andibecamethestars

[andibecamethestars]

Honestly, I think it would��ve been better to leave out the first half of that sentence. You could still highlight the role's history and roots while ending on a note that celebrates how new interpretations can enrich Elphaba’s story.

There’s so much excitement around this new portrayal, and I just want that excitement to be embraced without feeling like it’s being tempered. My response was more about the tone and the subtle exclusion I felt in those words, not the nuanced discussion about Elphaba’s Jewish roots. I apologize if it came across otherwise.

i want more nuance to be entered into the discussion of the green girl sorority and how differently cynthia plays elphaba in comparison to those who came before her because while a lot of people are rightfully like "why was elphaba not black from the beginning" and celebrating that she is now being played by a black woman, i think we need to be careful in just writing off all the elphabas of the past as Random White Girls when the role was championed (and often followed/succeeded) by a jewish woman

the pop culture archetype of the Wicked Witch has deep roots in antisemitism stretching faaaar far back. there is a level of reclamation happening in casting idina menzel, a jewish woman, to play the Misunderstood and Maligned young girl who is branded as exactly that. and stage!Elphaba is also written and acted with jewish stereotypes in mind--she is loud, aggressive, no-nonsense, blunt. she is quick to advocate for herself and shut down the discrimination she faces. all of this is very intentional! her personality is abrasive from years of abuse, and that makes propagandizing her easy. this is literally the thesis statement of the musical--it's not about aptitude, it's the way you're viewed.

cynthia's performance of elphaba is fucking INSPIRED despite going in a completely different direction. she's much more reserved, analytical, one of her key character traits is how well she can read people (see her calling out Galinda as insecure/putting on airs in their first scene together, clocking that Fiyero is using his party guy persona as a shield for his own depression) elphaba's attempts to blend in and make herself smaller all fail simply because of her existence, if not that then because she feels empathy so strongly she often struggles to hold back from acting, protecting.

personality wise, though, cynthia's elphaba is very quiet and closed-off, not at all the bullet-to-the-face that she is in the stage show, and... she still gets propagandized and maligned. though this seems to contradict the other interpretation, it tells of the other end of the spectrum of propaganda, one that black women watching (and many, MANY other marginalized folks) are sure to identify with--it does not matter how "nice," how reserved, how small a black woman makes herself. a racist society will still scrutinize her every action for a way to parse ill intent from it, brand her as an angry black woman who is dangerous and wicked, and write off any humanity she has in the process.

these two very different interpretations tell of the lie of assimilation. the fact of the matter is, when you are marginalized, there is no way to sand down your edges enough to make the people oppressing you "accept" you. that is why wicked is a tragedy at its core. whether loud and aggressive or quiet and unimposing, there is nothing elphaba could have done to make the people of Oz see her as anything other than a scapegoat to blame all their problems on.

so while i definitely appreciate that people are excited for black girl era elphaba, i would encourage us all to still show appreciation for what came before--that was not white girl era elphaba. that was jewish girl era elphaba. two houses, both alike in dignity, two stories both worth being told.

[andibecamethestars]

Capricorn is said to be the most challenging sign to be born under. Life involves a high degree of seriousness, reprimand, and patience. It is the sign of the disciple and esoterically the sign in which Sun Gods and world saviors are born under. But Capricorn is also a sign of morbidity, and no such heavenly feat could be achieved without first walking through the hot coals of hell. Capricorn is here to physically build the images conceived in the soul. It is the manipulation of time, space, and material to create something useful. In this way they are the architects of life and form the contours of reality. The individual is forced to keep moving forward despite the harsh demands that emanate from someplace deeper. It’s like she is duty bound to create the world in which the spirit envisions. Capricorn is the resplendent servant who understands how to nurture and manipulate resources and minerals. Life is a game of chess to the Capricorn, and every move is made with spectacular calculation and wisdom. She always wins. She was the one who wrote the rules, after all ❤️

Cherry

[andibecamethestars]

Couples that give me the same energy, but just in different fonts.

