(no subject)

[xiphias]

Every once in a while, the truly important questions in life preoccupy me.

Today, I'm asking, "To what extent was the homoeroticism in He-Man and the Masters of the Universe deliberate, and to what extent was it accidental?"

I mean, is it possible that the entire thing was deliberately a shout-out to the gay community in the early Eighties, done with incredibly bad animation, and toy tie-ins?

Comments

[cheshyre]

Dunno what raised this thought in your mind, but here's the old Slate article with examples.

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

Yes, I was just reading that article -- they refer to the "unintentional homoeroticism". I am having trouble believing that a show about a guy with two identities, one of which is a muscular, passive bleached-blond guy wearing purple tights, Ugg boots, and a satin vest, and the other one of which being a tanned, muscular bleached-blond guy with a redundantly masculine name wearing a BDSM harness, can be created unintentionally.

[vvalkyri.livejournal.com]

I just want to metaquotes this comment.

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

Please do.

[vvalkyri.livejournal.com]

done

[theclamsman.livejournal.com]

See, they refer to it as "accidental", but I don't think it was. These were fully cognizant adults writing this, and said aspects of gay culture had been around for a while before He-Man showed up. They knew what they were doing (just like all of the Warner people knew what they were doing when they wrote the early WB cartoons/wrote for Bugs and such).

[mabfan.livejournal.com]

Here's an interesting tidbit for you -- the character of She-Ra was actually named for Larry DiTillio's daughter Shira.

Having met DiTillio, I'd have to say that if there is any homoeroticism in the show, it must have been entirely unintentional.

[cheshyre]

Hm, I just went looking @ IMDB's page. JMS wrote a few episodes. I wonder if he'd have anything interesting to contribute.

Also, from IMDB's trivia page:

Executive producer Lou Scheimer was instrumental in developing the concept of He-Man Mattel Toys and D.C Comics. The character had originally appeared in D.C. comics as a Conan the Barbarian-type character living in a post-apocalyptic world. Scheimer called the story "the most vile thing I'd ever read". Taking inspiration from the character Captain Marvel from an earlier Filmation series, Scheimer developed the concept of Prince Adam as He-Man's alter ego, the character of the Sorceress as his benevolent mentor, and Orko as the jester-style comic relief, to make the show more kid-friendly. ... Prince Adam is supposed to be a teenager; however, to save on animation costs, he was animated with the exact same design as He-Man.

[jeriendhal.livejournal.com]

I believe Diane Duane worked on a few scripts as well IIRC. At any rate she mentions on her blog about wandering through the production office and finding various action placed in compromising positions on the display shelves.

[jeriendhal.livejournal.com]

"Action figures" dangit!

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

But DiTilio wasn't the only person involved. Could the artist who designed the character been sneaking something by him?

I mean. . . Prince Adam, who lounges around in lavender harem pants, turns into fetish-clad He-Man in order to hang out with Ram-Man and Fisto. Is it POSSIBLE this is accidental? I mean, okay, yes, it is possible. But is this liklier to be entirely coincidental, or something that a couple folks were doing for fun?

[mabfan.livejournal.com]

What, you've never hung out with a guy named Fisto and it was perfectly innocent? :-)

Seriously, though, the names could also represent strength and ability to fight. I'd say the best way to settle this question is to ask the creators involved. (Which might not be possible, especially if some were anonymous.)

[vvalkyri.livejournal.com]

OMG. I'd forgotten about Ram Man and Fisto.

[jehanna.livejournal.com]

Also, it should be noted that it is a Total Rip-Off of Thundarr the Barbarian, an earlier post-apocalyptic Conan rip-off with a barbarian and a sorceress that I recall from my extreme youth. At least, I think Thundarr was the earlier one. It used to be shown with Plastic Man and other random, fairly strange cartoons with the same creators.

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

Thundarr was 1980-1982, and He-Man was 1983-1985.

Hmm.

Now THAT would be a team-up!

Or, maybe a very, very disturbing crack!slash.

[metahacker.livejournal.com]

If it really were, wouldn't the 'toys' have been shaped a bit differently?

Personally I think it was a case of an innocent idea getting shaded by one of the creative minds in the long pipe from idea to execution. IIRC I saw an interview with He-Man's creator who indicated the name came from his daughter...they had a more complex name, but her elemental explanation of what the toy was just caught on. I can't find a reference for it, though.

[rosefox]

I take it you saw the video I linked to.

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

Yep.

[rubynye.livejournal.com]

*is weeping from laughter*

[ginalin.livejournal.com]

Oh, you're gonna love this. The guy who is his voice actor is gay. Cam Clarke is Prince Adam's voice actor, and he's a well known gay activist.
He also does Liquid Snake's voice in that other "unintentional" homoerotic-fest, Metal Gear Solid.

[rebmommy.livejournal.com]

Oh - what did I get you into when I bought Castle Greyskull and its inhabitants for you to play with in the 80's? Since your sib got the dollhouse of my youth, I wanted to give you your own "dollhouse" - I liked all the trapdoors, moving thrones, and swinging ropes. And I was happy that you didn't turn into a violent, aggressive bully from playing with all of it. I thought I gave you many, many hours of good, clean, macho fun. And now this!What is a mother to do? =-]

[gruyere.livejournal.com]

For chrisssakes, there was a character named Merman!

(Okay, Mer-Man. But close enough.)

[happybat.livejournal.com]

This speculation has brightened a dull morning quite considerably - I do hope you don't mind if I friend you?

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

Not in the least! Welcome!