bring it on baby!! ---- the subtext that is!

Dorena B · 09-01-2000, 04:43 AM

at the slayer pride message board, we have been totally breaking down the subtext in "bring it on". for those unfamiliar with the term, subtext is:

1. The implicit meaning or theme of a literary text.

2. The underlying personality of a dramatic character as implied or indicated by a script or text and interpreted by an actor in performance.

in the case of "BtVS", "slayer pride" is all about subtext. slayer pride club members believe that buffy and faith aren't just really good friends. they are total lesbians and they are fighting their attraction for each other with all they're worth. those of us at the slayer pride board have noticed that ms. eliza dushku is the QUEEN OF SUBTEXT!! in whatever she's in, her character comes off as having questionable sexuality. in that regard, she's very much like angelina jolie and gina gershon.

"bring it on" as a movie is chock full of subtext. leina and i went to see it again so that we could document this subtext. i've basically cut my thread from slayer pride to i can post it here. i think that this would be an interesting discussion for our forum.

so, here is part of my analysis on subtext in
bring it on".

originally titled "bring on the subtext!!!"

ok, i just got back from seeing "bring it on" for the 2nd time. oh my fucking god, there was so much subtext in this movie that i couldn't write it down fast enough!!! leina took about 4 pages of notes (yes, we really took notes) so i know she'll cover the subtext i may have missed. i'll break down certain major scenes. there is other random commentary about the little things i noticed, but i am going to wait to see what you guys think before i post it. ok, i'll start from the beginning.

cheerleading tryouts - we already know that missy walks into there in full on dykadelic mode. what we missed is that torrance totally goes against her friends to get missy onto the squad. she "wants" her from the very beginning. this was major. most of us think as cheerleaders as total sheep, but this girl risked her rep and whatnot for the mysterious dark girl. the attraction between them was soooo obvious. when those two slutty bitch cheerleaders make fun of missy, torrance has to keep from going into a rage. she totally humiliates those girls by pulling rank so she can run after missy.

missy's house after the 1st meeting - oh my god, this entire scene was unreal. ok, we have missy's dorky ass brother (aka xander wannabe) opening the door. he is completely trying to hit on torrance, but she is all about getting to missy. god, he was so annoying. when missy comes to the door, it's obvious that she's annoyed with him too. still feeling hurt from what those two bitchy cheerleaders said, she tells torrance something to the effect "there's no way jumping up and down cheerleading is going to satisfy me". we know that line is a double entendre. it's obvious that missy wants to know if torrance has what it takes to "satisfy" her. when the designer imposter xander (cliff) butts in with his lame ass opinion, it looks as if missy is ready to bitch slap him. it's obvious that she was waiting to see what torrance's answer was. who knows, if he hadn't been there, they probably would have kissed.

road trip - ok, that entire first exchange outside of the gym was intense. when torrance wanted to get physical with missy, i knew we were going to be in for some serious subtext. the up and down look and the smirk that missy gave torrance was priceless. it was obvious from that entire exchange that missy was ready to see if torrance would "bring it on". torrance stepped back from missy during that exchange not because she was afraid of getting her ass kicked, but because she was overwhelmed by the intense chemistry between the two of them. ok, i am going to move on to the near fight outside of the clover's gym. the arm grab was so obvious. missy was ready to take a beating to protect her. i thought that was sweet.

the sleepover - ok, what the hell was going on here?! these two girls just met and they're already sharing a bed!! missy does get so pissed when she sees torrance checking out her brother. it's not that she's pissed at torrance, she's pissed at her brother for moving in on her territory. that's why she gives him that dirty look when torrance goes to brush her teeth. when torrance finally gets to bed, missy is lying there like a wounded lover. if any of you have ever been in a fight with your significant other, then the whole, "i have my back to you because you've pissed me off" thing is familiar ground. it was obvious that is was hard for her to keep the jealous tone out of her voice when she asked torrance if she was into cliff. ok, i don't know if anyone saw this, but when i did, i totally freaked. the next morning, torrance is totally talking on the phone. we see missy in the background in bed. when she wakes up and stretches, SHE REACHES OVER AND SEARCHES FOR TORRANCE BUT FINDS AN EMPTY BED INSTEAD!!! she sits up looking a little miffed. that quickly turns to suspicion when she notices that torrance is talking a little to freely to whoever is on the other line.

