Fat and Queer Representation Done Right! R/J Review

Keep in mind our prior article about fat representation in media and dialogue of the film The Whale? Let’s speak about illustration accomplished proper! It was on a smaller scale and for a short run, however we wish to share all the nice moments with you! 

R/J was primarily based on Romeo and Juliet, a Shakespeare traditional, however not the best way you could have seen it earlier than! It was fully rewritten by a duo of queer theater activists and featured fats, queer, trans, non-binary, and BIPOC actors.

The Strand Theater Co positioned in Baltimore, MD was the stage for the most effective, most relatable, inclusive productions we’ve ever witnessed.

Fats Illustration in R/J Delivered!

There have been so many poignant moments inside this present. One of the related to our readers can be the scene the place Juliet, performed and created by Betse Lyons (she/her), discusses her experiences with fatphobia.

For some context, though there are some components of this present that had been pulled from the Shakespeare script, there have been additionally additions of modern-day language, social media, and popular culture references, particularly throughout the music choice. 

The subject of fatphobia comes up within the second half of the present. Juliet is advised by her lesbian dad and mom that she goes to be compelled into a wedding with the princess, whom Juliet has recognized since they had been youngsters.

Juliet describes how they was once very shut buddies however as she hit puberty and her physique started to vary, the princess began to deal with her like she was invisible. She additionally goes on to speak about how romantic relationships trigger individuals to get “bizarre” about their preferences.

Take note, that is delivered whereas her character is carrying a crop high and skirt – probably the most applicable apparel to debate how fats ladies are handled. 

In a following scene, Juliet’s mom proceeds to make a number of fatphobic feedback to her. “The princess has glorious cooks and private trainers.” “Possibly put on one thing that matches you.” “We are able to’t simply pull one thing in your dimension to put on.” 

We can’t convey how seen the plus dimension of us within the viewers felt throughout these scenes, myself included. There have been audible gasps and a really vocal, visceral response from the viewers throughout these scenes.

How many people have felt invisible? How many people have had a romantic curiosity flip us down simply due to how we glance? How many people have heard those self same fatphobic feedback delivered so nonchalantly, as if we must always simply count on them? 

Based on the Strand Theater Company’s Facebook page, “Sadly, a lot of our society nonetheless thrives on ignoring the truth that fats our bodies exist. The stage is not any exception to this rule; the truth is, it’s a main arbiter. Relying on the way you classify it, 40-70% of American adults are fats, and that demographic is painfully underrepresented on our levels. That is precisely why we created R/J, to offer individuals an opportunity to see simply how lovely it may be to permit marginalized our bodies to breathe new life into characters we thought we knew. Fats individuals need to have their tales advised.“

Queer and Trans Illustration in R/J

There was a completely attractive second, additionally within the second half of the present, the place Romeo, performed and created by O’Malley Steuerman (they/thons), and Juliet take away their outer clothes earlier than going to mattress collectively.

This stood out as such a profound second as a result of Juliet was merely in a bra and underwear juxtaposed in opposition to Romeo’s surgical scars from gender affirming surgical procedure (a standard surgical procedure for trans masc or non-binary people).

There was this second of acknowledgment about how all our bodies are lovely and completely deserving of love- trans our bodies, fats our bodies, queer our bodies, disabled bodies- each single individual is worthy.

Romeo merely states, towards the start of the present, “I desire a love that makes me really feel like myself.” This was a line that doubtless hit residence to lots of queer of us within the viewers. Based mostly on private expertise, popping out might be laborious.

Discovering who you might be and accepting your self generally is a robust journey. Coping with outdoors judgement might be extremely tough. To search out another person who has shared related struggles can actually make you’re feeling seen, understood, and make you comfy sufficient to be your true genuine self.

The Strand Theater Firm’s Fb web page additionally states, “Queer love is essential. Queer love is every thing. Queer love is being seen and accepted, as nothing aside from your self.”

One other line of Romeo’s, “I didn’t know I may really feel this- that I may very well be completely happy.” That is one other that basically impacted the viewers. In relation to any marginalized identification, it’s implied that if you’re outdoors of society’s “normal,” that you could be by no means be really completely happy, you might by no means discover love.

That’s the concept that is ingrained into us rising up in a cis-het white Eurocentric magnificence standard-focused society. However that is one thing that lots of us develop to acknowledge isn’t truly a common fact. You may completely be completely happy and beloved regardless of what others declare.

When you’ll be able to really be you and settle for your self for who you might be, that’s true happiness.

Why Plus Measurement and Queer Media Illustration Issues

For this reason illustration in media, and extra importantly good illustration, is so essential. A 2022 report discovered that regardless of most ladies within the US being plus dimension, fats ladies solely made up 6.7% of characters in the preferred movies over the past 10 years. The same determine was discovered for the preferred TV exhibits. 

A 2020 survey by GLAAD and P&G discovered that queer illustration elevated acceptance by as much as 45%. LGBTQIA+ illustration solely accounts for 6.7% of the highest 10 recurring solid members throughout the highest 300 broadcast, cable, and streaming exhibits from 2019. It’s famous that Latinx and BIPOC femmes are underrepresented.

Intersectionality, the concept that totally different aspects of an individual’s identification can have an effect on their privileges or disadvantages in life, is a vital lens by means of which we must always analyze illustration. This will embrace race, gender, and many others. and the way they overlap throughout programs of discrimination. Queer individuals are available all shapes, sizes, and colours!

Think about if you happen to would have grown up with fats or queer or extra actors of coloration or trans actors as function fashions? Are you able to think about how many people wouldn’t really feel “othered” by our friends?

Are you able to think about how rather more accepting society may very well be if we normalized all our bodies?

That is what we want! Extra inclusion of marginalized identities and our bodies throughout all media.

Extra About Strand

Strand Theater Company is the one brick-and-mortar, stay theater venue in Baltimore Metropolis solely devoted to the work of amplifying ladies’s voices onstage and off!

Situated within the vibrant Hamilton-Lauraville neighborhood, Strand is a 501c3 non-profit that’s woman-owned and devoted to inclusivity, accessibility, and group. Need to study extra?