_]

in the caribbean we learn about this stuff in gruesome detail from grade 7

[@Arbee1000]

And now Republican politicians like Ron Desantis are stopping even white people from telling these stories.

[@internetpersonayy]

Thankfully, my English classes have done a better job with diversity. I don't think a single book I read in sophomore year was written by a white person, which gave everyone the opportunity to actually learn a different perspective. Unfortunately, this differs a lot based on what school or teacher you have (not even mentioning state), so many other people may not have those same opportunities as my class did. Thankfully, this happening does show that things are making progress, but I can only hope that this progress isn't set back.

[@oeurydice]

Something that wasn't covered in the video, but I think is an important part of the musical's history, is what happened after it was made available for licensing. It was disturbingly popular for high schools, youth groups, and amateur dramatics companies to perform despite not having any non-white members. It wasn't until 2020 that the creators mandated that licenced productions must have racially accurate casting.

[@finland4ever55]

Well how are they gonna stop the all japanese or korean casts in japan and south korea because i haven't seen any japanese or korean ones that have more than maybe one black person

[@MealDealSupreme]

@@finland4ever55 they did, because John Waters found out about a school who performed it in blackface

[@brittaistheworst7523]

I'm afraid to ask but how on earth do you put on a production of Hairspray without any black actors?? Like??

[@fmcgucket3076]

@@brittaistheworst7523 i grew up doing theater in a very white town. There were certain shows even we understood to be off limits. Hairspray was one of them. Unfortunately, Once On This Island wasn't.

[@arcsballss]

@@fmcgucket3076whoever said that should be questioned…

[@yarart3755]

what I love about the 2007 film is what they did with the ending. you're so right when you say they shine more light on the black community and their struggles throughout the film. but what they did with the ending was so cathartic, so monumental and really shows the movie didn't want to give black people the background role in this movie, they *wanted* to give them a stronger win than just being integrated. and I love how they did that bc (and I'm not really sure about the other adaptations of the musical but I saw Hairspray live and I was so mad they didn't do this) what they did was give Little Inez, the little sister of Seaweed, who showed her upset for not being able to dance on the show for the entire movie, the official title of Miss Hairspray (which was obviously a big role every girl in that movie wanted, specifically Amber and Tracy) when we all as the audience honestly suspected that title was inevitably going to go to Tracy bc, well, plot amour reasons- so the fact they gave this girl her chance to not only dance but be praised and rewarded for it, and then fully confirm her win as a way to introduce integration in the Corny Collins show is just, so wonderful to me. it may be cheesy to think this but goodness despite any critics this movie is inevitably going to have as the original musical is outdated, this movie will always hold a special place in my heart. if it weren't for the amazing acting from the stellar cast (Hairspray was my introduction to the ultimate QUEEN that is Queen Latifa and I could not be more content) or the bops that are the songs that I will always jam my heart out to, it's this moment alone that would make me rewatch it again and again with a big smile on my face

[@Yharazayd]

the ending is straight up dopamine, it just feels so damn good

[@Lolirock971]

😇Please Always let the last thought you have please God please forgive me for all the sins and wrong I've done.

[@Lolirock971]

😇Please Always let the last thought you have please God please forgive me for all the sins and wrong I've done.

[@daniellelively4058]

I'm from Baltimore and love John waters. The quote about the black girls at Western teaching dance moves just to see them watered down on TV is hilarious and sad. That same high school today is basically all black. Ive never heard of that show before. I want to ask my parents about this show, but I already know the answer lol.

[@LaniSahulga]

It's incredibly ironic too given that the same thing happens today. White teens get blasted into internet stardom and wealth for TikTok dances that come to find out- are stolen (and watered down!) from black creators. And again black creators find a more challenging time reaching a level of success their white counterparts do for a multitude of reasons

[@Lolirock971]

Please always let the last thought you have please God please forgive me for all the wrong I've done.

[@mcowley895]

It's always been sad to me that so many people are only able to have empathy for others when viewed through a lens that is directly similar to their own experience. Like, viewing race in Hairspray through a white girl, or the 'what if she were YOUR sister/mother' that people have to use to convince men that women are being mistreated. I dunno... it's sad that people can't look outside of themselves.

[@pptenshi3900]

I just sort of can’t believe some people can’t have empathy for others just because of things like race (along with other demographics such as being gay, trans, etc…).