regional cheerleading competition - this part of the movie was all about physical contact. torrance and missy held hands at least 3 times that i can remember. when the clovers were up to perform, they broke through the crowd, running hand in hand and looking a little flushed. one can only imagine what they were off doing. when torrance sees both cliff and aaron in the audience during the performance by that other cheerleading squad, we see the look of despair on her face. it's there for 2 reasons. the first being that their squad is screwed because of their shitty routine. the 2nd, because she realizes that these two guys are hot for her. she knows that this is a problem because of who she really wants. she gives the two of them this strange look and then bolts off to find missy (big surprise there). they run off hand in hand again and missy offers her reassurance about their routine. we see a softer side to their relationship during that tender moment.

national cheerleading competition - ok, leina will break down this entire part of the movie. i just wanted to ask this question ,WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT ENTIRE "SPIRIT STICK" EXCHANGE ABOUT?!!! the look in missy's eyes while she was wagging her "spirit stick" in torrance's face was hott!! if you didn't notice that scene before, get your ass out to the theater again so you can see it.

that's what i have for now. i am going to break this movie down even more once i've seen it again.

5x5,
dorena

Leina Rose · 09-01-2000, 05:10 AM

This is my response, actually, it's an add-on to Dorena's post on the Slayer Pride board.....

---Daytona, FL---

More handholding between Missy and Torr. Torr asks Missy about Cliffypoo (ugh, the poor man's Xander) and Missy basically badmouths him. She notices that Torr might have feelings for her evil bro. oh no...

In the hotel room, after semifinals, Missy and Torr are having a rather nice conversation that is interrupted by cheerleaders practicing outside their window. A pissed-off Missy gets off the bed and yells at them. Hey, those loud cheerleaders ruined their special moment! (I'd be pissed off too.)...

Cheerleading finals. I don't want to spoil THAT for you.

Then, THE SPIRIT STICK SCENE! Missy struts her sexy stuff towards Torr, twirling the Spirit Stick around. This Spirit Stick represents Missy's lust/love. She is WAGGING it in front of Torr, threatening to let it fall to the ground if Torr doesn't take it. And stupid Torr lets it drop to the ground! NO! Well, they pick it up, and Torr suggests that they should burn the stick. BURN THE STICK! This was Torr's mean way of telling Missy, that no, she's not gonna swing that way....

On comes the evil bro. Missy realizes that yes, her bro and Torr are in love. So, as a way of dealing with it, the first sign of her living vicariously through her bro is when she says she'll leave them alone.

...You may say, "Hey, didn't Missy tell Cliff to 'Be Aggressive, B-E Agressive' earlier?" Okay, she did. She did this as a way of saying, "You can't have what's mine because you're a wimp." Another way of interpreting this: she didn't want to come out of the closet to her brother, so she suggested that Cliff go after Torr...

Two words to describe how Missy and Cliff interacted with one another, regarding Torr: SIBLING RIVALRY.

......
Well, well, well, Dorena, we soo need to watch this movie a few more times.

5x5,
Leina

Slayer Chick · 09-01-2000, 01:41 PM

You took NOTES in the movie to prove the girls were closeted lesbians? Am I reading this right? Oooohkay. I am so not hip, because I didn't catch any of that.

Back to the Kindergartener.

Tah!

Dorena B · 09-01-2000, 01:52 PM

this is some serious stuff. of course we took notes. looking for subtext in a movie makes it a lot more interesting. don't think that we thought of the entire subtext in "BtVS" or in "bring it on" on our own. there is an entire group of people that feel the same way.

the bastion of subtext: http://www.sashachase.com/slayerpride/

and it's discussion board:
http://discserver.snap.com/Indices/109991.html

check it out, you might learn something interesting.

