REVIEW (TV/Film): Hollywood
READING TIME: 5 MINUTES
One would expect from Murphy's past projects like Glee to American Horror Story, for the show to feel preppy, chirpy, camp, sexy gore. By the middle of the series that is exactly what you get so it’s very on brand; though this is not what is felt at first. In its first glimpses viewers might expect a generic post-WW2 American show about hopeful and excited Californians entering the vapid, vivid, venomous Hollywood. Whilst true to an extent, Murphy challenges the historical narrative by weaving in a utopia full of marginalised groups succeeding in the entertainment business instead of Hollywood’s all-white poster boys, who would normally be a circle-jerk of Jack Castellos. Critiques of the show commented that the writing was hollow and the overt presence of the female, black and gay characters, being "embraced with open arms" was severely blurring historical accuracy. The insight appears ludicrous for them to not realise the show is more about creating a fantasy, or an alternative universe, where marginalised people can see themselves in world they could have lived in. It seems narrow-sighted to not realise this would be a likely outcome considering who its creator was, or knowing about his previous works or the fact he might tie in experience as he comes from one of those marginalised backgrounds. The shift from realism to surrealism is obvious and intentional and highlights the aforementioned comments. Such examples of this is when Camille Washington was using modern jargon labelling herself as ‘a woman of colour’ as opposed to the term black/coloured which was more likely, and opportunities for these characters such as Archie Coleman, gay, black man in the 50s becoming a screenwriter, were being seized as easy as an Amazon Prime shopping trip. It tries to be progressive whilst retaining the traditional settings. All in all the series was pacing, contained enough content character arcs and the plotlines are not stereotypically Murphy (corny) for once. The series finale definitely lacked a sense of anticipation for next season though since many resolutions were tied up by the end of Season 1. Perhaps the representation of a dreary end that marginalised groups face in Hollywood programming was swapped out to give them their own happy ever after or a ‘Dreamland’. So it’s a win for Murphy and the cast so far!
