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Joshua

 Obviously, it's important for Joshua to have early exposure to a "queer studies" curriculum. This can take many forms, and in my hands, it's a Survey of the History of the Suffering Diva.


Josh wasn't thrilled when I made him watch "Sudden Fear," starring Joan Crawford. In this one, an aging Crawford marries a much younger man, and she thinks it's love, love, love, but really the man wants to kill her. Crawford is ferocious, and she earned a third Oscar nomination for her work--and watching made me recall that Josh still hasn't seen "Mildred Pierce" or "Baby Jane." Josh sat quietly for around three minutes, then he threw himself from my lap and tried to eat a power cord.

 

Great acting isn't just a product of the black-and-white era; today, we have Olivia Colman. I haven't shown Josh a Colman masterwork--Suffering Diva Fireworks, aka "The Favourite"--but I have introduced Josh to "Broadchurch." In this one, snot pours from Colman's nose as she contends with the death of a friend, the realization that her husband is A Sinister Figure, the possibility that a rapist stalks her quiet seaside village. Again, Josh will study the screen for a moment--then, it's off to another corner of the room, to try to tip over a large floor lamp.

 

I have the most success with songs. I've been trying to get Josh acquainted with the Judy/Barbra/Audra canon.

 

The night is bitter! The stars have lost their glitter!

With hope you burn up....Tomorrow, he might turn up....

 

Sometimes, I borrow from "St. Louis Woman":

 

I had myself a true love! A true love who was something to see....

I had myself a true love! At least, that's what I kept on telling me....

 

The songs seem to captivate Josh. He will actually listen. He will even gurgle with delight. And I understand this: Who *wouldn't* have that reaction to Audra?

 

Like father, like son..... 

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