Kinky Boots...

The most obvious aspect of popular culture that can be seen in the movie is fashion. The statement was all about footwear especially the boots, the “kinky” boots. Basically, the entire plot of the movie revolved around it. It was the source of conflict at the beginning of the story regarding the Price Shoe Company. In the end, the change in fashion was also the solution. Charlie’s idea of making kinky boots for men who are women was both a luxury and a necessity.
Performance art could also be seen in the movie which is represented by Lola. Lola was a night club performer, a drag queen. She sang and danced in front of a live audience who were allowed some limited interaction with the performers. Along with his/her performance, is the music aspect of popular culture in the movie. His/her kind of music involved were…
Kinky Boots definitely show how advertising is involved with all the names of brands of footwear. It mentioned names like Jimmy Choo shoes. In a way, it also advertises Milan implying that it is a very high class place where it is an authority of fashion. And lastly, an important tool in popular culture which is not quite emphasized in the movie is, television. It is the main instrument for spreading fashion trends to the people.
An aspect of the movie that might be unpopular to the general public is the idea of working in a shoe factory. It isn’t exactly appealing to many people these days. I guess that is what Nicola felt too. But also, it’s probably because the profession of a shoemaker isn’t what most people would aspire for. And also, having an overall happy ending maybe a little too cheesy and predictable. When Charlie fell flat on the runway, you could tell that Lola and her Angels were coming to the rescue. And also, the moment I saw Lauren, I instantly knew that she’d end up with Charlie because both of them are the ones “perfect” for each other. She knew how to stand by her man at all times.
While Charlie had his happy ending, Lola didn’t exactly have a happy ending with his/her father. The issue of not being accepted by the family for being a homosexual is a painful one and maybe be very unpopular to the community. But I liked it in a way that the movie did not try to answer or give solution to those kinds of problems, because in the first place, it honestly can’t. In the end, Lola’s father died without them being reconciled as a family.
Another unpopular subject matter in the movie may be the part dealing with financial problems. People watch movies to be entertained and not to be faced with reality again regarding money issues. It’s a way of forgetting reality for even just a while. Money is an issue of day to day life which a source of a lot of problems. In the movie, just like people in real life, Charlie also faced the same issue.
And lastly, this may be unpopular but quite common in drama movies, is the cheating lover. Charlie’s fiancée cheated on him. Of course, Charlie was a protagonist in the whole story. It made Nicola very unpopular and so is the act of cheating itself.
I don’t think the movie has the makings of a classic. It is a good movie though. The fashion aspect of the movie which implies that change in trends will be constant in all generations in society, will of course be present in all times, but that’s probably it. Trends in fashion are always apt to change. Other than that, the issue on how a community accepts homosexuals won’t probably be such a big deal in the future. It might be even viewed as “natural” and common. This certain issue presented in the movie would probably still exist, but to a lesser degree. The movie doesn't really have a heavy impact on society and the issues.
Overall, I really enjoyed the movie. I enjoyed it because it was a light-hearted comedy. It was really amusing to watch Lola. I did not know that Chiwetel Ejiofor was capable of playing such a role. The last movie I’ve seen him in was in Four Brothers where he played the role as the head of a gangster – the cap. To see him as a drag queen, was really surprising. And so, for the men and women, and for those who are yet to decide, this is a good movie to watch.

Blog Entry #3

Papa Don’t Preach
by Madonna
Papa I know you’re going to be upset
cause I was always your little girl
But you should know by now
I’m not a baby

You always taught me right from wrong
I need your help, daddy please be strong
I may be young at heart
But I know what I’m saying

The one you warned me all about
The one you said I could do without
Were in an awful mess, and I don’t mean maybe - please

Chorus:

Papa don’t preach, I’m in trouble deep
Papa don’t preach, I’ve been losing sleep
But I made up my mind, I’m keeping my baby, oh
I’m gonna keep my baby, mmm...

He says that he’s going to marry me
We can raise a little family
Maybe well be all right
Its a sacrifice

But my friends keep telling me to give it up
Saying I’m too young, I ought to live it up
What I need right now is some good advice, please

(chorus)

Daddy, daddy if you could only see
Just how good he’s been treating me
You’d give us your blessing right now
cause we are in love, we are in love, so please

(chorus)

Papa don’t preach, I’m in trouble deep
Papa don’t preach, I’ve been losing sleep
(repeat)

Oh, I’m gonna keep my baby, ooh
Don’t you stop loving me daddy
I know, I’m keeping my baby



I’ve already heard this song since way back when…

During the time this video was created, Madonna was already a pop icon despite the many people who disliked her. Her influence was apparent especially among the youth at that time. She had the image of a rebel who practically went against the traditions and norms of the society at that time. Her image advocated change. Her impact among the young, especially her fashion style, was disseminated through television. Through television, everything about her was advertised including the principles she stood (or still stands) for. And also, with the advent of the Music Television or more popularly known as MTV, her songs including her dance moves were imitated internationally. She became a pop (referring to the music genre) sensation.

This music video “Papa Don’t Preach” is just one of her many controversial songs. The song is basically a plea of help to her father. The first lines in the song already indicate or serve as a clue that she has a problem. She got herself in a “mess” which required her father’s help. There may be some other interpretation, but the most probable one is that the mess she referred to is that she got pregnant. She wants to keep the baby and be with the guy that she supposedly loves. She’s telling her father not to haul over the coals, but just be there for her as a father who still loves her. She asks for her father’s advice because her friends keep telling her she’s “too young” and that she ought to give up the baby. The following lines succeeding the chorus show how she convinces her father that the father of her child is actually “good” and that they are in love. The word please repeated a couple of times indicate that she’s practically begging for her father’s approval as if it would make everything alright.

[The song does make use of a cliché – falling for the good bad boy (Alex McArthur). A lot of movies have this storyline and so do many of the TV series until today.]

The song and its implications are still relevant today. Maybe even more relevant, because of the continuing debates and arguments about abortion by young mothers. This song is a kind of song that gave way for other topics that are taboo to be boldly shown on television screens.

Even though I highly doubt that the fashion during the time of this music video will ever be revived, it sure had an impact and gave way to other experiments on fashion. Madonna as a pop icon, was also a trendsetter. I’m not a fan of her eyebrows, her hair, or of her black leather jacket, but I’ve seen traces of its influence… Evidence of its relevance today, is the revival of the song by the controversial and scandalous singer-actress, Kelly Osbourne. She definitely represents many of the kids in this generation.