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aspoonofsugar · 5 months ago

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Adam: Stick It To The Man

When the world has screwed you And crushed you in its fist When the way you're treated Has got you good and pissed There's been one solution Since the world began Don't just sit and take it Stick it to the man

Stick It To The Man is a song from the School of Rock musical, which is referenced in Hazbin Hotel's episode 6:

Vaggie: "Act selfless, don't steal, stick it to the man". Are you fucking serious? Adam: Uh, yeah. Sure got me here, didn't it?

Why is that so? There are two reasons:

Alex Brightman, who plays Adam, is also the protagonist Dewey Finn in the musical play

Adam and Dewey share several similarities to the point that Adam alludes to Dewey in some way

In short, Dewey's story inspired Adam's, so School of Rock can be useful to analyze Hazbin Hotel's First Man.

SCHOOL OF ROCK

Here comes a short summary of the movie/musical for whoever has never watched it (and should). If you already know the story, feel free to skip it.

Dewey Finn is a penniless musician, who dreams of becoming a rock star. He has no job and lives with his friend Ned and Ned's girlfriend Patty. All he does is playing rock with the "No Vacancy", his band. However, he is considered too over the top and self-centered by the other members and is expelled. Meanwhile Ned's girlfriend gets fed up with him and imposes an ultimatum. He either pays the rent or leaves.

Dewey finds himself in a pinch. On the one hand he wants to win the Battle of the Bands, but he has no band. On the other hand he needs to buy time and find some money to pay Patty. So, when he answers a phone call for Ned and discovers his friend is asked to be a substitude teacher, he decides to take his place. He poses as Ned Schneebly and starts teaching a class of kids.

He soon discovers the kids are gifted at music and devises a new plan. He forms a band with his class, so that they can all take part in the Battle of the Bands. By doing so, he starts truly bonding with the children. He encourages them to discover more about rock, nurtures their artistic talents, creates a strong sense of comraderie within the class. Basically, the kids were used to a strict environment, but through Dewey, they taste freedom, creativity and learn to challenge the system. Dewey himself starts changing, as he becomes more responsible and selfless for the kids' sake.

The kids pass the audition and are admitted to the Battle of the Bands. However, just before it, Dewey is asked to report his students' progress to their families in a teacher-parent meeting. There Patty and Ned arrive and unmask him, so the situation degenerates into chaos and Dewey is forced to run away.

All seems lost, but the kids have grown fond of Dewey and forgive his lie. They escape school, go to their teacher's house and encourage him to take part with them in the competition. Dewey and the kids make a great performance and get through to the public, including the parents, who realize how much Dewey's "rock lessons" have helped their children. In the end, the class doesn't win, but they get an encore.

In the epilogue, it is revealed Dewey is teaching music in an approved after-school program. So, Dewey finds his place in society, all while teaching the new generations how to live in a rock'n roll way.

So, what does the detestable Adam have in common with the lovable Dewey? Well, for starters, both love rock.

I FUCKING ROCK

Adam: I know. I fucking rock.

Adam has a rock motif, which emerges strongly in his first meeting with Charlie. He plays in a rock band, has studs on his tunic and materializes a golden guitar he performs a metal solo with:

Adam: Guitar solo, fuck yeah!

Not only that, but his song Hell Is Forever is hard rock, whereas the other pieces are inspired by traditional musicals.

Dewey too is passionate about rock and loves playing. In particular, he dreams of becoming a rock-star:

Dewey: I'll be strummin' my axe in a basement dive with my totally kick-ass band! When an army of A&R men will arrive with pens and contracts in hand! And they'll whisk me away in a big, black car And the record execs, and the girls from PR They'll know from the start what a major league star I will be! Just wait and see! (...) I'll rise and I'll rise and I'll rise And the wings of my soul Up where I belong! And I'll climb to the top of Mount Rock And be part of that heavenly scene With Odin and Zeus on the base and the drums And Thor playin' tamborine And Elvis and Janice and Kurt will appear And Jesus will toss me a beer And we'll jam 'round the clock! At the top of Mount Rock At the top of Mount Rock At the top of Mount Rock!

These are the beginning and the end of the song When I Climb To The Top Of Mount Rock, which is Dewey's introductory song.

He imagines to kick ass with his axe-guitar:

And his badass band:

While climbing to the top of Mount Rock to be part of a heavenly scene:

Oh look! Adam got Dewey's wish! Why is that so? Let's head at the heart of the two characters' foiling.

Both Adam and Dewey feel like losers.