(Also if you are a fan of Glinda and Elphaba, they 100% count)

[andibecamethestars]

I just wanted to say that as a Chinese girl, Wicked actually changed my life

So when I saw Wicked, I felt like it was actually a good metaphor for racism (I grew up in a entirely white and black neighborhood, with one Taiwanese friend) I genuinely felt like Elphaba because of how racist my neighborhood was, watching that's movie made me realize that the world is bigger than my town, and there are people that don't care like Fiyero, or get used to it like Glinda,

[andibecamethestars]

i want more nuance to be entered into the discussion of the green girl sorority and how differently cynthia plays elphaba in comparison to those who came before her because while a lot of people are rightfully like "why was elphaba not black from the beginning" and celebrating that she is now being played by a black woman, i think we need to be careful in just writing off all the elphabas of the past as Random White Girls when the role was championed (and often followed/succeeded) by a jewish woman

the pop culture archetype of the Wicked Witch has deep roots in antisemitism stretching faaaar far back. there is a level of reclamation happening in casting idina menzel, a jewish woman, to play the Misunderstood and Maligned young girl who is branded as exactly that. and stage!Elphaba is also written and acted with jewish stereotypes in mind--she is loud, aggressive, no-nonsense, blunt. she is quick to advocate for herself and shut down the discrimination she faces. all of this is very intentional! her personality is abrasive from years of abuse, and that makes propagandizing her easy. this is literally the thesis statement of the musical--it's not about aptitude, it's the way you're viewed.

cynthia's performance of elphaba is fucking INSPIRED despite going in a completely different direction. she's much more reserved, analytical, one of her key character traits is how well she can read people (see her calling out Galinda as insecure/putting on airs in their first scene together, clocking that Fiyero is using his party guy persona as a shield for his own depression) elphaba's attempts to blend in and make herself smaller all fail simply because of her existence, if not that then because she feels empathy so strongly she often struggles to hold back from acting, protecting.

personality wise, though, cynthia's elphaba is very quiet and closed-off, not at all the bullet-to-the-face that she is in the stage show, and... she still gets propagandized and maligned. though this seems to contradict the other interpretation, it tells of the other end of the spectrum of propaganda, one that black women watching (and many, MANY other marginalized folks) are sure to identify with--it does not matter how "nice," how reserved, how small a black woman makes herself. a racist society will still scrutinize her every action for a way to parse ill intent from it, brand her as an angry black woman who is dangerous and wicked, and write off any humanity she has in the process.

these two very different interpretations tell of the lie of assimilation. the fact of the matter is, when you are marginalized, there is no way to sand down your edges enough to make the people oppressing you "accept" you. that is why wicked is a tragedy at its core. whether loud and aggressive or quiet and unimposing, there is nothing elphaba could have done to make the people of Oz see her as anything other than a scapegoat to blame all their problems on.

so while i definitely appreciate that people are excited for black girl era elphaba, i would encourage us all to still show appreciation for what came before--that was not white girl era elphaba. that was jewish girl era elphaba. two houses, both alike in dignity, two stories both worth being told.

[andibecamethestars]

I was not trying not insinuate that Elphaba couldn’t/ shouldn’t be read as a Jewish person, (for those other messages I’ve gotten) but rather explaining some of why black people connected so much with her, and found it shocking that more black women haven’t played the character.

The historical context you provided is necessary to consider, and I thank you for it. I haven’t been seeing the opinions that Elphaba could ONLY be read as an allegory for antiblackness, but that doesn’t mean it’s not there.

I do not think this is fighting for scraps at all, as I am not playing a game of “who is more oppressed.” However, at a time when this black woman’s portrayal of Elphaba is being celebrated, and we feel this narrative reflects our experiences, I would like us to be able to sit with it, and with all the ways this feels true to us as a group of people. My response wasn’t about a rejection of Cynthia in the role, but about exactly what’s happening to Elphaba in the movie. The world constantly taking from us, and making sure we have nothing, even something as simple as a fictional character. I do not think this was your intention, but it reads that way a bit.

