Archive | September 2023

An Analysis into the Sociocultural Impact of Princess Peach

Sep19

It is truly hard to overstate the value that Princess Peach of the Super Mario games has added to society. She exemplifies some of the most hallmark traits of fashion, ethics, and sexuality, which have come to define our modern social sphere. And it is her multifaceted character that makes Princess Peach such an iconic and influential figure for the broader global community. Now to truly understand the Princess’ true significance, let’s take a deep dive into each of her contributions:

Fashion

In brief, Princess Peach has ushered in a renaissance for femme fashion culture, bringing back several key tropes of historic apparel. First and most notably is her signature pink dress, which with its flared body and shoulder cuffs is reminiscent of the French aristocracy under the influence of Marie Antoinette immediately pre-Revolution. However, after the Revolution, with its associated global impacts, clothing became more modest as a way for people to distance themselves from the tyranny of the upper class1. And while this shift most certainly served an important purpose at the time, the loss of French-inspired extravagance was a significant and unfortunate forfeiture for modernity. This loss stifled many of the creative aspects of the wildly popular French-inspired fashion design, thus minimizing many individuals’ ability for self-expression2. However, as Princess Peach rose in popularity, enabled by the incredible success of the Mario franchise, she reintroduced some of the regal aspects of fashion. In other words, her notoriety has allowed creative and expressive fashion to rise to a sense of social acceptance again. And it is this normalcy which gives many the comfort they need to dress how they want. 

Ethics

In a world plagued by widespread hatred and a general lack of respect for one another, Princess Peach stands out as a model for an upstanding citizen. First is her treatment of service workers, who for her, are the Toads. Throughout the Mario franchise, Princess Peach shows grace to the Toads, constantly offering her gratitude while also providing them with a thriving kingdom to live in3. She consistently listens to their advice without complaint, and she ruthlessly defends their physical health and dignity from villains like Bowser and Donkey Kong. Compare that to the way that service people are treated in real life, and her upstanding nature becomes overwhelmingly apparent. Consider the rise of the Karens, who consistently make media headlines for their blatant disrespect for service people. But the headlines only scratch the surface of the egregious suffering service people endure, as it is really not hard to see instances of consumer aggression on a daily basis, such as in restaurants and retail stores. And it is this ubiquity which makes Princess Peach so important, since her position as a cultural figure allows her to reach a broader audience, specifically of young people, who can help break the cycle of hate at the root. 

Sexuality 

In a rather fascinating twist of fate, Princess Peach is also widely considered an icon of queer culture, making her an emblem of much of the sexual/gender-related progress in recent years4. Consider first the nostalgia she harbors, specifically for gay men like myself. And while I cannot speak to the population of gay men as a whole, there seems to be a fairly firm consensus that Princess Peach played an important role in all of our lives. The role is quite simple: Princess Peach was a virtual/video game outlet for us as gay men to express our femininity, without fear of being judged for it in real life. In other words, she could be what we wanted to be, even when we could not. Personally, I saw myself a lot in her, both in terms of overall look and her commitment to maintaining her feminine demeanor even in the face of ruthless masculinity from the likes of Bowser and even Mario. She embodied the persistence and fearlessness which I aspired to exhibit when confronted by those who felt disgusted or threatened by my sexual expression. And in an overall sense, her ability to be a rallying call of queer people demonstrates the breadth of her impact.

Considering these three impacts which Princess Peach has so gracefully executed, it should not be undeniable to any reader that she is so much more than a damsel in distress. She is a powerful symbol of self-expression and morality, underscored by a sense of ferocity rivaled only by the most courageous and selfless of us. So the next time you think of the Princess, remember that even though she is in another castle, her influence transcends all divides. 

 

(1) https://mediakron.bc.edu/fashiondecor/art-nouveau/contents/empire-the-making-of-a-ruler/womens-fashion-french-empire/womens-fashion-french-empire

(2) https://www.culture.gouv.fr/en/Thematic/Mode/Fashion-in-France 

(3) https://mariowiki.com/Princess_Peach 

(4) https://splinternews.com/why-mario-karts-princess-peach-is-a-queer-icon-1793854365 

First Reading Memory: A Literacy Narrative

Sep7

My earliest reading memory is one I will never forget: sitting on our family’s bright red couch reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. I remember my mother softly and intentionally reading each of the words, as if to make them dance around in the air as they slowly permeated my wandering mind. The brightly colored pages and variety of food items evoked some of my most primal emotions, those of curiosity and humanity. To see a creature, which at the time seemed mythical, have the same needs and same struggles as me, was truly an invaluable part of my early childhood. I have often struggled to grasp with my own body and my own relationships, but as long as the Very Hungry Caterpillar despairs for his next meal, I will always know that I am not alone. In effect, I could see myself in him. Inching along, not thriving, but simply surviving, content with the reality that life may never get better. And while that ideal is most certainly bleak and strays within the deepest realms of pessimism, I find it comforting knowing that even the most rudimentary of creatures must grapple with it as well. 

My little mind could not have possibly known it at the time, but The Very Hungry Caterpillar has come to exemplify many of the values which I hold dear today. Doing what is right not only for others, but for myself. Searching for my next meal, not a feast for others. Protecting my own mental and physical health even in spite of the unbearable pressures imposed upon me by other people is a skill I have had to learn, in several rather unfortunate ways. 

For much of my life, I have taken a protector role in my family, but specifically for my older brother. Growing up under a physically abusive father who was particularly harsh on his favorite son, my brother, I garnered a sense for danger and a vehement desire to protect Shane from it. I was already too feminine for my father, and he gave up on me. But my brother was a football player and thrower for track, and so every ounce of my father’s attention was dedicated to him. That is to say, any screw-up was hounded, brutally. And being on the lighter end of his abuse, I took it upon myself to throw my whole soul in between the two of them to prevent conflict. I got burned doing this. I became not a savior, but an instigator who could not keep himself to himself. He even coined a name for me during his ridicule: “extreme Will”, in reference to my fervor in protecting others in an occasionally dramatic way. And to no one’s surprise, my father and I slowly grew apart, until he effectively disowned me in the Spring of 2018, following my parents’ divorce. I bring this up because it taught me an important lesson, which the Caterpillar had taught me so many years ago, that I need to protect my interests first. I recognize that this seems like a selfish pursuit, but I have far too often pushed myself to limits which I cannot handle. And while I cannot imagine a world where I do not stand up for others, I know now that my mental and physical health is just as vital. Ironically, a main harbinger in that realization was the woman who read me The Very Hungry Caterpillar in the first place: my mom. 

As one can probably infer at this point, my mother is an integral part of my life, and acts as my rock both physically and emotionally. She was the first person, to my dismay and original disagreement, to force me to consider the effects of my choices on myself. She was the main reason why I was able to cope through the divorce/disownment, and to this day she remains my spiritual rock. I am eternally grateful for her presence, and I would do anything for her, the woman who introduced me to the Caterpillar. Ultimately, as long as the Caterpillar and my mom stay in my life to be my soulful guardians, I think I will be content, just living.