The
movie Pitch Perfect was released in
2012. It follows the story of Beca, a freshman at Barden University, who joins
the female-only acapella group called The Bellas. During her experience with
The Bellas, she finds encouragement in her companionship with another group
member named Chloe. The pair frequently share moments of suggestive interaction
throughout the movie. Chloe singles Beca out for solicitation in a crowd of
students, Chloe excitedly makes time on stage for Beca’s audition, and there
are frequent physical demonstrations of affection such and caressing, hugging,
and forehead touching. In this post, the focus will be on the arguably most
sensually charged scene between the couple. Early in the film, Beca and Chloe
interact in the shower.
Beca
is singing alone and is interrupted by Chloe who praises her voice and seeks to
bring out a sense of confidence and joy within Beca over her talents. Chloe
ultimately hopes to draw Beca closer to Chloe and, by extension, The Bellas.
This scene showcases well Audre Lorde’s concept of erotic in her article “Uses of the Erotic.”
“When
I speak of the erotic, then, I speak of it as an assertion of the lifeforce of
women; of that creative energy empowered, the knowledge and use of which we are
now reclaiming” (55). Here, Lorde describes the erotic potential within women
as an experience of creative energy. It’s a means of presenting oneself as the
authority over one’s sensual identity as expressed through “our language, our
history, our dancing, our loving, our work, our lives” (55). The shower scene
demonstrates a connection between two nude women through a shared creative
energy. Beca is able to overcome her vulnerability – as Lorde would say, her
fear of the yes within herself – and
is able to recognize and act on the desire within herself (58).
Another
major aspect of Lorde’s “Uses of the Erotic” is her understanding of joy as it
connects with the erotic. “The sharing of joy, whether physical, emotional,
psychic, or intellectual, forms a bridge between the sharers which can be the
basis for understanding” (56). When Chloe shares her musical joy with Beca, she
“lessens the threat of their difference” by creating that bridge of
understanding between them. Their shared experience of the song Titanium by David Guetta and Sia – a
song which Chloe describes as her “lady
jam,” a euphemism for masturbation, which brings overt sexuality into the
interaction – is a way to solidify similarities in a sensual and intimate way.
In
addition to the shared experience of joy being grounds for an erotic
relationship, Lorde stresses the importance of a capacity for joy. Calling it
“open and fearless,” she believes the potential for experiencing joy within
oneself is “another important way in which the erotic connection functions”
(56). Chloe exudes an understanding of her own capacity for joy. She is bubbly
and friendly and reaches out to others to unlock that potential for deep
happiness. Because Chloes finds strength in her own capacity for joy and finds
strength and confidence in that knowledge, she desires to awaken that in those
around her. Her pursuit of Beca in this context suggests that Chloe seeks to
arouse the same confidence in Beca.
The
nudity in this scene is not presented as pornographic. It is a definite
expression of intimacy and vulnerability and, as the scene progresses, both
characters accept the other’s level of exposure. The trust achieved in that
shared safe space isn’t breached by either women but instead by the male
presence at the end of the scene. Even with Beca’s final non-verbal reminder to
Chloe that she is nude and Chloe’s response of “I’m pretty confident of all
this” and motions to her body followed by Beca’s statement of “You should be,”
neither women is made to feel like a sexual object within each other’s gaze.
Lorde calls pornography “a direct denial of the power of the erotic, for it
represents the suppression of true feeling. Pornography emphasizes sensation
without feeling” (54). Pornography is a tool utilized by men to actively deny
the erotic lifeforce of women. “It has been made into the confused, the
trivial, the psychotic, the plasticized sensation” (54). When the two women in
the scene are interrupted by the man, they become hyper aware of their nudity
through his gaze. Chloe’s capacity and desire to share joy fluctuates as she
becomes anxious and flighty. Beca raises her voice in obvious discomfort and
irritation. This return of a male presence in their immediate proximity returns
the women to “the fear that we cannot grow beyond whatever distortions we may find
within ourselves [that] keeps us docile and loyal and obedient, externally
defined, and leads us to accept many facets of our oppression as women” (58).
By reevaluating their nudity after being viewed by a male gaze, the women
resign themselves reluctantly to being defined by this external source as
desirable for their nakedness and not for their talents.
Study
Questions
1. We mentioned that other scenes in this film could
arguably exemplify their intimacy and relationship. Using this video (hyperlink
this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6e7ekhjJzE ), expand on their dynamic.
Is the shower scene a one-off expression of queerness, or can the entire film
be read with a queer relationship between these two characters in mind?
