Meat Loaf, ‘Bat Out of Hell’ singer, has died at 74
The news about the death of Meat Loaf made me think of the movie “The Rocky Horror Picture Show. He memorably played the role of the motorcycle-riding Eddie in the cult film The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1973), having played the character as well as Dr. Everett Scott in the musical version.
I watched it when I was in St. Louis in 1982. In other words, ages ago. I was always fascinated by the movie and in particular the audience participation. Made me wonder if this could be something to work with in class. At that time the movie was very controversial. Not so much today.
Lesson plan
- If you are able to watch the movie here are some movie trivia quizzes you can use in class.
- Picture show quiz
- The ultimate Rocky horror picture show quiz
- Answer the essay questions found here
- Watch the movie trivia below and answer the questions.
- If not read the texts below!
The Rocky Horror Picture Show’s challenge to ‘don’t dream it, be it’ was taken to heart by audiences
Rocky Horror fans created an immersive movie-going experience by returning, week after week, in costume as their favourite characters, armed with props such as water pistols to effect ‘rain’, rice to throw in the church scene, toast to throw when Frank proposes ‘a toast’ etc.
It’s the ultimate cult movie. The first. The biggest. The one cult movie to rule them all. For more than 40 years, The Rocky Horror Picture Show has defined what we mean by a ‘cult’ movie, though few can ever hope to match its phenomenal level of ritualized worship. A box office flop so ker-splatty it was pulled from the few screens showing it back in 1975, only to be lovingly resurrected by a devout fanbase. It has since grossed over $170 million worldwide and holds the record for the longest continually running movie release of all time. Source BBC
The famous lyrics from “The Time Warp,” the dance ditty from “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” include a neat trick for unleashing innovation: by getting out of your everyday habits you can spur diversity in your business, and that can lead to innovation. Source: Inc
RHPS is more than just a movie- it has become a community and a safe space for viewers to congregate and participate in the singing, dancing, acting, and dressing up in elaborate costumes (Weinstock 2008, 2). It is an opportunity to see oneself in a film, it provides a place for self-expression, and it gives meaning to peoples’ lives. Therefore, RHPS acts not only popular culturally as religion, but the film represents its own society, and its reception created a community that comes together on a weekly basis to watch the movie in theaters. Brad and Janet embody the more conservative audience of the film, while Frank-N-Furter and his servants give a voice to those who have never felt represented by characters in film or television. The enormous reception the film experienced is attributed to its inclusion of progressive themes such as sex, gender ambiguities and homosexuality in tandem with theories of performativity, ritualization, and liminal stages that relate the film to religion. Source; medium