Jim Sharman’s The Rocky Horror Picture Show: A Research Essay
Preface: In my US history class junior year we had to produce a research essay. The prompt was to “select an era/decade(s) of 20th century (1900s) American history and analyze the impact of specific music and/or literature on social, political, economic, and/or cultural changes of that time”. This is the essay I wrote, which was originally submitted to my school.
“It is not easy to see why this campy trash was a long-running hit in London and a smash success in Los Angeles, except that transvestism has always fascinated the British and the L.A. scene is almost as kinky” (Kalem). Jim Sharman’s movie The Rocky Horror Picture Show, was about two naive characters, Brad and Janet, being introduced to new experiences. When leaving a wedding, the recently engaged Brad and Janet run into car troubles forcing them to stay the night at a scary castle filled with eccentric characters such as Dr. Frank N Furter, a sexualized monster named Rocky Horror, and other aliens from the Planet Transylvania. This rock-musical which was released in 1975 was initially met with mixed reviews. However, despite the original views of the movie, it has had a continual and lasting impact on American society because of how people can easily connect to the characters. Sharman directed and co-wrote The Rocky Horror Picture Show in 1975 to shed light on The Sexual Revolution and to give people an escape from the cruel realities of life, generating social and cultural change.
The Sexual Revolution, which began in the 1960s but spanned the 1970s, helped prime the world for the release of The Rocky Horror Picture Show and how important it would be for society. “[The Sexual Revolution] reshaped Americans’ understanding of sexuality, the acceptance of artificial contraception and premarital sex, and the increased visibility of the gay and lesbian community” (Glankler). The Sexual Revolution helped open the minds of American citizens and destigmatized a lot of taboos in the country, such as sex, contraception, and the LGBTQ+ community. The movie deals with a lot of these stigmatized concepts, especially sex and the LGBTQ+ community. One of the main characters, Dr. Frank N Furter, is a transvestite. There was not a lot of representation of these LGBTQ+ people at the time, so a character that became so beloved helped normalize these identities. To add to this cultural destigmatization, there were legal changes that helped with these new social changes. In Griswold v. Connecticut in 1965, the supreme court allowed the legal sale of contraceptives in the United States, and also in 1973, the legalization of abortion (Glankler). These legal measures helped Americans shift from seeing sexual activity as only a form of reproduction to an act of pleasure. The idea of sexual gratification was seen in the movie due to a short-lived fling between Janet and Rocky. The inclusion of promiscuity and scenes that were deemed controversial for the time has had a lasting impact, despite the initial backlash. To create such a ground-breaking and prejudice shattering work of art, there would need to be an artist who was unafraid of the controversies that might surround it.
Sharman has had an extensive history with musicals and breaking controversies, even before The Rocky Horror Picture Show. In an interview, Sharman stated, “My own background was divided between a very conventional city upbringing in a very conservative Australia - I think I did a little bit to correct that starting with ‘Hair’- but the rest of the time my family ran traveling sideshows” (King). Because of Sharman’s contrasting upbringing, he struggled to find out who he truly was. The musicals he was involved with help show his attempts of self-discovery. The Rocky Horror Picture Show being as controversial and wacky as it was, can be thought of as a representation of defiance to his childhood. Other examples in Sharman’s extensive creative repertoire can also be seen as his self-expression. In an interview, Sharman stated, “I was involved in the three major rock musicals of that era - Hair (Australia and Japan), Jesus Christ Superstar (Australia and London) and The Rocky Horror Show (everywhere). Between them, they re-shaped the musical theatre and helped define their time” (“TRHPS Official Fan). All of these musical productions were groundbreaking for their time, broke a lot of barriers, and are now very well respected. Being involved in these productions show how important Sharman was for theatre communities. Without this past experience, Sharman may not have been able to create such a well crafted and beautiful movie. This could have resulted in the important messages being reflected in the work to not be appreciated and outright rejected. Without Sharman’s creativity and lack of fear surrounding the controversies with The Rocky Horror Picture Show, it would not have been able to become the cultural success it was.
Despite its long-time cult following and appreciation, The Rocky Horror Picture Show was not thought of as highly as it is today when released. In an interview, Sharman stated, “It was so low-budget I think it was always considered an oddity by the studio, they would never have imagined it as a potential blockbuster, more like a sleeper… it was considered so cheap and quirky that, mercifully, we were left to our own devices to make the film we wanted to make” (“TRHPS Official Fan). Even before the movie’s conception, it was set up to fail. The lack of funding meant they were unable to produce a movie that could contend with the big hits of the 1970s. However, this ended up giving the movie a lot of charm and flexibility with what they could do. While the bold and creative decisions made by Sharman with what little they were given is appreciated now, it was not at the time. When the movie was released in 1975, “it was a critical and commercial failure” (Wong). The movie was very controversial when it first came out which caused it to get a lot of bad reviews. This was because for 1975 culture and society, The Rocky Horror Picture Show broke a lot of the societal norms such as suggestive imagery, sexual behavior, and a transvestite leading character. Despite the lack of appreciation when the movie was released, it became a cult favorite in just a few short years because the world became more accepting of these ‘different’ and ‘controversial’ ideas.