Adam loses not one, but two wives to Lucifer:

Lucifer: Well, your first wife didn't seem to hate what I had to offer… or the second, bow-chicka-pow-pow!

Dewey is instead broken, has no success and is forced to live with his best friend:

Patty: Give up your dreams Your dreams are lame and weak Can't you see you're talent free You sad, deluded freak Time's up, you loser And soon you'll have to pay Sell the vinyl, pawn the amps And put your little dreams away

Both are also very childish to the point of being men-children:

Adam: Here's my personal favorite. You'll love it. Charlie: Uh…thanks. Charlie tries to take a piece of rib, but her hand passes right through them, as they fizz on and off from the touch. Adam laughs. Adam: I got you again, bitch! Fuckin' hilarious!

Patty: No more excuses, there's nothing to discuss Ditch your pointless, futile dreams And join the grown up world like us

This immaturity shows in their power fantasy of getting revenge on the world. They wanna prove their detractors wrong:

Dewey: And no one will call me a loser again Or tell me what I can't do!

The difference is that, at the beginning of their respective stories, Dewey is failing, while Adam has succeeded:

Adam: Are they Winners? Are they Sinners? 'Cause it's cut and dry.

Adam is by his own definition a winner, as he has been judged worthy of Heaven. He can enjoy an eternal life of happiness and bliss, while looking down on his most hated rival, since Lucifer is instead banished to Hell.

In short:

Dewey and Adam are losers, who share a childish dream of fame and success

Dewey has this dream negated to him, whereas Adam fulfills this fantasy

Adam is Dewey's desire incarnated. He is a winged soul (quite literally), who has reached the very top. He can play his music with angels and he himself is a legend:

Adam: So, I was playin' this gig, and for some fuckin' reason, this virtue chick was diggin' on the drummer, and it's like, "do you know who I am? I'm fuckin' Adam. I'm the original dick!" All dicks descend from me. You think you want drummer dick? No way! I'm the Dick-fuckin' master!

He is the rockstar Dewey dreams of becoming. But is he really the embodyment of rock? Let's take a closer look.

THE BAND IS MINE

Dewey: You think you'll be just fine Without me, but you're mine You think you can just kick me out of the band? Well, there's just one problem there The band is mine! How can you kick me out of what is mine? Well, you're not hardcore Unless you live hardcore!

School of Rock starts with Dewey being kicked out of his own band because he is too selfish. Later on, he slowly overcomes his selfishness as he forms a new band with the kids. By working with them he realizes what it means to be part of a group. Not only that, but as a teacher he listens to the kids and helps them discover their individuality:

Tamika, a student: I was lost, lost and in pain So much hurt bottled inside All the things I should've said I just kept trying to hide And I thought nobody could But you, you understood i needed to share And only you would listen Hoped someone would care And only you would listen You raised my voice up taught me not to fear I've learned who I am because you're here

Adam too is part of a band and he is its leader:

Adam: Haha, yeah! Ladies, let's fuck shit up! [accompanied by a guitar sting] ATTACK!

Adam's bond with the exorcists can be commented on multiple levels.

1- A man among women

Adam is the only man among an army of women and he is the one in command. This ties with Adam's misogyny. As a matter of fact he builds a harem of badass ladies ready to fight for him. In a sense, Adam has his own army of groupies to objectify:

This is shown also through his biblical motifs:

Adam's favourite food is ribs because in the Bible Eve is created from his rib. Similarly, he makes the exorcists at his image and likeliness. He sees them as an extension of himself.

Adam: You were on the front lines, I wouldn't forget a bad bitch like you. It's why I named you after the best thing ever. Vaggie.

He is the one giving Vaggie her name, just like in the Bible Adam names animals. So, Vaggie is symbolically equated to a beast.

On this last point, he probably named the other exorcists, as well, which leads us to three considerations:

Adam chooses for Vaggie the most insulting and objectifying name possible, as he literally calls her vagina.

Lute too is called after an object. Not just any object, but an instrument angels play. She isn't supposed to be a performer, but just a musical device.

Typically, the one naming another person is their parent.

2- Parent and daughters

Carmilla abt the exorcists: By showing you the flaws in your own fighting style. Yours and all your sisters'.

The exorcists are "sisters" and Adam is their authority figure and metaphorical father. He is the one giving them names and a place to belong. However, they must obey his orders and live up to his standards. Cause, if they don't:

Vaggie is taught to fight, kill and hate. The moment she gives in to pity, she is immediately punished and discarded with no second thoughts. She is even used as a cautionary tale:

Adam: Prepare to slaughter every sinner in that shit hotel, and you all remember Vaggie? Exorcists: Boo! We hate her!