[@cassinipanini]

im trying to picture a male gamer bro playing a game about the feminine experience with a male protag and im physically cringing at the thought

[@IneptRat]

i mean it makes sense to me, its hard to understand the nuances of hardships you will never experience. Without a lot of time and intentionality ur really not gonna understand and probably succumb to fox news propaganda abt really any issue that the basic white christian american will not face. Like if your only experience with people of color or queer ppl is thru online or a handful of ppl in ur school you never talk to, you are probably gonna believe the fearmongering. While i dont think a satire movie/musical is the way to do it lol, it is extremely powerful and helpful for these people to be able to relate and see themselves in these situations. I speak abt this as someone who used to be a conservative. Unfortunately in america lots of places have a conservative majority such as where i grew up in TX. Ironically this has given me some (be it SOME) empathy (altho more so understanding) of where these bigots are coming from :p

[@mcowley895]

@@IneptRat I respect that opinion if you're talking about people who lack the developed ability to have critical thought. I, personally, have never had trouble seeing other human beings as human beings. I'm not american so maybe it is extremely different there. (editing to add): I'm not saying that every person is capable of understanding the nuances of things that simply do not and cannot apply to them (differing races for example) but I am saying that it's disgusting to only be capable of understanding that they deserve human rights when it is viewed through a personal lens.

[@thefirm4606]

This, oh my days this ❤❤❤

[@L2Sentinel]

I played Edna in my college production of the musical. I wholeheartedly agree that the black characters needed more focus. My castmates and I felt like white saviors playing the Turnblads (and some of the fat jokes like her eating a mouse in prison because she can't stop eating seemed in poor taste but that's another topic). Luckily our Motor Mouth slayed "I Know Where I've Been" and completely stole the show. I wish there was more but at least there was that. I really like that the movie musical made Little Inez the winner of the contest and thought it was a much cleverer ending because the prize of being their featured dancer forces the show to be integrated, whereas Tracy winning does nothing really. I wish the stage show would adopt that change. Also cutting the Von Tussles' weak ass "redemption" at the last second and letting Motor Mouth close the show was a better choice too. She's the real hero of the story. To think they almost weren't going to have her sing the 11 o'clock number. That would have been horrible.

[@jparadisetheatre]

I would counter that having Inez win and that forces the integration would make a better REALISTIC and logical ending but that undercuts the motivation for Waters creating Hairspray and basing it on the Buddy Deane Show. It is meant to satirize the white savior complex and the failed integration of the Buddy Deane Show. The layer that most miss in the show is because it is often played with too much sugary sincerity and neglects the notion that the Black characters spend the bulk of the show mocking and commenting on the absurdity of the White characters and repeatedly say "look at us, we are over here.."

[@emilyrln]

The idea that "Hairspray" doesn't have a message is hilarious 😂 All art is political, but some art is more political than other art, and "Hairspray" is some art.

[@Ilikefrogs..]

Whenever artists say that I feel like it's a cop out so that they can market their art to wider (potentially racist, homophobic or sexist) audience, without having to back up the statements that are being made. I remember Kimbra's statements following the song Settle Down coming out. And her claiming that the song had no message. I've never seen a song or video have a louder message. This girl was just trying to avoid getting blacklisted.

[@iateyursandwiches]

How can you make a movie taking place during the civil rights era where you have black and white kids and have it not be political? Impossible. You actually have to try reallt hard to do that and at that point, youre actually being political. You're trying to be a centrist or appeal to both opoosite ends of the political spectrum: which is political.

[@emilyrln]

@@iateyursandwiches Yeah, trying to depoliticize a topic that's saturated by politics necessarily ends up upholding the status quo and being stealthily political in a way that people who agree with those politics can overlook.

[@Megalo64]

I was researching the topic while I was looking into the production of the various hairspray musicals and there are accounts from the black teenagers who danced and advocated for themselves to be on the show. Not sure if links get suppressed however the title is "Video: Baltimore woman shares history behind 'Hairspray' inspiration" from the channel WBAL-TV 11 Baltimore.

[@Yharazayd]

thank you for this! i looked but clearly i didn't look hard enough! i'll take this video down and add that info when i get a chance

[@Megalo64]

@Yharazayd No problem. I love researching topics that interest me, so I thought I'd share. Love the video, btw!

[@Lolirock971]

😇Please Always let the last thought you have please God please forgive me for all the sins and wrong I've done.

[@luvrofplantains9784]

Bell hooks talks about this in her book Black looks and representation. She says that white people often assume the role of cultural tourists when it comes to expressing pleasure in black culture. She means that films and shows that display forms of racial pluralism can only be sustained by the labor of black people (ie. Entertainment) while the goal for white people is to simply make their lives pleasurable. Doing this doesn't actually eradicate racism but it makes primitive desire the solution to "end racism" all this does is create a false distance from whiteness. Her book is super insightful and she goes into much greater detail.