The movie’s writing includes a lot of lines that test the societal and cultural norms being practiced when it was released. In the song, ‘Touch-A-Touch-A-Touch-A-Touch Me’, Janet sings to Rocky, “Touch-a, touch-a, touch-a, touch me/ I wanna be dirty/ Thrill me, chill me, fulfill me/ Creature of the night” (“Richard O'Brien). Through song, Janet expresses her sexual desires for the Rocky creature. Aside from these sexual thoughts and actions being in the movie alone, they are normalized which was new for the time. The want for sexual pleasure was something that was repressed, especially for women, until the Sexual Revolution. This served as only one of the groundbreaking lines from the movie. At the end of the movie after being revealed as aliens, the castle ascends to return back to the Planet Transylvania. As the ending shot is shown the Criminologist says, “And crawling, on the planet’s face, some insects, called the human race. Lost in time, and lost in space… and meaning” (Sharman). From the visuals alone, one can see this as a representation of how the humans are left on Earth, as the aliens leave for their home. But to go further, this is showing how these people, while newly experienced and more open-minded, were still confined by the realities of their time. The aliens were the epitome of what one can hope the future would look like: accepting and diverse. For Brad, Janet, and Dr. Scott (another human character who arrives at the castle) their lives are still ‘lost’. Through its script and imagery, The Rocky Horror Picture Show challenged its audience and inspired them to be different than the stereotypes and to fully accept themselves in their world.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show has generated continual social change by helping people become more accepting despite how much has changed in the world since its premiere. In an interview, Sharman stated, “mostly young non-mainstream audiences simply got it. They found the combo of the film and the music, the masquerade and the party atmosphere, allowed them to deal with difficult things in their lives, especially their sexuality, in a light liberating way. The mainstream audience only saw the surface, and they turned away, but the late-night audience picked up on what was under that surface - and it spoke to them” (“TRHPS Official Fan). While the movie had a large impact on the culture of the late 1970s and 1980s, its main influence was on people who were outcasts. This movie highlighted in the best ways all that it meant to be so-called weirdo, outsider, or unappreciated. It spoke to the hearts of those who had been told in their lives they were not good enough for whatever reason and made them feel appreciated and loved. This is still true today, even though it was released 45 years ago. “It’s good news that we’re finally starting to live in the world Rocky Horror created. It’s a more confusing world, one where cross-dressing and flexible sexuality might not create the transgressive frisson they once did. But it’s also a whole lot freer” (Berman). Now, for some, it can be hard to appreciate how radical the movie was because society is moving more into a world like Planet Translyvania. It inspired people to be more like the eccentric yet beloved characters The Rocky Horror Picture Show created. It has helped create a world that is more respectful and accepting of all people, and to help everyone’s weird sides be loved. This movie will always be cherished because there will always be the misfits in society who feel liberated, appreciated, and empowered by seeing a midnight viewing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Sharman directed and co-wrote The Rocky Horror Picture Show which was accepted by the help of the Sexual Revolution to spread the beliefs of equality and acceptance that generated social and cultural change. The ideas brought about and addressed in the movie were radical for the time, but essential to help the world become the place it is today. Its introduction to these hard-to-talk-about topics helped people connect passionately to the movie and its messages. When this movie became a success, it came as a shock because of its poor reviews and lack of marketing support. The success it gained showed how much people connect to it and the themes presented proves it to be a universal and relatable story. Its cult following is filled with people who are considered to be freaks, weirdos, and outsiders that can look up to characters that embrace their eccentricity. And that is what it was intended to foster, a sense of hope, community, and acceptance. While it may have started as a low budget, controversial, campy trash movie; it became a cultural phenomenon that helped influence and continue the legacy of the Sexual Revolution.
Works cited:
Berman, Judy. “We Live in the World 'Rocky Horror' Created.” Flavorwire, Flavorwire, 25 Sept. 2015, www.flavorwire.com/539534/we-live-in-the-world-rocky-horror-created.
Glankler, William L. “Sexual Revolution.” Contemporary United States, Third Edition, Facts On File, 2017. History Research Center, online.infobase.com/Auth/Index?aid=&itemid=&articleId=208989. Accessed 3 May 2020.
Kalem, T.E. “The Theater: Bit of a Drag.” Time, Time Inc., 24 Mar. 1975, content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,946544,00.html.
King, Susan. “40 Years Later, Jim Sharman Can't Fully Explain 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show's' Appeal.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2015, www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-jim-sharman-rocky-horror-show-20151107-story.html.
“Richard O'Brien (Ft. Barry Bostwick, Little Nell, Patricia Quinn, Richard O'Brien, Susan Sarandon, Tim Curry & Trevor White) – Touch-A-Touch-A-Touch-A-Touch Me.” Genius, 14 Aug. 1975, genius.com/Richard-obrien-touch-a-touch-a-touch-a-touch-me-lyrics.
Sharman, Jim, and Richard O'Brien. “Rocky Horror Picture Show (Transcript).” RockyMusic, 1975, www.rockymusic.org/showdoc/rhps-transcript.php.
“TRHPS Official Fan Site: History: Interviews: Jim Sharman.” The Rocky Horror Picture Show: The Official Fan Site!, 5 Aug. 2008, www.rockyhorror.com/history/interviews_jimsharman.php.
Wong, Curtis M. “Why 'Rocky Horror Picture Show' Remains A Queer Cinematic Milestone.” HuffPost, HuffPost, 17 Oct. 2018, www.huffpost.com/entry/rocky-horror-picture-show-musical-matt-baume_n_5bc63c51e4b0a8f17ee6be26?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAALnw6GeUWbfna2kkJx2B4NJG7FvAqbg0UQVGvjqY05MiB9CWLEphGgB1Dr4VIs1tPN7IMoCKr6aXxeJ7mABQN4_czEXsaEAyYtFbqk1LJfz9ITV8yXck1gbeAucjjI90u65ajnB3hpPeDS-kPDWa2oOWvTQpOhlyS71Kcg_qRnv5.
May 30, 2020