#yes lesbian billy lenz I’ll get to it at a later date :)

[rolliepollieworld]

wait.. it was about women the whole time? YUPP!!

Welcome to my Black Christmas Theory… The Foundation.

I have a lot of thoughts about Black Christmas id like to post about, but it takes a lot of preconceived notions you’d need to hear me ramble to know about. So I thought this would be a good place to start!

(p.s. it’s okay to disagree! I’m just one person with one interpretation ٩(｡•́‿•̀｡)۶)

Black Christmas, from the house itself, down to the deaths, represents repressive womanhood and the harmful effects of patriarchy. This is most obviously represented in Jess, Barb, and the House Mother.

As a whole, a sorority is a dorm on college campuses specifically tailored to women and feminine individuals to keep costs low and create a support system. By Billy slinking around this space, carving out a place for himself and reclaiming it, He actively acts out as a metaphor for doubt and guilt in the body. He's perceived as sexual, garish, and loud, everything women in society are told not to be. He is not only unwelcome for his phone calls, but the dis-order he represents in the girls lives during a “perfect” time of year.

Many women in the movie chase or project a certain image around others. Barb is a great example of this phenomenon. She projects a rebellious independence, with her drug habits, and snaps at other women for being prudes or hussies. She can't even stand to hold a conversation with her mother. But is defined for her otherness compared to other women in the movie. She pushes others away, but still wants to be seen. She dies getting stabbed over and over, being called a name that isn't her own while her screams are drowned out by caroling. She dies the same way she carried herself in life…fundamentally alone.

This is also true for the House Mother who has to project this image of purity while in front of Clare's father. She covers up explicit imagery, and looks bashful when almost caught cussing, completely codeswitching in front of this traditional, christian man. While she is more relaxed in front of the other girls, she also hides her serious alcohol problem, sneaking a sip whenever possible. She is hooked in the chest in the attic, her body remaining with the other forgotten and unfamiliar items.

While this is less obvious for characters like Jess or Phyllis, it still remains that all of them have a portion of themselves that they'd rather not have apart from them. It's only with Jess’ pregnancy that she is able to accept it and overcome it. By standing up to Peter, A quite literal representation of mainstream patriarchal views and lack of respect for feminine autonomy, based on this theory. This isn't without a fight of course.

The women in this movie are simply people, while not all, many are forced to perform femininity in a way that isn't true to themselves to uphold the patriarchy. They judge while being a reflection of themselves. To me, that's what makes Black Christmas not only a deep narrative, but a feminist movie. All characters have a part of themselves that they have to hide or hate, a direct metaphor for Billys presents inside the house itself, as well as the greater social commentary of performing femininity that a lot of women have to go through.

Understanding this theory is the main foundation for a lot of my other thoughts about Black Christmas, including but not limited to: The sorority house being Billy's childhood home, the intentional use of eye contact and clothing in the film, and how Billy can represent the lesbian experience. But that's just a theory, a Black Christmas theory.

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