2. Adrienne Rich's concept of a lesbian continuum, a
broad range in which female experiences and interactions can be experienced,
could also be used to identify the sense of queerness shared between Chloe and
Beca. What other definitions of 'queer' could be applied to this scene and
relationship?
3. Could this scene be read as empowering? Does
female nudity without shame or objectification inherently convey a sense of
empowerment? What about power? Is there a sense of one of these women holding
power in this scene?
4. In what ways does the entrance of a male
character at the end of the scene adjust the meaning of their interaction? If
it is a contrast to the dynamic Chloe and Beca and created, why?
Other
Links
Brittany Snow comments on queerness in Pitch Perfect in this interview.
Rebel Wilson comments on queerness in Pitch Perfect in this interview.
The "Other Links" are not required for understanding the post. If you have trouble accessing the video, here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WX5kGbO31L8
ReplyDeleteI think this could be a good example of the lesbian continuum as described in Rich's article. These two women are intimately involved with one another in a way that transcends basic friendship but exists somewhere before a sexual one. They are comfortable with each other and immediately have a connection but at no point during the movie is there any mention of sexual attraction or deeper emotional relationship. I think it provides an interesting and realistic view of how female friendships can exist at deeper, more complex levels than most people would care to believe. The male character entrances also serve as a straightening out of th characters. It's hollywood's way of saying look, they're kinda of gay but now not really. It makes it more PC and able to be consumed by the great unwashed masses.
ReplyDeleteI concur with Lauren in regards to Rich's lesbian continuum. The interaction between Chloe and Beca shows that they are definitely not in any sort of a romantic relationship, but the connection they establish through singing the song is beyond a simple friendship. Chloe is portrayed to be very comfortable with her body and sexuality whereas Beca is very apprehensive about hers, as she is very quick to cover up when Chloe opens the shower curtain. I gleaned from the scene that Chloe might be lesbian, but Beca isn't and this would explain her obvious discomfort throughout. The entrance of the man at the end serves to bring us back to the reality of "oh, these girls are straight". It's the film makers way of justifying the scene and making it socially acceptable in my eyes. It's like they didn't want to receive criticism for a queer encounter in their movie, so they righted it by slipping a man in there at the very end.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a fantastic example of a queer reading, and their voices couldn’t be any more perfect! Ugh jealous whatever. Haha. The relationship between Beca and Chloe is special, their connection when they sing is electric and when they harmonize it sounds amazing which I believe adds to the feeling of connection between them. Chloe hints at masturbation which I think points to Chloe not being a lesbian but being very comfortable with showing her sexuality. She never once ogles Beca in any other way other than in awe of her voice. Beca is vulnerable in two ways; from a nude point of view and her shyness of her vocals. Chloe seeks to conquer both of these obstacles at once and acts as the “butch” between a fem/butch interaction. Rich has a point that women between women can have some pretty intensely close bonds and I believe they are perfectly embraced and on display in Pitch Perfect. Great example!
ReplyDeleteI’m going to agree with Ryan about the entrance of the man and how it disrupts the flow of things. I do believe that the guy brings us out of the social awkwardness of having two girls singing to each other nude in the shower (it’s especially weird when you notice that they are just staring into each other’s eyes the whole time while doing this haha). His signals of attraction toward Beca really highlight the standard of society of focusing on women in sexual manner which disrupts the intimate bonding between Chloe and Beca. Lezbehonest, without the entrance of the guy, too many people would stay focused on Chloe and Beca possibly having attraction for one another through the whole movie. However, the fact that he only focuses on Beca as an attractive object isn’t necessarily bad, at least in the sense that it helps us truly define that these girls aren’t being intimate in a sexual way and seeing these girls bond in a deeper manner than society often expects is refreshing to see.
ReplyDeleteAlso y'all win life for posting a Pitch Perfect related post.
I agree with a lot of points you'll are making. This in my opinion is a great example of lesbian contiunum. Beca and Chloe do share this sort of, what we might refer to as intimate space. I don't think there is anything directly meant by it but I can see how would could apply Rich ' s theory to their relationship. Throughout the entire film they share a connection that none of the other girls seem to share. This relationship is developed early on in the shower scene with Beca and Chloe. Though Beca is caught off guard at first she progressively ggrow more comfortable with Chloe ' presence, that is until the male figure appears. With the presence of Chloe ' male friend the delicate balance and openness they felt with one another is quickly thrown off. They are no longer "aloud" to explore their openness with one another.