5x5,
dorena

Boston Beauty · 09-01-2000, 02:42 PM

Trust me when I speak for myself and our Slayer Chick that we'd rather not learn anything... Ignorance is bliss.

Happy Holiday Weekend... Where's the Weenie Roast?

CookiesLoveSlave · 09-01-2000, 04:36 PM

Well can I echo the words of the boston beauty and add something?

Ignorance is BLISS, but some people are down right EUPHORIC.

Subtext? Tsk tsk....

Hey slayer, do me a favor. Watch out for dog shit in the cememtary.

thats scarier then slaying the vamps!

Dorena B · 09-02-2000, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Boston Beauty
Trust me when I speak for myself and our Slayer Chick that we'd rather not learn anything... Ignorance is bliss.

i think it's good that the three of you have decided to stick to something that your brains can handle. it would be a pity to damage what little intellect you already have. i should have added my little disclaimer: these posts are best viewed with tongue planted firmly in cheek. (just borrowing a little from sasha on that one). the irony of this is that all of you post in the angie forum and we know that she is all about both subtext and text.

5x5,
dorena (who is trying hard not to feed the trolls.)

Slayer n' a Half · 09-02-2000, 02:46 PM

Well, well. The Slayer and her significant half have entered the discussion.

Ok, a couple of things I noticed.(yes, I admit it, I did take notes) When Missy slid her hand up Torrance's arm outside the gym, I went "awwwwww". heh. That 'I'm-not-speaking-to-you-cause-i'm-pissed-that-you-were-swooning-over-my-brother look from Missy in bed was very important.
And when Missy woke up. I was like Wait a Minute!, she did not just reach over and look disappointed! but she did. Eliza was great, she used the word Dyke-a-delic!

CookiesLoveSlave · 09-02-2000, 07:46 PM

Dorena , I take it your extremly young and very naive so I will tread lightly and say this. Didn't your mother ever teach you that when you point a finger, you have three pointed right back at you?

Dont bash my friends man, You really dont wan't to see my bitchy side.

Tah!

Boston's Bro · 09-02-2000, 09:44 PM

My sister is brilliant. Anyone who can't see that is the one who is lacking. She's not a lesbian. She doesn't dig chicks. But she sure as hell wouldn't bash anyone for their choices. She's also NINETEEN and a little sensitive. So before you go writing glowing reviews of how great she is and how wonderful her acting skills are, think about the HUMAN that's in that skin that you could be hurting.

Thanks,
Nate

PS: She meant "Ignorance Is Bliss" because she was feeling SHY that you disected her movie 100 ways from Sunday.

elisa_mo_myra · 09-02-2000, 11:17 PM

right, i just want to step into this thread and say hello! Dorena, darling, well...i'm just not going to say anything. you never know who's reading your words.

Slayer Chick · 09-03-2000, 11:11 AM

I came, I saw, I left...

Tah!

Slayer n' a Half · 09-03-2000, 07:40 PM

EVERYONE'S NUTS!!! NUTS I TELL YOU! CHEERLEADERS ARE POKING ME! STOP IT! AHHHHH!

Dorena B · 09-03-2000, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CookiesLoveSlave
Dorena , I take it your extremly young and very naive so I will tread lightly and say this. Didn't your mother ever teach you that when you point a finger, you have three pointed right back at you?

Dont bash my friends man, You really dont wan't to see my bitchy side.

well, well, well, i come back from a long weekend to find this. i must say it's quite interesting. it's never good to make assumptions about a person, cookie or whatever your name is. if you had read my post, then you would realize that the things i have posted are to be viewed with "tongue planted firmly in cheek".

also, i just about died laughing when i read the end to your post. grow the fuck up. this isn't high school and making veiled threats isn't going to make me run and hide from you.

CookiesLoveSlave · 09-04-2000, 10:04 AM

Dorena,

I actually find it quite amusing that you just stated never to make assumptions about anyone. I believe you stated that we were all lacking in " intellect" and it was a good thing our " Brain cells" were working. Tsk tsk How quickly we point a finger and then forget.

I graduated suma cum laude, and yourself?

And honey don't worry , I dont write checks, that my ass can't cash.

Tah!