I didn't go to Oberlin for nothing
Academics will tell you that "the American suburb and its racial history is realized visually in the act of cultural cooptation embodied through the contemporary stereotype of white, suburban youth subcultures known as the 'wigger,' [who] seize black popular culture to affirm their privileged racial and class position."
The realization of this phenomenon in Huckapoo character P.J. Bardot is so blatant (and, frankly, boring) that I haven't bothered to mention it before, but the image above raises the potentially more interesting issue of P.J. not as coded African but as coded male. P.J., in her white tank top filled out no better (or worse) than that of the young man seated behind her, is clearly "one of the boys." But she is not just any of the boys, she is the one on whom the others -- surrounding her like a pack of wolves -- can safely project their homoerotic desire. No doubt the lad in the foreground with the nervous but excited grin has removed his shirt in front of his mates many times before, but it is only the liberating (if sublminal) force of P.J. Bardot that allows him to finally declare -- literally written on his naked body -- "I Love... Huckapoo."
Obviously this theory has profound implications for any male fan who lusts after the Huckapoo "girls." Not that I know anybody like that.
Oh yeah. I happened to be thinking about this because somebody here points out that P.J.'s shirt appears to say "boy sex." Nice secret code.
Comments
What on earth is a huckapoo??
Posted by: ty | August 5, 2005 3:48 PM
Speaking of pop-culture lasses laden with text and subtext, there seems to be potential news on the Lohanboobies front. She "wants [them] back," according to this surely unimpeachable source:
http://www.teentoday.co.uk/gossip/gossipstory454.shtml
I know, we must reserve judgment. The proof is in the (several servings of) pudding and, ultimately, in the cups. But this gives some hope that LL's emaciation is in its last throes.
Posted by: John | August 5, 2005 4:03 PM
http://huckamedia.net/gallery/albums/Live/june2905/lisa/DSCF0015.JPG
Yeah, it obviously says "Boy Sex" Though, that would make things more interesting.
Huckanews has been so slow lately :(
Posted by: Alexa | August 6, 2005 12:59 AM
interesting, i had a friend who came out in high school. the only girl he openly lusted after prior to his coming out was sporty spice.
Posted by: angela | August 8, 2005 4:38 AM
Well analyzed, young Obie. Was that you in my Women's Studies class?
Posted by: Vance | August 9, 2005 10:36 AM
Women's studies? At Oberlin, that's how they teach physics.
Posted by: radosh | August 9, 2005 10:40 AM
Maybe "Box Set"?
Posted by: Vermont Ferret | August 9, 2005 4:18 PM
At this point I'm completely happy with my state college education. It's the reason my head isn't full of crap like that, but at the same time I know enough to understand the crap.
Go UNA!
Posted by: Nyx | August 13, 2005 11:57 PM