ReplyDeleteI feel like the shower scene sets up the movie with a queer relationship between them. This intimate space is reconfirmed when Chloe begins singing "Just the way you are" almost directly to Beca. In fact I would argue the Chloe is bisexual. She does glance down in the shower scene. The scene in the bleachers is also very intimate and from Chloe's body language a romantic kiss at any time would not be out of the realm of possibilities. Also "Just the way you are" is sung about a lover and Chloe sings it directly to Beca. It might be a stretch but I'm just throwing it out there.
ReplyDeleteI think this post is an excellent example of the use of the erotic and the lesbian continuum as seen by Audre Lorde. The two women share a deeper connection in way of music, despite Beca's discomfort with being nude. As a society, we have linked nakedness with sex and other taboo topics, which explains Beca's discomfort. However, it is interesting to see how the two are able to look beyond this to connect on a deeper level. Chloe is motivated to have Beca as part of the Bellas, so much that her passion overrides societal standards and assumptions. Also, it is refreshing to see the film industry use nudity in such an empowering way. The scene is not sexualized in a pornographic way, but instead as a way to use the nudity as a path to empowerment. Also, the male interruption at the end of the scene serves as, as Lauren stated, a way of "straightening out" the characters. He halts their female connectivity, and reminds them of their nudity. The two are embarrassed, and return back to their places.
ReplyDeleteKudos Group 3 for your choice of text for us to analyze. In watching the above clip and viewing the other examples given, there is more than enough evidence that the relationship between Beca and Chloe would definitely reside on the lesbian continuum. Viewing the compilation clip, it seemed to me that the acts of intimacy between the young women deepened as their singing relationship and friendship evolved. The glances and touches shared between Beca and Chloe weren't sexualized, yet these gestures hinted that there could be a level of sexual attraction that both(maybe?) were trying to figure out how to negotiate in this heteronormative space. Based on the compilation, Chloe and Beca mutually empower one another, through their constant encouragement and allowing the other to display their ability within the group structure. Rather than stifle all the power, as it seems the main leader of The Bellas was subscribing to do; these two young women were invested in sharing that energy; which allowed them to connect with others interested in uncovering and sustaining the joy within. The intimate, sensual and power displayed in their deepening friendship was a far cry from being pornographic; as they were able to, on some level, embrace the feeling along with the sensation of joy that their singing bought to them and others.
ReplyDeleteI think this scene is truly presenting the erotic according to Lorde. The lesbian continuum, although might not be so obvious, still could be read from it. As Beca doesn't feel comfortable withe the intimacy with Chloe to see each other nude, things has changed after they sing together. You can see the facial expression of Beca changes. The relationship between these two has reached a higher level while they are sharing the music. It is also interesting to see that Chloe's pretty comfortable with her nudity while Beca is feeling awkward. I think there is some kind of empowerment in Chloe since she is showing that she is very confident about her body and it has nothing to do with how man looks at it.
ReplyDeleteIve never seen the movie but I believe that I got a pretty good idea of what the shower scene looked like from this post. I appreciate that the nudity in the scene was not intended to arouse the movie's male audience. I see the nudity as a sign of similarity and acceptance of vulnerability between the women. I also think that the nudity is less about being confident in the body and more about being confident without clothes and accessories. The nudity gets rid of the possibility of connecting based on superficial means. It allows for the women to connect on a deeper level based on ideas and similar avenues of expression.. in this case that avenue being singing.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Mykalah. The shower scene's nudity is clearly not meant to arouse the male audience as shown by the focus on their singing talent rather than the fact that they are nude. It was simply a device to convey the vulnerability Beca potentially felt by entering the a capella group. Chloe assisted in helping Beca realize that through their common bond of womanhood, they could express their talent purely. This is obviously reverted back to the sexualization of the women's body by the lurking man who comments on their singing talent, then eyes their bodies non-discreetly. Prior to the man entering however, this scene helps Beca and Chloe develop a strong friendship (an potentially queer on some levels) bond that remains present throughout the film.
ReplyDeleteFirst, I'd like to say that I love this movie and am super excited for the sequel! Now that that's out of the way... Connor's comment on the nudity provoking a sense of vulnerability instead of sensuality is dead on. When the entire film is taken into consideration, the nudity acts as another way for Beca to step out of her comfort zone. She's more comfortable playing the lone wolf role with her music. Being forced, naked, to sing along with Chloe puts her in a position where she is able to see the beauty of collaboration. Lorde's idea of the erotic is thus put on display as the two girls bare their bodies as well as there talent, in order to make beautiful music. The bonding experience they gain as well is particularly important. It shows the power of collaboration Lorde insisted is necessary for a better future for women.