Elphaba’s roots as a Jewish woman is important, and should be highlighted. Full stop. I do think there were other ways for you to talk about it without saying “so while I definitely appreciate that people are excited for black girl era Elphaba, I would encourage….” It reads as dismissive, and takes away from what you were actually trying to say. Respectfully. @musashi @starlightomatic

i want more nuance to be entered into the discussion of the green girl sorority and how differently cynthia plays elphaba in comparison to those who came before her because while a lot of people are rightfully like "why was elphaba not black from the beginning" and celebrating that she is now being played by a black woman, i think we need to be careful in just writing off all the elphabas of the past as Random White Girls when the role was championed (and often followed/succeeded) by a jewish woman

the pop culture archetype of the Wicked Witch has deep roots in antisemitism stretching faaaar far back. there is a level of reclamation happening in casting idina menzel, a jewish woman, to play the Misunderstood and Maligned young girl who is branded as exactly that. and stage!Elphaba is also written and acted with jewish stereotypes in mind--she is loud, aggressive, no-nonsense, blunt. she is quick to advocate for herself and shut down the discrimination she faces. all of this is very intentional! her personality is abrasive from years of abuse, and that makes propagandizing her easy. this is literally the thesis statement of the musical--it's not about aptitude, it's the way you're viewed.

cynthia's performance of elphaba is fucking INSPIRED despite going in a completely different direction. she's much more reserved, analytical, one of her key character traits is how well she can read people (see her calling out Galinda as insecure/putting on airs in their first scene together, clocking that Fiyero is using his party guy persona as a shield for his own depression) elphaba's attempts to blend in and make herself smaller all fail simply because of her existence, if not that then because she feels empathy so strongly she often struggles to hold back from acting, protecting.

personality wise, though, cynthia's elphaba is very quiet and closed-off, not at all the bullet-to-the-face that she is in the stage show, and... she still gets propagandized and maligned. though this seems to contradict the other interpretation, it tells of the other end of the spectrum of propaganda, one that black women watching (and many, MANY other marginalized folks) are sure to identify with--it does not matter how "nice," how reserved, how small a black woman makes herself. a racist society will still scrutinize her every action for a way to parse ill intent from it, brand her as an angry black woman who is dangerous and wicked, and write off any humanity she has in the process.

these two very different interpretations tell of the lie of assimilation. the fact of the matter is, when you are marginalized, there is no way to sand down your edges enough to make the people oppressing you "accept" you. that is why wicked is a tragedy at its core. whether loud and aggressive or quiet and unimposing, there is nothing elphaba could have done to make the people of Oz see her as anything other than a scapegoat to blame all their problems on.

so while i definitely appreciate that people are excited for black girl era elphaba, i would encourage us all to still show appreciation for what came before--that was not white girl era elphaba. that was jewish girl era elphaba. two houses, both alike in dignity, two stories both worth being told.

[andibecamethestars]

Elphaba is Jewish. She was created by Jews. You cannot get angry at white people stealing everything Black and when someone acknowledges something is Jewish (and doesn't make Black Elphaba less Black btw) you get defensive. I am a Black Jew. Please stop being antisemitic and deflecting with your Blackness. Everything you wrote was also dismissive of antisemitism. Jews have been considered a different race. A lot of us have brown skin/don't look white.

I am not contesting that Elphaba can be read as Jewish, or any other marginalized group for that matter. Hope this helps !

[andibecamethestars]

The line “No one as angry, as stubborn, as unaccommodating, as maddening, as loving, as dedicated, as thoughtful, as imperfectly perfect as you’ve become. You’re a challenge every sunset, Saint Louis, and I’d have it no other way.” is so important since it shows that the affection in the relationship was not just one-sided.

At that point in their relationship, Lestat, someone that needs constant attention and love felt loved by Louis, felt that he was thoughtful and dedicated.