[@Mashbydev]

Which book is it

[@makslargu5799]

@@MashbydevBlack looks: race and representation

[@chromesthesia]

She is so right about the Piano

[@brookesmith6998]

Another great video ❤ I'm in my mid-twenties from Baltimore with an older mother, who was a small child when the Buddy Dean show ended. I had never heard about the show. When I asked my mom about it her response was "That was for the white folks." 💀🤣 When I asked my grandma if she had ever seen it, her response was "No ma'am." lol. Seems pretty in line with the opinions of other black people at that time.

[@FrameGawd]

This!

[@TheHumanPurpleTape]

It's always been wild to me, the way white Baltimoreans really mourned that show for *decades*. It's one of those things that reveals a clear line in the sand between the two major demographics in Baltimore.

[@TheHumanPurpleTape]

As a Black musician from Baltimore who knows John Waters, all of this. ALL OF THIS.

[@Sam-dm8vh]

i think it's intresting how the original seems to be satirizing tracy's white saviour complex but the 2007 version seems to excuse and even celebrate it.

[@kenzij]

I am floored to learn that Hairspray is based off of a single thing. I always assumed it was an amalgamation of things and people that existed in that time.

[@crystalpowell8619]

It is my firm belief that as the black dancers may have enjoyed their time on the show, they knew better than to put hope in the experience. There was nothing “separate but equal” about Black Monday. Even so, as they enjoyed it in the moment, they were aware that they could be denied the opportunity next time. To deal with it, they learned to care less.

[@Lady_Yunalesca]

Having only ever seen the movie version with Amanda Bynes, that opening really threw me off. Great video, as always. Really really interesting stuff that I didn’t know anything about, and you’re right that exploring it more would have been to Hairspray’s benefit.

[@BluetheRaccoon]

I hope you take the time to watch the original! John Waters' work is wonderful.

[@aboutashow]

My orthodontist played the original version at his office/in the patient room on silent. This was a few years after the new one came out. I wae 11 and I was so confused lol. This video is the only confirmation I've had since then that it was real

[@hshi8085]

oof hairspray is so rough to revisit sometimes lol i loved being a theatre kid but being the only black kid there… we def edited the script a lot to be more “high school friendly” 🤡😂😂

[@eoincampbell1584]

How... how do you do Hairspray with only one black performer?

[@bibble348]

​@eoincampbell1584 you'd be shocked 😕

[@shaleamontanez4591]

My high school did a performance of In the Heights and casted mostly white students as the domincian/rican/and other latino/as. They even faked the accent and everything. Rubbed the wrong way allllllll the way. At least my high-school, theater was white washed

[@divinekod]

make it about fathers not race

[@selene6170]

i had a very similar experience !! it was me, another biracial black girl, and a south asian girl (all of us in the chorus) and then the rest of the cast was white- including those playing the main black characters. such a fever dream

[@AdviceFromAHipoCrite]

The amount I agree with you is insane. I’ve always felt it but didn’t know how to put it into words. Any of the songs sung by the black ensemble make my throat tight and eyes water, but I knew it was missing so much more of their voices. The musical is almost a fan fic wishful thinking but it’s heart is in the right place and the message for me was, art, dance, singing, love, can bring us together.

[@Lolirock971]

😇 Please Always let the last thought you have please God please forgive me for all the sins and wrongs I've done. 😇

[@UndeadGirlCyber]

As an outsider to American culture I can say that it took me years, if not a decade from learning that the hairspray musical exists from posters and adverts on train stations to learning it's about segregation. The front and center thing in the advertising was always, always, the hair - and Tracy's mom being played by someone in drag. Make of that what you will.

[@evelynwilson1566]

Yes, I'm the same. I had no idea that this was a theme. I've never watched it either, but I have seen plenty of references to both versions of the film, and all I ever saw was John Travolta, Ricki Lake and Divine, and of course John Waters himself. I'm in the UK.

[@LezbeOswald]

as someone from the US, yeah that's the same here too. i remember seeing the 2007 movie in theaters when i was a kid and being kind of taken aback by the fact that the movie was about segregation. all the marketing, both then and now, is primarily "dancing fun, fat nerdy girl want hot guy, drag queens."

[@Lolirock971]

😇 Please Always let the last thought you have please God please forgive me for all the sins and wrongs I've done. 😇

[@DavidLuis198]

I mean, it's kinda the point of the movie. you go watch a movie about the so modern 60s expecting a lot of dance and cool looks and then the whole movie ends up being about segregation

[@kkulist]

While it was a shame that we have a perspective lost to the gross negligence of white people, I'm glad that we were able to see our representation on Soul Train a decade later

[@malikamaybe]

Both movies not being capable of moments that let the Black characters have the proverbial microphone the whole time (not me wincing when she hit the officer like lmao plsss). I'd forgotten all about the 2007 version (and never saw the previous one) so to get some history on how it came to be for the first time without erasing or shining people up is neat. And every time I see Queen Latifah in anything I just feel so AHH like to be so incredibly talented.

