David Bowie: Dance, Magic, Dance

David Bowie passed away. All the internet is a buzz about it. I was sadden to hear the news. I actually didn't believe it until too many people were confirming it on social media. When his people confirmed it as well, I felt myself tear up a bit. See I liked David Bowie but I especially loved him in the movie, cult classic, Labyrinth.

Labyrinth is the story of a teenage girl foolishly wishing away her brother to the Goblin King, Jareth. After she realizes her terrible mistake, she embarks on a journey to find her brother who is being held in the center of the Goblin King's formidable and ever changing labyrinth. Along the way she makes friends who help her and one who betrays her.

This movie was eye opening to me. The Goblin King was not a stereotypical heart throb. David Bowie, however, changed something in me as he did with many young girls and queer boys watching it. Yes, I know I can't mention the movie without mentioning the Goblin King's provocative costume that accentuated his manhood (this IS a sex blog) but beyond the obvious sexuality on display, Bowie brought something more to the role. When he proposed to Sarah at the end, you could feel the movie tapping into a primal aspect of fairy tales, the sexual awakening of the hero(ine).

Yet unlike many fairy tales and their incarnations, the movie was empowering for young girls (and queer boys). Of course Sarah made dumb choices, (giving her brother away the least of it--my sister and I always thought she was dumb to leave the Goblin Kingdom when she could have disposed of her suitor and become queen herself) but she was single minded and used wit, skill, and even strength to overcome obstacles.

I didn't have a good childhood. It was Dickensian at best. But the moments when I could be a child, could use my imagination to transport me to somewhere beyond a crummy, dilapidated trailer park in rural N.C., are cherished memories. Many of these memories involve playing with my younger sister and reenacting moments from these movies which took us out of the rotten circumstances we couldn't control. Many times K------- and I would try to give away our nephew T----- to the Goblin King. We knew we would rescue T----- and then take over the Kingdom and be somewhere that wasn't the reality of poverty.

I realize as I write this a bit of my childhood, which I protected and cherished, is now gone. David Bowie, I am forever grateful for you and your vision, along with Jim Henson's, and Jennifer Connolly for her perfect portrayal of an imperfect heroine. RIP Goblin King.