Showing that Louis probably had a lot of cute and romantic moments with Lestat but just didn’t mention them because he’s still hurt and denying.

I have seen people say that in Loustat’s relationship it feels like Louis has little to no affection for Lestat but that one line right there proofs that wrong since Lestat wouldn’t just say that unless he really felt the love and the dedication from Louis.

And it probably adds on even more why he feels so upset during Louis’s colder years and why he can’t just leave, he knows what it’s like to be loved by Louis and he can’t let that go now, not ever!

Lestat knows their relationship isn’t perfect (what relationship is) but Louis made it worth it with the love that he showed Lestat.

Exactly this! I *cringe* when I see that notion floating around that Louis doesn’t love Lestat or Louis doesn’t ever give him anything emotionally. Like, huh?!?! He absolutely does.

I mean….

In Episode 1, Louis and Lestat are literally dating for months. They’re having dinners together, shopping together for clothes and the townhouse, sitting and talking for hours on their bench, going to operas in which Louis is being vulnerable in front of Lestat and sharing private things with him i.e. Lestat saying “You were near weeping when the curtain fell. Why hide that from your family?” We hear Louis say tender sentiments like “It was a cold winter that year and Lestat was my coal fire.” We see Louis telling Grace that Lestat is different and inviting him to dinner with his family, and the evening culminates in the love scene to end all love scenes 46 years in the making, and Louis confirms Lestat awakened an intimacy in him that he’d never experienced before.

In Episode 2, we get the cute domestic shit like Louis being the pampered king that he is and Lestat being the lovestruck, whipped husband while Louis just knowingly smiles at him. Like, this is a marriage, y’all. These two are obsessed with each other.

In Episode 3, we get Louis being openly flirty with Lestat and more smiles that say way more than words ever could about how Louis feels. He adores Lestat.

“Try something for me, mon cher.”

In Episode 4, Louis and Lestat hit their peak in terms of sickening romance and love and perhaps the cutest, sweetest, most precious moments of the entire season.

“Shh…shh…shh…shh…shh…”

“Don’t you shush me.”

“I missed you.”

“You missed me?”

*warm affectionate chuckles*

*muffled whispers*

“I hated sleeping without you.”

*soft kissing noises*

This sickening (yet telling) shit of them dancing like it’s just regular stuff they do every night. Their dance and those adoring smiles at each other.

Louis looking at Lestat like he hung the moon with that precious smile. Louis teasing him. “I prefer you like that.”

Like, THIS WAS NORMAL FOR THEM.

And even when shit hits the fan, you still have very telling moments of Louis’ feelings based on the fact he did not want to leave Lestat either, the fact Lestat’s love song to him is what finally got his attention, the fact he confesses to Claudia he can’t fully give his heart to Lestat because he’d “lose himself” in Lestat, the fact Louis confesses he wants Lestat all to himself with that “cascade of feelings”, the fact Louis cannot bring himself to burn Lestat like trash, the fact Louis is screaming in agony when it hits him that Lestat is gone….

I just—

Yeah. Don’t tell me Louis didn’t love Lestat or never show him that love. It’s all right there. 🥺😭

[andibecamethestars]

From what I’ve seen, I think people are wondering why Elphaba wasn’t always black is because of how obvious it is that it can be an allegory for race. To have people respond that strongly to the color of your skin…something that you can’t hide because it isn’t ambiguous AT ALL……. That is a huge part of why this rendition has connect with black people more than the others.

I’m not trying to say that this post was written with malicious intent, but it always seems like there’s a problem when black people want to claim a character. People love to not respect the singularity of black experiences even if/when they overlap with other marginalized people’s.