[@Lolirock971]

Please always let the last thought you have please God please forgive me for all the wrong I've done.

[@emily-crawford-soprano9181]

Damn Buddy Deane may have said his show was a victim to the woke agenda it would read the same. Such a good analysis, thanks for your work! The editing is so smooth too.

[@Lolirock971]

😇 Please Always let the last thought you have please God please forgive me for all the sins and wrongs I've done. 😇

[@msushi98]

The cringe in that intro clip 🤢 I love hairspray too but that was just an awful line Edit: Just watched the part where you said it was intentionally awful - that makes it a littttttle less embarrassing

[@MealDealSupreme]

Tbf that is a joke targeted at Tracy, it's meant to be cringe!

[@lewa3910]

@@MealDealSupreme but does that make it better? Kinda puts me off

[@MealDealSupreme]

@@lewa3910 yeah because it's intentional and making fun of people who really say stuff like that

[@MealDealSupreme]

@@lewa3910 if it puts you off, the rest of John Waters films are gonna put you wayyy off

[@KittyGoldPaint]

​​​@@MealDealSupremeRight? Like, I feel weird about a John Waters movie being taken *this* seriously. The man is and always was, counter culture and Hairspray was his most tame movie. I understand the complaints about the musical version, but I'm laughing at the idea of people "cringing" over the opening of this essay, from a man who literally had his drag queen muse eat real dog shit, and had a literal singing asshole (yes, a boney white man flexing his asshole to look like it's singing "bird is the word") in Pink Flamingos.

[@annawesometheflameingpikac3688]

As someone who watched the 2007 Movie Musical first finding out Inez wasn't always the winner of the contest made my blood run cold. I still remember the first comment I saw referencing that that was a change. I didn't have the words to describe it but even then as a little kid I realized that giving Tracy the win over Inez was just performative and empty

[@Lolirock971]

😇 Please Always let the last thought you have please God please forgive me for all the sins and wrongs I've done. 😇

[@a.f.9958]

I'm delighted by all the effort you went through to add historical context! My nana actually hosted one of those programs, and I regret not asking her more about it when she was alive.

[@lulagoodwin5372]

That photograph had me in tears. Those peoples stories left untold. Its such a damn shame.

[@miagreaves6133]

I feel like John waters should of been discussed in this video a bit more for viewers who may not understand the premise of most of his movies, because people seem a bit confused in the comments lol

[@kellyriddell5014]

Thank you for making this! I loved the history and learned a lot. I can't believe people wanted to take out I Know Where I've Been! That song makes me cry EVERY time I see Hairspray. It's part of the experience and part of why I have gone to see it live several times. It just would not be the same show without it. Sure, the fun songs are great, but that song is a gut punch.

[@Lolirock971]

😇 Please Always let the last thought you have please God please forgive me for all the sins and wrongs I've done. 😇

[@SebastianSeanCrow]

11:51 something I didn’t know until years later is the broadway version changes the ending so the little sister won the dance contest. But her winning felt like such a natural conclusion I can’t imagine it any other way. But I agree with the people I’ve seen bring it up that it’s def the better ending.

[@martinsorenson1055]

Have to admit, this was one of the better changes they made to the film. It is completely logical. My only problem was I thought her dance was kind of meh... I wanted to see something better - but I think they saved a bigger solo for John Travolata, However, they couldn't figure out a way to have Velma and Amber join the dance at the ending!

[@Rachel-kr1jh]