In short, Adam acts towards the exorcists as an abusive parent, who gives conditional acceptance. They have value only if they succeed. This one-sided mentality is perfectly shown by Lute and Vaggie:

Lute telling Vaggie to kill her: Do it, then. Correct your mistake.

Vaggie to Charlie: I'm supposed to protect you. I'm supposed to never fail you. If I can't help you, what's the point of me?

Lute sees Vaggie sparing someone, be them a sinner or Lute herself, as wrong. Vaggie is sure Charlie won't love her back, if she isn't useful. These behaviors are not innate in the two girls. They are the result of their upbringing by Adam. The First Man's controlling nature shows also in his band's looks.

3- Mask and horns

Adam has all the exorcists comform:

They wear the same mask, the same horns and the same uniform. Basically, they all dress the way Adam likes. Moreover, the exorcists have their faces hidden because they are not allowed to be people. They can only be Adam's copies. Soldiers under him.

What's interesting about this is that Adam's style is rock and metal inspired, so he forces the girls to adopt this look too. However, rock is supposed to be about self-expression, freedom and rebellion. Adam instead takes this aesthetic and turns it into a repressive military uniform. He takes something born to challenge the system and turns it into the system.

THE MAN

Dewey: THE WORLD is run by the Man. Oh, you don't know the Man? He's everywhere. In the White House, down the hall, MISS MULLINS, she's the Man. And the Man ruined the ozone, and he's burning down the Amazon, and he kidnapped Shamu and put her in a chlorine tank! Okay? And there used to be a way to stick it to the Man, it was called rock 'n roll. But guess what? Oh no. The Man ruined that, too, with a little thing called MTV! So don't waste your time trying to make anything cool, or pure, or awesome, 'cause the Man is just gonna call you a fat washed up loser and crush your soul. So do yourselves a favor and just GIVE UP!

Dewey teaches his students about the Man, who represents the system and corrupts everything, even rock'n roll. Well, Adam is the embodyment of the Man.

He is hierarchy:

Adam: 'Cause Hell is forever Whether you like it or not Had their chance to behave better Now they boil in the pot 'Cause the rules are black and white There's no use in tryin' to fight it They're burnin' for their lives Until we kill 'em again!

He is misogyny:

Adam: Just try to chillax, babe You're wasting your breath Charlie: Hehe…

He calls Charlie a loser and tells her to give up her dream:

Adam: Fuckin' Hell is forever And it's meant to suck a lot! So give up your dumb endeavor 'Cause you don't have a shot!

He presents himself as a hard rocker, but is actually the enemy of rock itself. After all, he is the very first man:

Charlie: Wait, your name is Adam? Like the first man Adam, that means you…Oh… That explains so much.

Adam's true nature is conveyed through his design, as well. He is one of the few characters with no animal motif because his animal motif is that to be "the man". That's it. And despite wearing metal and rock accessories, his tunic resembles a letterman jacket. He is an arrogant jock masked as a rocker.

Adam isn't who Dewey wants to really become, but he is who our rock'n roll teacher risks to become, if he doesn't grow up. A betrayal of rock. Let's consider this:

Dewey: I pledge allegiance… to the band… of Mr. Schneebly… and will not fight him… for creative control… and will defer to him on all issues related to the musical direction of the band.

This is what Dewey has the kids repeat when they join the band. It sounds like a cultish creed. Luckily, as the story progresses, Dewey learns to work with the students and helps them express their needs and personalities. Adam, instead, doesn't develop and traps the exorcists in a violent and controlling environment, where their personhood is negated. He is both:

The leader of an extremist religious cult

A rockstar surrounded by adoring fans

This double metaphor is conveyed through a religious reference:

Adam materializes a group of golden exorcists (both an army and a band), which alludes to the golden calf. According to the Bible, Moses goes up to Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments, but takes a long time and the Israelites lose hope. They start adoring a calf made of gold, only to be called out by an angered Moses once he gets back. In short, the golden calf is a false god, an idol. Adam too is an idol, both in the religious sense and in the musical sense. He is a fake angel and a fake rocker. He lives in Heaven, but his beliefs are rotten. He plays hard rock, but his spirit has nothing to do with it. He is a sinful angel and a metaphorical rockstar who sold himself out. So, he is the fake calf that needs to be broken.

How does one do it? Dewey teaches his students the answer:

Dewey: Get all of your aggression out They try to stop you let 'em know Exactly where they all could go And do it just as loudly as you can Stick it to the man

And who is the one who sticks it to Adam?

