Sunday, July 25, 2010

Is Peter an icon?

Years ago, when I first saw this poster, it struck me: Peter Pan must be a gay icon.

I don't know why it struck me so clearly, but it did, and I think various things support it:

  • "The Lost Boys"
  • No girls on the Island
  • The never growing up thing
  • Peter is traditionally played by a girl (whu?)
Ok, and not exactly evidence, but the biggest Danish gay organization is called "Pan".

Maybe it's really an asexuality thing which Michael Jackson also had, and which gives a sort of confusion which can come off as gay.

Anyway, the outfit looks so gay on guys:
 


And so good on girls: 

(This is Gemma Atkinson. Seems she is not a household name yet, but I hope she's going places.)

11 comments:

ttl said...

The outfit does look gay on guys, but as it is not designed for grown ups, I'm not sure that argument is valid.

I once went to see the Peter Pan statue in Kensington Park just so I might understand the character better. I don't remember getting any gay vibes.

But I do agree, it is a deep archetype. Papagena and Papageno in Mozart's The Magic Flute are dressed exactly like Peter Pan. Their relationship is asexual.

The Magic Flute is so full of symbolism you could dedicate a University Department just for its study. Pogue should write a missing manual.

Tommy said...

Personally, I think she looks more like Maid Marion, than Peter Pan..

Eolake Stobblehouse said...

Hehe, yes. Thanks.

"I once went to see the Peter Pan statue in Kensington Park just so I might understand the character better."

LOL. Yes, I agree your qualifications beat mine all to hell.

Josie blames me for writing about things I don't know much about. But how else could I write about anything at all?
Josie might say "shut up then", but he keeps coming back, so there must be something in my writing.

ttl said...

Even though Peter is not gay, he may still be a gay icon. There's no understanding the gaylords.

The biggest gay icon in Finland is a heterosexual woman! From all things.

Eolake Stobblehouse said...

Oh, hell yes. I didn't mean that Peter Pan himself was gay. Clearly he is asexual. But like you say...

Eolake Stobblehouse said...

What I'm wondering about is whether the writer of the original Peter Pan had any thoughts about it being any kind of gay icon.
And this could happen subconsciously, I believe that an artist is often not aware of the full ramifications of his work, even though something may have been intended by the "big artist" sitting somewhere behind the scenes in his mind.

Of course this is futile speculation, and I don't consider it important anyway, it's just a funny little thing to think about, and I got curious because how clearly it hit me when I saw that poster.

Miserere said...

It is rumoured that J.M. Barrie, the author of Peter Pan, never consummated his marriage to the actress he married, who eventually had an affair and forced him to divorce her.

Being the avid movie viewer you are, I imagine you've seen Finding Neverland, with a wonderful Johnny Depp playing J.M. Barrie. I don't know how close to reality it is (certainly nowhere near 100%), but it's a beautifully photographed film that's well worth watching.

Eolake Stobblehouse said...

Yes, a good flick that.

Alex said...

It's Panto. The leading boy is always played by a gal. Prince Charming, the miller son in Puss In Boots, Jack of Beanstalk fame.

Reminds me, time to see the '93 version again. Jason Isaac's is a good Hook, though Alan Rickman did it a little better in "An Awfully Big Adventure"

Anonymous said...

I know that you're not exactly a brain, Eolake, but even for you that is bad. Logic is obviously something completely foreign to you. You won't understand that enough even to be embarrassed for yourself as you should be. You're that dense.

Joe said...

The outfit does look on Gemma Atkinson. However this is not a fair comparison.

She would look good in or out of anything.
Joe