I had a classmate in high school who was a friend of a friend - we'd grew up in different small towns in England, and that was kind of the only other thing we related on. For context, this classmate is white and I'm brown, and we both finished high school in South Africa One of the only times I ever spoke to him one-on-one, we had somehow gotten onto the topic of school plays and productions. I was talking about how I was always cast to play trees in school productions, and joked that it's because I was always the darkest kid in my year group. The conversation went on a bit longer, and then he mentioned that his drama club had put on a production of Hairspray. I'm not a massive fan of the musical because of the way it deals with race, but of course I went on to ask him more about how it was, if he'd done any other theatre stuff since etc. Then I asked him, out of genuine curiosity who he'd played in Hairspray. And he said 'Seaweed'. I was so taken aback. I asked him why they casted him to play a black character when he is not black, and in an instance where race is central to the plot. And he said that a black person couldn't have played Seaweed because in his town there were no black children. I was even more taken aback - I was taken so far back pls. But this man was genuinely confused as to why I was so perturbed. I told him that I obviously didn't blame him for getting cast as the character because he was literally eight. But who in their right mind decided that Hairspray would be the perfect musical for a bunch of unmelinated children to perform in an unmelinated small town? Staging a production that's central themes are about embracing diversity and understanding difference but having your cast consist purely of small Victorian children is inherently hypocritical. I don't think he understood why that was such a big problem. He was a kid at the time, but over a decade later to not be able to use your critical thinking to begin to unpack that? A bit cringe ngl TLDR - I once had to explain to an almost 20 year old why it was incredibly bizarre to put on an all white production of Hairspray .

[@hanahayashi6374]

That's definitely weird. There are so many musicals and they chose one they didn't even have the "facilities" for 💀

[@raicrush]

I love the 2007 movie so so much and Divine the drag queen in the OG is such an icon. As I grew up, though, I realized how “performative activism” the issues of the civil rights movement it was. Still love how campy it is tho 😅

[@kbb684]

Hi, I'm a black woman :) enjoy the 2007 film, it is one of my favorites. I am not a monolith for all black people, BUT the movie is so satirical. Don't feel bad about liking it, it's actually great anti-racist satire (fun to rewatch and recognize how purposeful all of Tracy's and other's cringe moments are, it's actually so funny)

[@valentineaugust4221]

amazing video as usual!!! hairspray has such an odd history both the recent movie and the original (see: Nikki Blonsky and her family beating up a black woman and her family while calling them slurs)

[@patiencekillz]

wtf???

[@kunglaoshat1250]

I beg your pardon?! 😳

[@Aishyo]

Yes Bianca from America's next top model. Fuck that bitch for life. You can hear Bianca talk about the incident on the Tyra Banks show there's a clip on KZbin

[@wendynerd1199]

WHAT?!

[@CoconutGirl333]

YOU CANT JUST DROP A BOMB AND NOT EXPLAIN THAT SHIT WTF

[@sapphic.flower]

I remember watching the 2007 film on tv as a kid and I was uneducated on our anti-black history at the time to be able to fully understand it. I rewatched it as an adult with high expectations and it just made me… uncomfortable. Especially Zac Efron’s character and the way he only seemed to be an activist just to get close the girl. I can tell it was well meaning and had a positive message but it definitely had a white lens that romanticized activism.

[@user-kh6vx9yf9v]

I watched the original Hairspray on VHS in the 80s with my pastor/history teacher father. He grew up outside of Philadelphia PA from 1944 to the early 60s. Pa thought it was hilarious and completely accurate of the time. Which is disturbing given that the scene he laughed the hardest at involved making out in an alley and rats. I don't want to know what he was up to back then.

[@jonsrecordcollection7172]

By the way, I liked the extra context on Buddy Deane. I not only saw Hairspray when it came out, but I also read the John Waters essay that inspired it, "The Nicest Kids in Town." Based on those two source materials, I was under the mistaken impression that Buddy Deane was more of an integrationist & was simply forced to passively accept the segregation that his local TV network forced on him. Now, it sounds like Buddy didn't really do much at all to integrate his own show & he ended his life being bitter about how he lost his show due to "integration."

[@bryceburger_]

About the Dynamites, I think it's just like a Greek Chorus thing. I realized this and actually wrote about it for an assignment for my English class where we read a book on literature, one topic being Greek Mythology. This three muses/Greek chorus thing is seen in Legally Blond, Hercules (obviously), Little Shop of Horrors, Hairspray(!), and I'm sure more. Now, Little Shop of Horrors and Hairspray both take place in the mid-20th Century. So, the Urchins and the Dynamites, being young black ladies in this time period, get their inspiration from black girl groups during the time period, specifically the Supremes (since they were the most famous). I think it's a genius thing to make a black woman/girl trio into a supreme-esque Greek chorus or muses. I love both the Urchins and the Dynamites myself.

[@deaf-tomcat]

AN AMAZING compainon peice to a "The Bechdal Test" podcast episode on Hairspray!!! They were talking about similar issues with the 2007 version that they had. It's really important to be able to criticize media that we enjoy! Also, I remember when I was 10 and had this big sleepover birthday party right before winter break. We had rented a bunch of movies, this and Bratz and some more. Now, we're watching this movie and then Zac Efron says ASS and we all freak out lol. and my older sister is just like "shush!! don't tell anyone". it's such a fond memory of a movie that I was probably a lil too young for lol

[@nyx8633]

I realized the video isn't about actual hairspray 4 minutes in

[@TomYaz]

The character Nadine had a backstory that was cut. She was resentful that Tracy got on the show and she was sent away. She deserved a bigger part.

