Maybe it’s because I’m not a Steven Universe fan but this Steven Universe-inspired ballet doesn’t so much break my heart, it does impress me though. Does anyone remember the days when cartoons were simply cartoons and weren’t meant to show this much emotional attachment? Even the most sentimental cartoons weren’t this deep and meaningful. Kid movies on the other hand was where the emotion really was. Charlotte’s Web and all those like it were the norm when it came to packing a ton of emotion into something that kids would watch and get weepy over. Adults even cried at such movies though some might not admit it.
But again, I’m not a Steven Universe fan so perhaps I don’t know enough about the story to really say much about it. One thing though is abundantly clear, the LGBTQ community has been represented a lot more in cable and regular TV. After all, part of this song is a woman lamenting that the woman of her dreams is leaving with a man, if I read that correctly, and she’s pained and saddened by the loss. Some might decide to think that she’s losing a best friend but having seen at least a few minutes of the show here and there, I do know that Steven Universe deals with LGBTQ themes.
There’s no hidden subtext or flirty, ambiguous way about it in this show, the gems, or women, are full on lesbians or bi or pansexual characters. It’s interesting how the LGBTQ community continues to state that their numbers are not being represented in any corner of the media however when more and more movies are coming out that are redefining sexuality, as are TV shows. I won’t even try to condemn it in cartoons, but the only danger I think is confusing those children that do not yet understand what it means for those of the same sex to have a stable relationship as heterosexuals do. It’s normal, it’s just as right as hetero relationship, and it is something kids need to learn about. There’s no ‘but’ there, that’s simply how it is.
It’s hard to be taken seriously as a heterosexual person any longer when we tend to agree with those whose sexuality is lesbian, gay, or any of the other genders that have been described. That’s why it’s so important for cartoons such as this to come forward and be counted so as to teach people what can be learned from same sex relationships. The cartoon is a bit silly at times but it does try to get these points across.
Moving back to the performance I tended to notice more the skill and amazing movements of the dancer, not so much the interpretation of the song. Her movements are easily on time and punctuate the music in a very profound way but overall it is her skill that is more impressive than the song itself. That’s one person’s opinion keep in mind, if another decides that it is indeed heart-breaking then I certainly will not argue.
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