CHARLIE, CHILD OF ROCK

Charlie and Emily: If Hell is forever, then Heaven must be a lie If angels can do whatever, and remain in the sky The rules are shades of gray when you don't do as you say When you make the wretched suffer just to kill them again

This stanza of You Didn't Know is Charlie's answer to Adam. The First Man sings that Hell is Forever, whereas the Princess of Hell believes redemption is not only possible, but necessary for Heaven to work. Charlie's reply addresses a systemic issue and challenges the status quo, which is why it is much more punk rock than Adam's stance:

Adam and Lute: There's no question to be posed He's unholy, case closed Did you forget that "Hell is forever"?

In general, the court scene makes clear who represents the system (the Man) and who is trying to change it (the Rocker). Adam is in a position of power over Charlie and is backed up by Sera, the highest authority in the room. Charlie is instead at the very bottom of the hierarchy, as she is a "hell-spawn" and the Devil's daughter. This is shown by the seating arrangement:

Adam and Charlie are the two sides arguing, so they should be on the same level. However, the First Man seats in a higher position than the Princess of Hell. That symbolically conveys Sera has already decided who is gonna win:

Sera: Well, you failed to control the demons' unrest, and now Lucifer is involved, setting up an audience for his misguided daughter.

No matter what Charlie says or does: she has no chance to begin with. And yet, for just a moment, she and Emily break the order:

They look down on both Sera and Adam and call out their hypocrisy. The two girls tower over the two angels because they have the moral high ground. They sing in princess-like voices, but their lines slap as the hardest and noblest rock can. This is why their duet is a reprise of Hell is Forever. They are schooling Adam on what rock'n roll truly is.

Adam might look the part, but Charlie is Hazbin Hotel's true rocker, just like she is the messianic archetype of the series:

Angel Dust and Vaggie: Can't we just kill him? Shoot him and spill his blood? Charlie: That's an… option you could choose Angel Dust and Vaggie: Works for us! Charlie: But, who hasn't been in his shoes? It starts with sorry!

Jesus: He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first (John 8:7)

In the Gospel, an adulteress is brought to Jesus, so that he can order to stone her. Jesus instead asks that whoever has never committed sin throws the first stone. Nobody does and the woman is saved. This is similar to how Charlie steps in for Sir Pentious and convinces Angel and Vaggie to show mercy.

Charlie is clearly inspired by Jesus to an extent. She is the one willing to embrace humanity as a whole. Especially the wretched, the sinners and the outcasts:

Charlie: I can hear all their stories The lost and displaced And I know that they're more of an acquired taste But if I open the door and I give them a place At my Hazbin Hotel It'll be a happy day in Hell!

Adam is linked to an empy golden idol, whereas Charlie is set up as the savior of the world.

When it comes to the School of Rock motif, Hazbin Hotel takes Dewey's character and divides him into two:

Adam is Dewey's want. He is who Dewey initially wants to be. A shallow rockstar, who is self-centered and childish. A selfish prick showered with praise and success.

Charlie is Dewey's need. She is who Dewey eventually needs to be. A helper. Someone who makes the silenced voices heard. Dewey discovers he can be a rocker in a new band with the kids. Charlie slowly grows into the Princess of Hell thanks to her found family of misfits.

These two sides of Dewey and of rock itself come to a final clash in the Hazbin Hotel's reinterpretation of the Battle of the Bands: Extermination Day.

THE BATTLE OF THE BANDS

School of Rock's climax is the Battle of the Bands, where the School of Rock (Dewey's new band) faces off against the No Vacancy (Dewey's old band):

The Hazbin Hotel has a sign with the words "No Vacancy". That is used in hotels when there are no rooms left. However, it also alludes to the School of Rock's rivals.

The competition is where Dewey's character arc reaches its conclusion in two different ways.

He is unmasked, but the kids forgive him and accept him for who he is.

The School of Rock lose the battle, but they are the moral winners, as they touch the hearts of the public. Thanks to this, Dewey himself learns what rock is really about:

Summer Hathaway: What's wrong? Dewey Finn: What's wrong, Summer? Didn't you hear? We lost! Freddy Jones: Hey, chill out, dude. Rock isn't about getting an A. The Sex Pistols never won anything. Lawrence: Don't let the Man get you down. Zack Mooneyham: Yeah I mean, dude, you gotta cheer up. We played a kick-ass show. Dewey Finn: We did, didn't we? It was unbelievable, wasn't it?

