Like most queer people in the United States over December, I saw Wicked. I thought it was a great movie, and I enjoyed the singing. However, I was unprepared for how much of a cultural touchstone Wicked happens to be with other queer people. I just thought it was a musical, and I'd seen the Broadway show (which also featured good music). My eye-opening moment arrived during a brunch, when a trans woman "splained" me on why Wicked made her cry. All I could do was sit there, like a deer stunned by the headlights of an oncoming truck, and listen to the splain.
So...it turns out that Wicked at its source is just a story of two witches. One is treated badly yet has all the talent. The other is treated grandly, and she has no talent. And mixed in with all of that is the fascist metaphor of demonizing the talking animals and taking away their rights to pretty much just exist. I got all of that in the one viewing of the show. But it wasn't enough that I got all of that. It needed to be "splained" to me because I clearly did not understand, as (unfortunately) I didn't cry during the movie. I guess everyone who sees this thing cries because "Elphaba is me, dammit!" "I AM ELPHABA! I AM UNDERAPPRECIATED! I HAVE BEEN WRONGED AND I HAVE ALL THE TALENT." Okay then...but just maybe you don't have all the talent, and maybe you weren't wrong. Only...that particular message doesn't resonate as well with a lot of attention-seeking people.
For those who haven't seen this thing, the character of Elphaba is an empty sleeve for any person with narcissistic personality disorder to try on like clothes. She's judged heavily because she is ugly and green. Yet, she's the most powerful magic user that the country (realm?) of Oz has ever seen. There isn't anyone who can do better magic...they don't exist. She is like a goddess among muggles. Yet...she's looked down on and stepped down on and crushed beneath the heels of people who are so stupid and ignorant that it's just plain tragedy. It's the worst of injustices. Sound like a narcissistic dream? Yup, it sure is. I myself know a handful of people who feel like this, and they aren't even close to having the greatest talent in an entire realm. Now just to be clear...I'm not saying that Elphaba is a narcissist. I'm saying that narcissists will be attracted to Elphaba's character, because she's like a mirror to them of all the things they feel. And yes, it makes them cry.
So, you might think that the next logical step in engaging a person who is obsessed with Wicked might be to say, "Oh...well...thank you for sharing. Elphaba must be who you want to be." That's when the real surprise happens. "Oh...I'm a Glinda. Everyone thinks so." Then they get their buddy to weigh in. "Oh...she's definitely a Glinda...all the way." This is fascinating until you realize what's really going on. Elphaba is ugly and black. Glinda is an attractive white person. So...yeah...racism. They super relate to Elphaba, but they don't want to be Elphaba because they are a Glinda.... Okay then. Yeah...you've just showed me that you are both a narcissist and a closeted racist. Thanks a lot for that.
Wicked...what a great story. It tells you so much about some people and is a reflection of our modern times. I honestly wish I wasn't as smart as I am sometimes. I just see way too much truth. What's the old saying? Ignorance is bliss? Yeah...how would that be?
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