ReplyDeleteI think that in the context of the movie, the shower scene exhibits the erotic. Britney Snow is very confident in her body, in a way that lets her present herself to Anna Kendrick in a completely nonsexual way. If you watch their eyes, there is not a single moment where they try to sexualize each other. They are simply talking about music and I don't think the scene would be much different if they were in clothes. The lesbian continuum is also present especially as the plot develops and the two women get more comfortable with each other. Anna Kendrick is shy and embarrassed in the scene, but throughout the movie the women become closer and more comfortable after singing together.
ReplyDeleteI think that while the erotic and lesbian continuum can be seen in the movie, looking at it from the outside, a random shower scene with two naked women, it was meant to garner the attention of men watching the movie. Despite no sexual tension present, I think that the scene was intended to at least "tease" the men watching. Both women are beautiful and made up, with their hair styled and makeup on. I think the fact that this scene exists anyway works to promote the fact that women are objectified by men. So taken from the context inside the movie, the erotic exists, but looking at the scene from a pop culture/random movie point of view, I think it still perpetuates the gender double standards.
I definitely agree with what people have been saying about this clip as an example of the erotic and of the lesbian continuum. Beca and Chloe clearly are having an intimate moment, yet there is no suggestion of a romantic attachment between them. I thought the erotic was especially present here; the two women are finding a connection through something that brings them joy.
ReplyDeleteTo address empowerment and body image--absolutely it is empowering in and of itself for female nudity to happen in a context that is not sexual or objectifying. I think the nudity also works to contribute to the sense of empowerment that Beca develops throughout the scene. At first she is very shy about both her body and her singing, but as the scene develops, she begins to have more confidence in both. Thus, having confidence in something that brings joy and connection is linked to a sense of more positive self-evaluation.
I believe that the scene could be read as empowering. It can be empowering for the original woman who was singing because her friend was encouraging her to sing, and that allowed the original woman to sing with confidence. At first the woman who walks in on the other is in power, but as the confidence of the other grows that power becomes more balanced.
ReplyDeleteI feel that the clip does fall under Lorde's definition of the erotic, and it can fall under Rich's idea of a lesbian continuum. The connection between the two appears to be stronger than what it may see. When singing the two women connect at a deeper leverl and it can be seen through their faces.
I feel that based on the video in question 1, that their relationship can definitely be read as a queer one. Not necessarily in a lesbian relationship, but existing somewhere that is more than just friends. While the shower scene may be one of the most explicit forms of a queer bond between them I don't think that it's the only part that really applies. For the shower scene itself, there is obviously a sense of immediate discomfort (She cover up her chest to hide) and while that may go away as she starts singing, It seems like Chloe has a dominating role throughout, which may just be a better sense of confidence with her body. Beca again becomes very tense after Chloe's boyfriend? enters. its that entrance of a male figure that leads her to be more uncomfortable rather than the presence of Chloe alone.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I'm a big fan of using nudity to convey emotions other than just the sensual or the sexual. I'm not sure if it is necessarily empowering, but using nudity to express something like vulnerability in this scene helps to destabilize the idea that a naked body, especially a woman's naked body, is inherently sexual in any situation. The turn from a tone of vulnerability to one of connection between the two characters could also work towards this, because even though there is clearly a bond between the two women, and whether or not we want to argue it is romantic in nature, there is nothing sexual in the way it's portrayed.
ReplyDeleteI also think it's really interesting that it was the introduction of a guy into the scene that broke the moment of peace between the two girls. This in particular seems to speak to Lorde's notion of the lesbian continuum, because it sets up the scene as something that is shared exclusively between women, a kind of safe space where they can feel at ease with one another that the man in the scene can only intrude on, rather than share in.
I've never seen this movie, but from this scene I think Chloe is a very refreshing character, specifically because she so openly alludes to the female orgasm ("this is my jam... my LADY jam", "it really BUILDS") privately to another woman, with no suggestion of specific sexuality. Her confidence in herself and her personal pleasure are radical for mainstream television. While Beca is clearly uncomfortable about Chloe's nudity and invasion of her personal space, which would be accepted as an understandable or normal reaction, the scene is presented neutrally and neither of the women are presented as the "normal" one. When the male comes in at the end, Beca is even more horrified than before, and Chloe doesn't seem to care, suggesting that she could be bisexual or possibly just able to see bodies without passing judgement or feeling vulnerable. This clip is a great example of Rich's lesbian continuum, and the way that singing together clearly starts bringing Beca out of her shell is a surprising way to highlight the power of unconventional or nonverbal communication as well as non-sexual, non-competive, non-normative female connection.
