On Hanschen Rilow and Potential Bisexual Erasure in the Spring Awakening Fandom

[arqueete]

I've been following the slash drama being documented in metafandom, and a little while back a piece of meta was posted entitled "Captain Jack Harkness is not gay". Now, I am a fan of Torchwood and Jack Harkness, but where the post really hit me was in realizing its applications to my main fandom right now -- Spring Awakening (in this case applying both to

Comments

[dreamsofstars]

I've always thought that while Hanschen does indeed swing both ways, he wouldn't identify himself that way.

[arqueete]

This is probably true. While I was writing this I was going through the companion book trying to see if anywhere in there Word of God said anything particularly definitive about his sexuality. It doesn't, as far as I saw, but there were some interesting things that I didn't talk about in this post as I was trying to be TO THE POINT. Such as:

I always saw Hanschen as the conservative banker who would look back and completely deny ever having ever had anything to do with a boy. He's a heartbreaker, in that respect. He's very sophisticated and more than a little scary. And here's poor little Ernst, who loves him. Where does their story end? Wounds. Ernst gets completely wounded, gets his heart broken, and I think Hanschen is a very successful guy. And maybe Ernst does go marry his preacher's daughter.

That's Steven Sater.

[youngshadow]

I agree with you completely. I also identify as bisexual and bisexual erasure is a big insult, especially when it comes from the LGBTQ community. Poor Hansi. We fangirls do want Hernst to live happily ever after, but I do think Sater could be right.

[anonymous]

Hi There, I do have an account but am more eager to let you know I liked your post alot then try to find passwords

[arqueete]

Thanks for your input and good luck in your auditioning :)

[anonymous]

I think he's gay
When he's masturbatinf to the picture he did not cum

It's just an experiment for him to see if he's gay or not

And it's said that he's comfortable with he's sexuality

[anonymous]

This article is really interesting and makes a good point. I always read the 'Desdamona' scene a little differently. After he finishes, both the play and musical scripts say that he destroys the picture. I think it's symbolic of the photo (or the woman in it) being what he needs any more, and maybe coming to terms with his sexuality. Because the flirtation and attraction to Ernst is present from the first scene (Huddle over Homer, maybe do a little Achilles and Patrocles...). This is just how I read the scene (straight girl POV, tbh)