Throughout history, human beings have been fascinated by sexuality, which is natural and healthy but also controversial and often misunderstood. As such, it has inspired many art forms, including theater, cinema, painting, music, literature, dance, sculpture, etc., where it can be explored in different ways. Musicals are one of these artistic mediums that have used sexual themes and narratives to explore society's attitudes towards love, passion, desire, and intimacy. In musicals, sexuality is usually depicted through the lens of romance and relationship stories, which make audiences relate to the characters and feel their emotions. These stories may involve characters trying to navigate societal expectations around sexuality, negotiate sexual boundaries, deal with sexual trauma, or challenge cultural norms. Examples include "Hamilton", "Rent", "The Phantom of the Opera", "Grease", "Wicked", "La La Land", "The Greatest Showman", etc.
In "Hamilton," for instance, Alexander Hamilton and Eliza Schuyler's relationship portrays a forbidden love story set against the backdrop of revolutionary America. Their first meeting takes place at a ball when they share an intimate moment under a tree. This scene sets up a theme of sexual tension between the two lovers as they struggle to reconcile their feelings for each other within a conservative society. The song "Satisfied" shows Eliza's frustration with her husband's infidelities while singing about the pain of having sex without pleasure, which she compares to being "stuck inside of a world that's moving way too fast." In "Rent," we see the main character Mark Cohen struggling with his bisexual identity and the stigma associated with it. He sings about his experiences in "I'll Cover You," where he recounts how he was rejected by a male lover who claimed that being gay would ruin his career. His song "Tango Maureen" describes his conflicting feelings about his friend Maureen Johnson's promiscuous lifestyle, showing how different people have different attitudes towards sex.
In "The Phantom of the Opera," the titular phantom's obsession with Christine Daaé is a classic example of an unrequited romance that explores societal expectations around beauty and power dynamics. He believes that only Christine can understand him because of her talent and kindness, but she does not reciprocate his feelings due to the social class differences between them. In "Wicked," Glinda and Elphaba explore their friendship's romantic undertones through songs like "Popular" and "Defying Gravity," which show how they navigate the pressures of conforming to societal norms despite their true desires.
"La La Land" depicts how modern love stories are often complicated and messy as its characters Seb and Mia deal with their careers and ambitions while trying to make their relationship work. They sing about their longing for each other in "A Lovely Night" and their frustration with their limited choices in "City of Stars." The Greatest Showman also explores the theme of sexuality and identity as P. T. Barnum falls in love with Charity Hallett, who is initially uninterested in him because he is poor. Their story shows how socioeconomic factors play into people's perceptions of one another and affect their chances of finding love. These examples illustrate how musicals use sexual narratives to examine society's expectations around love, desire, intimacy, and gender roles.
Musicals have used sexual themes and narratives to provoke thoughtful conversations about sex, relationships, and cultural attitudes towards these topics. By delving deeper into characters' emotions and struggles, audiences gain a better understanding of themselves and the world around them, allowing them to question their own beliefs and values. It is up to the audience to decide whether these messages align with their views or not.
How do musicals integrate sexual narratives to examine societal and cultural expectations?
Musicals have often been used as a medium to explore various social and cultural issues, including those related to sexuality. They provide a platform for storytelling that can help audiences understand and process complex ideas about love, desire, relationships, and gender roles. Through song, dance, and dialogue, musicals create characters and situations that allow viewers to see how these themes play out in different contexts.