ReplyDeleteI have to say that as many times as I've seen this movie, I've never even thought of this scene as having any sort of deeper meaning besides the laughs that it brings about, so I commend group three for opening my eyes to a greater meaning that definitely enriches the movie. As many people have already said, I think this a great example of Lorde's use of the erotic, specifically through sensuality, but more so through the vulnerability that the sensual undertones of the scene bring out. One of the big themes of the movie, at least to me, has always been the idea of stepping out of your comfort zone to experience new things. In this scene we see this theme occur in a literal sense, as naked Beca chooses to come out of her comfort zone and sing with a naked Chloe. the vulnerability comes not just from the nudity, presented here less as sexual and more so as comedic (at least to me), but also from two girls deciding to sing with each other. For many people, singing is a very private, intimate thing that they would never do around other people, and Beca seems like she could be one of those people. By encouraging her to both sing with her while in a very vulnerable state, as well as try out for the Bellas, Chloe is actively trying to seek a deeper connection with Beca, which she ends up also seeking, this is an excellent use of Lorde's definition of the erotic in terms of deep and meaningful female friendships that create something greater than the sum of the parts.
ReplyDeleteI believe that this scene is a good example of lesbian continuum. They do not have a sexual relationship, which is clear by Beca's discomfort being nude, but share a deeper connection through music. Society sets the standard that nudity is connected with sex. Chloe and Beca connect through their musical talents, and also because Chloe's confidence in herself, and in Beca's talents creates a more comfortable relationship between the two. I believe the film does a good job of establishing this too. It does not lead us to believe there will be a sexual relationship between the two. It shows that their relationship is established through their musical talents in an empowering way.
ReplyDeleteI believe that this shows not only the lesbian continuum, but it also, shows that the heterosexual male voice always overthrows the others. In the scene, Chloe is much more confident with her naked body than Beca, which draws an interesting dynamic within the scene. This change of body image between the two helps to create a more intimate setting. Which helps to contribute to the lesbian continuum theory. Once the male is present, however, the scene becomes intimate in a sexual way, which it was not before. The simple act of adding a straight male to a scene, can change the whole scheme and reaction we get from the other characters. This scene is an excellent example of the lesbian continuum, and the heterosexual privilege that exists within our culture.
ReplyDeleteThis was an awesome choice of work! I have never seen Pitch Perfect before, but now I am going to definitely have to see it.
ReplyDeleteThis scene is the perfect example of a lesbian continuum in my eyes. This scene is empowering, by showing Chloe's confidence in her own body and by Chloe instilling confidence in Beca. It emphasizes women's strength together as a whole, not just focusing on sexuality. I've struggled with Rich's lesbian continuum, because I think it tries to encapsulate too broad of a field, but put in this scenario I think it is the perfect way to describe these girls and this situation. Since Rich created this term with the intent to include women who may not deem themselves sexually a lesbian, I think it's a difficult term to really understand, and I think it can take away the "significance" of those women are actually identify as a lesbian. But this scene was the perfect mix of sexual tense and women empowerment, that I would say the lesbian continuum described it perfectly.
Although I think Rich explains this scene the best with the lesbian continuum, I believe this situation could also be described under Doty's fourth definition of queer, non-normative gender performance including those by straight-identified folk. This definition adds a bit of lee-way to the term--unlike how many people see queer, just as a synonym for gay, lesbian bisexual. And since this scene has sexual inclinations, but is mainly just a female empowering scene (through my perspective), the term "non-normative" would be another strong way to encapsulate what was going on in this scene from Pitch Perfect.
I think this really details the lesbian continuum in a very unique way than most other forms of media try to convey it. They are both secure in each other and hold an almost spiritual bond, a bond that is outside just the realm of physical desire and cravings. The media tends to show lesbians through the looking glass of men: sexy, lusting, and (excuse the language) bitchy. This is never an accurate depiction of real lesbian relationships, and finding any entertainment that is really geared towards lesbians, instead of men, is unfortunately difficult.
ReplyDeleteI think this was a good example! I remember seeing this movie a few years ago and being like WHOA LESBIANS REALLY? But then my excitement was for naught. Regardless, I like your take on this relationship. Bringing in Lorde was a good call. I'd go on to extend this beyond just the shower scene. This relationship is very important to the main character's development and the plot of the movie. Beca is so curmudgeonly that she wouldn't have done much at all if not prompted and nagged and encouraged. This could all be read as queer!
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