[@jadebrown8622]

As someone from Baltimore, I sometimes forget how popular this musical is (Also was not expecting to hear my high school mentioned here lol).

[@serenity6831]

Yayyy!! So glad you decided to post it, your work is phenomenal

[@mewmew6158]

I had never seen the 1st Hairspray movie, I couldn't help but awkwardly laugh at the bizarre scenes you talked about.

[@trinaq]

My favourite musical of all time, the music is so amazing, though I'm interested in hearing Yhara's criticiques on it.

[@arobarbie]

girl u are everywhere. how are you in every single comment section i look at

[@raijaynehearse]

You're video essays are just amazing. Love them!

[@stripes-2250]

I didn’t really grow up with Hairspray (maybe watched it twice in my life and never all the way through most likely) so honestly I never thought about the historical value in it. That intro clip honestly made me laugh. It’s so naively white but at the same time, it’s not coming from a bad place, they just don’t understand the entire connotation of what being black entails and they see the genuine people and culture they have and go, in a stupid way “I want to be apart of that” Honestly amazing video, subbed, cannot wait to see more! 😊

[@hitchikerspie]

Really interesting perspective as ever, and very articulate good natured criticism, there's so much context and baggage these productions can have, and even with the improvements and edits made throughout the editions so much of the initial white gaze really permeates through to the most recent movie. Cheers for your insights.

[@tibbiemcintyre2975]

I'm glad you're back Yhara. I loooove watching your videos, they are always so interesting. Hope you're doing well.

[@TedTrembinski]

Thanks for putting all of this into words!!

[@shikonaori]

Another banger from yhara, so glad to see you back lol. I loved hairspray as a teen but you make great points in this that I hadn't really thought about. I never understand why people say x or y work isn't supposed to have a message or a political bent to it; the fact is it's gonna have one regardless bc nobody on earth just exists in a vacuum. "the personal is political"

[@h4r4mh03]

I was so happy to see your new video show up on my explorer page!! What a great watch!! hopefully you are back to make more videos like this one because you analysis is always spot on and so introspective.

[@drustanastrophel9538]

That “our souls are Black” line reminds me of the time in high school I literally heard a while girl say she was gonna tell her dad she’s Black I don’t remember much else about that girl but I’m pretty sure she was one of those weird girls racist girls who dated Black guys as a form of rebellion 🤢

[@Lolirock971]

😇 Please Always let the last thought you have please God please forgive me for all the sins and wrongs I've done. 😇

[@Outlawgurl24]

The fact I thought they ate with that line when I was 10 cringe 😬.

[@grutarg2938]

I like the relationship between Tracy and Maybelle in the movie musical - how Tracy turns to her for strength and inspiration when things go wrong. And how she sometimes rolls her eyes at Tracy, but still welcomes her into the movement and helps guide her. I like the parts where Tracy starts to realize that change is not going to come easily, and that you have to be smart, strategic and patient in your activism. The message I take away is that it's better to go ahead, join the movement and try to help fight racism, even if you don't do it perfectly. And, yes, Queen Latifah absolutely nails it.

[@LookingForLoo]

Thank you for making this video! I honestly had no idea Hairspray was based on a true story and this adds to much context that I think I really needed. I really loved the movie musical when it came out but as I got older and became more educated about racism and history there were a lot of parts that def started making me go :/ but I didn't really have the words to explain it. It honestly started to ruin the whole thing for me, but this really helped me put all those thoughts in order, and now I can appreciate the movie for what it is while recognizing it's flaws. Also man it was wild for me to find out that Little Inez winning only happened in the '07 movie, that was legit one of my favorite parts and when I saw the last scene from the Hairspray live thing I was like ???? what is this??? wdym Tracy wins??? It just didn't feel right, I much prefer the '07 movie's ending.

[@cynicismIncarnate]

The ending section is really poignant. Thank you for the video 💖

[@dancingCactus]

What an amazing analysis! I think you had an amazing way of describing everything! My own thoughts on Hairspray grew when I watched the original John Water's Hairspray. I was appalled by it in ways I didn't expect (and I don't mean that as a bad thing). Now granted, I am white so understand that I am seeing the movie through that lens. I was appalled by how unabashedly grotesque the movie portrayed the culture as, which struck me as some of the genius of it. The thing that struck me the most in the difference between the original and the musical is the lens that the original portrays child exploitation with. The way all the teenagers are portrayed as pawns in opportunistic games of adults. It has been too long since I've seen the musical for me to give a better analysis of the differences.