When black people are celebrating something and taking ownership of something, and you feel the need to make sure we don’t feel like it’s “ours”…. That’s very weird.

i want more nuance to be entered into the discussion of the green girl sorority and how differently cynthia plays elphaba in comparison to those who came before her because while a lot of people are rightfully like "why was elphaba not black from the beginning" and celebrating that she is now being played by a black woman, i think we need to be careful in just writing off all the elphabas of the past as Random White Girls when the role was championed (and often followed/succeeded) by a jewish woman

the pop culture archetype of the Wicked Witch has deep roots in antisemitism stretching faaaar far back. there is a level of reclamation happening in casting idina menzel, a jewish woman, to play the Misunderstood and Maligned young girl who is branded as exactly that. and stage!Elphaba is also written and acted with jewish stereotypes in mind--she is loud, aggressive, no-nonsense, blunt. she is quick to advocate for herself and shut down the discrimination she faces. all of this is very intentional! her personality is abrasive from years of abuse, and that makes propagandizing her easy. this is literally the thesis statement of the musical--it's not about aptitude, it's the way you're viewed.

cynthia's performance of elphaba is fucking INSPIRED despite going in a completely different direction. she's much more reserved, analytical, one of her key character traits is how well she can read people (see her calling out Galinda as insecure/putting on airs in their first scene together, clocking that Fiyero is using his party guy persona as a shield for his own depression) elphaba's attempts to blend in and make herself smaller all fail simply because of her existence, if not that then because she feels empathy so strongly she often struggles to hold back from acting, protecting.

personality wise, though, cynthia's elphaba is very quiet and closed-off, not at all the bullet-to-the-face that she is in the stage show, and... she still gets propagandized and maligned. though this seems to contradict the other interpretation, it tells of the other end of the spectrum of propaganda, one that black women watching (and many, MANY other marginalized folks) are sure to identify with--it does not matter how "nice," how reserved, how small a black woman makes herself. a racist society will still scrutinize her every action for a way to parse ill intent from it, brand her as an angry black woman who is dangerous and wicked, and write off any humanity she has in the process.

these two very different interpretations tell of the lie of assimilation. the fact of the matter is, when you are marginalized, there is no way to sand down your edges enough to make the people oppressing you "accept" you. that is why wicked is a tragedy at its core. whether loud and aggressive or quiet and unimposing, there is nothing elphaba could have done to make the people of Oz see her as anything other than a scapegoat to blame all their problems on.

so while i definitely appreciate that people are excited for black girl era elphaba, i would encourage us all to still show appreciation for what came before--that was not white girl era elphaba. that was jewish girl era elphaba. two houses, both alike in dignity, two stories both worth being told.

[andibecamethestars]

This is the best idea in the history of film.

[andibecamethestars]

[andibecamethestars]

How do they choose which sand to be the glass and which sand to be the sand in an hourglass... Imagine you and your best friend were two grains of sand and you had to be in the hourglass and your bestie had to be the glass. Ur together but youve never been more apart. A Sick and twisted practice hourglassery is...

[andibecamethestars]

there's such an endearing innocence to cynthia's elphaba, like the way she immediately assumes glinda had her best intentions in mind by giving her that (hideodeous) hat because no one had been kind to her before, to the way she was visibly nervous but excited to attend her first party, and even up until popular, where she earnestly attempts to follow glinda's advice, plus the entirety of the wizard and i.

you can tell this is a girl who just wants to do good and be genuinely accepted, so when she's visibly hurt and feels betrayed during the ozdust scene, it is so painful and heartbreaking to watch. and then cynthia begins crying, and you can't help but cry with her.

[andibecamethestars]

Come with me~

[andibecamethestars]

next week being christmas feels fake but okay

[andibecamethestars]

thinking about how the best case scenario that elphaba can imagine in the wizard and i is that finally someone will come along who will be able to change everything about her. even in her wildest dreams, she views that as her best option.

and then.

along comes galinda. who - after spending an entire night attempting to give her a makeover - settles on: ‘actually, you’re perfect just the way you are. i wouldn’t change a thing. except maybe to tuck a little piece of myself in with you, just there.’

and i just think that’s neat.

[andibecamethestars]

Horrendous violence on my cellular device every day since the movie dropped.