Adam's Extermination Day is an inversion of both these resolutions.

1-Unmasked

Adam is forced to show his true face, as Lucifer breaks his mask:

And who is the real Adam? He is a man who can't get over a woman (Lilith) choosing someone else (Lucifer). So, he acts as a bully to hide his wounded masculinity.

Adam's real essence is hinted at by his final outfit, which has a golden leaf on the front. This is a reference to the fig leaf the biblical Adam uses to cover up his nudity out of shame. Such a detail can be read in two ways:

As an inversion of the original story. In the Bible Adam covers his penis, while in Hazbin Hotel the First Man puts emphasis on it through an accessory.

As a metaphor in line with the religious tradition. Biblical Adam hides his reproductive organ out of embarassement. Similarly, Hazbin Adam hides the fact he isn't such a great lover by overselling his sexual prowess. Both are ashamed of their dicks, even if for different reasons.

In short, Dewey is unmasked, but discovers a rocker behind the loser. Adam instead gets outed as a loser behind the rockstar.

2- Winning and Losing

Adam overpowers Charlie, but is stopped thanks to the bonds the girl nurtured throughout the series. Charlie can't win against Adam by herself, but this is ultimately not important. As a matter of fact Adam is defeated by Lucifer, killed by Niffty and proven wrong about redemption by Sir Pentious.

So, Adam loses, but he is given one final chance to mature and change by Charlie. However, he refuses it:

Adam: No… you don't get to end this! I'm fucking Adam! I'm the fucking man, and you're just some fucking clown or something! I started everything on Earth! All of mankind came from these fucking nuts! You all should be worshipping me, you ungrateful, disgusting, fucking losers-!

Adam's final rant reveals the Man behind the Idol. both in a religious and in a musical sense.

On the one hand Adam compares himself to God, which is blasphemy. This just makes the juxtaposition with the Princess of Hell stronger, as Charlie references Jesus's sacrifice during her final stand:

Adam: Why would you endanger your immortal life for these sinners? Charlie: They’re my family!

On the other hand Adam's speech can be juxtaposed to Dewey's final one to the kids:

Dewey: Okay, listen up, you guys, we only have one song to let these guys know who we are…so I think we should play Zack's. Zack: But why? I mean…really? Dewey: Yes! The thing is, you guys, I ain't that good. I'm not, I can admit it, but, dude, you're ten years old, you're already better than me, your song rocks harder, so let's play it! But hey, you know what? That's just one guy's opinion. This ain't my band, it's our band, we all have a say.

Adam is so self-centered he makes the whole universe about himself. Dewey instead accepts he has not enough talent to be a rockstar, but realizes he can help others bloom. Adam torments his descendants by exterminating them. Dewey finds happiness in nurturing the new generations. That is why the teacher is eventually loved by his students, while the exorcist is killed by a metaphorical child:

STICK IT TO THE ANGEL

Niffty: What can I do to help? Charlie: How about this. If you see an angel, stab it!

Niffty is:

An abused housewife who adores being ordered around by "bad boys"

Everyone's inner child, which is why she is cared about, as if she were a kid

She is the perfect character to land the finishing blow to Adam. On the one hand the First Man is dominated by a masochist woman, who thinks nothing of him. On the other hand the Man-Child is killed by the embodyment of childhood itself. Adam is a fratbro who fails to question his toxic masculinity and a person who never grows up. He is the Man, so he is rightfully stuck by one of Charlie's rock students:

Lucifer: Hey, y-ya got somethin' stickin' outta your… your thing there.

Katie Killjoy: The janitor said, quote, "Charlie told me to stab, so I did".

As a matter of fact it is Charlie, who teaches Niffty how to stick it to the man. She confirms herself as the true rock teacher, just like Dewey. That is because both realize "rock" is not about individualism, but about community. Like a class. Like a hotel.

CONCLUSION

Hazbin Hotel uses Adam's musical inspiration to comment on his character and on what he represents thematically. He is introduced as an expy of Dewey Finn, but is soon revealed as his deconstruction. He is who Dewey would be if he never got to the School of Rock and never learnt what this musical genre truly stands for. In short, Adam needs some rock repetitions :P If you read up until here, congratulations! Hope you enjoyed it and that it wasn't too unclear or confusing :)

#hazbin hotel #hazbin hotel meta #hh #hh meta #adam hazbin hotel #hazbin adam #charlie morningstar #hazbin charlie #school of rock #my meta #musical allusion #hazbin is so clever with its references #dewey finn

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