[@AJ-cq5pw]

At least in the original Tracy wasn't the one to take credit for the march or anything. She's just supportive

[@leobien0717]

I’m glad your back sis we missed you

[@vhs3760]

Wow, this is such a brilliant video! Thank you so much for covering this! I loved the 2007 version of hairspray. It was one of the few movies we had on DVD, so I watched it obsessively over and over. I swear, at one point I could probably have recited good portions of that movie, and I definitely knew all the songs. I remember not really getting the 'I Know Where I've Been' song, at the time, not seeing the importance exactly except knowing that it was important. As an adult I have rewatched the movie and wow, there was a lot that I missed. But especially a lot of aspects of the message. As a kid I thought Tracy was so brave and impressive for trying to help, now I see that - like, sure, she helped, but she also caused a lotttt of trouble. Until rewatching I had kind of not remembered that she fucking whacks that cop with her whole sign - seriously, what the fuck was she achieving there, they surely could have had her approach that in a more realistic way (unless it is satire, as you say). And now I understood better why Miss Mabel and Seaweed were so horrified. It's all fun and games bringing the white girl to your peaceful protest until........like I know Tracy is a bit ditzy and kind of in her own world, but seriously, that's next level. Anyhow - so great to hear your love for Hairspray and your take on the movie, plus the history behind it. Cheers. (off topic but when I opened the video and saw Roman Roy I had to make sure I'd clicked the right one, I've been on a succession kick lately and did not expect to see his face here)

[@VelvetShadeBloom]

Let's goooo!! Thank you for all of your hard work

[@simpsonthekitten6448]

im so happy you uploaded this i watched hairspray for the first time just last week and ive been baffled by it since

[@stephaniefrost4910]

Hairspray (2007) is one of my favorite movie musicals of all time. I knew about the original film but had no knowledge of what motivated John Waters to write it, this was so informative and interesting! ❤ thank you for making this. It honestly makes me love it more (and really opened my eyes to why the original was so campy/absurd lol)

[@Ancusohm]

I didn't know much about this musical. Thank you for the great and informative video!

[@joeslater2390]

Things a far from perfect but can you imagine getting death threats for dancing with someone

[@miticaBEP07]

Just this day I had a discussion with a guy who made a speech (concerning Rachel Ziegler’s Snow White) that sounded a LOT like the reprise of Miss Baltimore Crabs, Velma’s villain song. The part about a standard having to be witheld. A speech that can no doubt be applied to fat people, but that more broadly reflects the very tenets of colonial eurocentrism. For this reason, as endearing and iconic as Tracy and Edna may be, I still find them the most palatable choice for protagonists of this story and this conflict. In a context like that of visibility, a kitsch white middle class mother and a fat white teenager who dances well are a nuisance; people of color are the very opposition.

[@rupphirestar3504]

oof the ways this video hits hard about the importance of making sure we have black folks within rhe fields of preservativion otherwise it gets lots without a second thought. Another banger of a video as always.

[@julieblair7472]

thanks for this super valuable and touching context, lots of this was news to me

[@TheDarkfaery]

This was a really interesting video to watch. Although I am a big fan of the newer Hairspray movie, I foolishly assumed it was a new IP and was purely based in fiction. As such I am very glad to be told how wrong I am.

[@Geraldine-ny5zk]

great video! also have to say I'm glad there's still talented video essayist out there making

[@UncleKeith567]

This is powerful work. I made me sad seeing the world my elders grew up in. My mother did tell me there was a real show back in the day, but that's all. My aunt went to Western, but a few years after the time of Mary Lou. Gotta shout out to the mention of City, my alma mater, which automatically a City cult member (Baltimore folk will understand.) Props to the integration club. Thank you, Yhara!

[@pullaposkinyam]

Ah! Such a good video, again. Your stuff is so cozy, has beautifull aesthetic, poignant, i just love to see what you have to say next! 🥺❤️❤️ Now i have to watch the eighties version and rewatch the new one after this vid 🤩✨✨

[@kunglaoshat1250]

The original movie will always have a special place in my heart because in elementary school I was obsessed with the dances and Tracey’s roach dress. Even though the movie could have done better by its black characters the whole thing is so ridiculous and camp that I guess my expectations weren’t very high. Even though I think the movie ultimately did have a message everything was so over the top that I get how John Waters could feel like he wasn’t making a “message movie”. On the other hand the musical is incredibly sincere so the Harvey Firstein quote about the musical having no message feels really off. It reminds me of when the movie musical came out and I could barely find Penny/Seaweed fanfiction but there was a ton of Amber/Corny Collins. People watched a movie where the central conflict is about segregation and created content shipping two white characters who barely spoke to each other. Hairspray absolutely fails it’s black characters, but some of the fandom (and apparently some of the cast) just have blinders on when it comes to the black experience.

[@bunji_beans]

This has always been my criticism of the musical! (from someone who also enjoys it tho it's never been a favorite) Thank you for wording it way better than I ever could

[@poppy8702]

i'm so glad you're back

[@Ron2theHills]

Amazing video! I always felt like Hairspray was a very optimistic yet naive show when it came to it's messaging, but you put that feeling into words in a very concise way. Absolutely subscribed!

[@taylorcatalana1783]

The line about Elijah Kelly and that song is so on point. Fantastic video that makes me want to learn so much history, even though it’s, unfortunately, not available.

[@wendynerd1199]

You have eruditely and intelligently articulated something about this story that is definitely an issue with it. In recent years, I've also been a little uncomfortable with the aspect of it being yet another story about "brave white person", as much as I love the music and the movies otherwise. My feelings on it aren't as well sourced or articulated as yours, but it's definitely something that has made me go "errrrr" in recent years while reading a lot about Black representation in media. It's true that Hairspray is a delight, and definitely a story with a message (a good one!) but that doesn't mean we have to pretend the execution is flawless and honestly, we really shouldn't.

[@lumenx7499]

Definitely not flawless but I also don’t think it has many of the problems talked about. The film is satire and most of the stuff Tracy says is so out of pocket there’s no way it can be taken seriously. Like saying she understood his struggles because she struggles with being overweight. Plus when you know who the director is it’s hard to take it seriously lol.

[@TinaMcCall.]

The majority culture loves the flavor, but hates the source. Why? To paraphrase Marco Inaros from the series The Expanse: The colonizer is always going to hate the one who shames him.

[@justinwatson1510]

Thank you for making this

[@AdviceFromAHipoCrite]

The music always brings tears to my eyes ❤

[@CheyenneLin]

New Yhara Zayd video, yes!

[@sandequation2653]

I like how your videos just end when they're over. It gives your thoughts some time to breathe.

[@jaded.4369]

Was literally listening to the soundtrack as this was posted😂

[@ernie39]

Beautiful work, as usual! I'm unfamiliar with Hairspray and had no idea it was about anything other than... well, hairspray. Learning about its topic and roots is yet another reminder that the US's history is full of so much routine tragedy and erasure.

[@catbroady]

Thank you for this! I've been hoping for a Hairspray deep dive for so long and this was great!

[@aamia3769]

Hairspray was my favorite movie growing up. No kidding. I know all the dance moves, songs, and the full script. I had a problem.

[@lyricbot8513]

I'm so excited to watch this vid, because I love the reboot but haven't seen the original.

[@pythonkatie1985]

I'm soo glad they were able to keep in "I Know Where I've Been" because Queen Latifah owned the shit out of that song.

[@apizzathatgiantforthesimpl5191]

As usual a brilliant analysis.

[@cheshirerose2001]

Always a good day when Yhara uploads

[@SmokeyChipOatley]

You are by far one of my favorite creators on KZbin. Not to sound cliché but you honestly deserve 10X the audience.

[@lucyoli4]

Imo Hairspray belongs in the same category of movies as 'the Help' and that category is "feel good racism movies" These movies have in common: - Racism get's "solved" at the end of the movie - Bad white characters who are so over the top racist that no one watching would feel confronted about their own behaviour - Good white characters who get portrayed as saints for doing the bare minimum - Both movies strangely also have a main character who is a white girl but who feels like an outsider because of her looks Basically movies that you can watch as a white person and that will make you believe that you would have been "one of the good guys" if you lived in that time period

[@Theoracleyaya]

As someone who only saw and grew up watching the 2007 hairspray that intro traumatized me 😭😭😭😂😂😂

[@cilantrho]

thanks for reminding me that i cry every time i see lil inez crowned miss teen hairspray

[@hilmijaidin1156]

The Waters film is a critique of the white gaze. Hence the ridiculousness of the ‘Our souls are black’ line. The musical on the other hand, is a celebration of the White Saviour, designed to congratulate a liberal white audience for being ‘the good kind of white people’. That’s why the musical is cringe, whereas the Waters film is subversive.

[@anticocomilk]

I like listening to these while doing homework, so now I feel extra educated :3

[@hannahep5148]

one of my favorite john waters quotes, "i can't go to trials anymore because people recognize me."

[@rachael5025]

thank you for talking about my messy fav