A think piece on Chappell Roan's VMAs performance.

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[SapphicUnderground]

I also forgot to mention this in the video but when Chappell is kneeling and looking up at the end of her performance, it's likely a reference to the 1865 John Everett Millais painting of Joan (the same painting Kate Bush took inspiration from).

[TArmy]

The VMA's was a win for the lesbians 😌

[AlenaIakovleva]

many people think that her look wasn't referencing Joan of Arc but rather Julie d'Aubigny and i am inclined to agree. the backdrop isn't a castle but a convent (that's why there are many crosses), because Julie burned down one to steal her lesbian lover. if you don't know who she is, i highly recommend you to look into her story, she is an icon!! strange æons awhile ago did a video on historical lesbians figures (the wild stories of historical gay nuns) and Julie was one of them, maybe this video would be a good starting point

[debfuhrmann]

I love the imagery of the men fighting each other around her too. She has to fend them off but it's evocative of the patriarchal violence that destroys itself while she breaks free.

[marialaurarebolledo]

I literally can't stop thinking about it, I feel like this will be what I'll be talking about for the next decade

[Asomniaaa]

This performance made me an instant fan. Of course I've heard of Chappell Roan because she's everywhere, but other than TikTok quick snips of her music, I'd not really listened to her music yet. Her sound and artistry are something special, so glad to finally catch up! Appreciate your thoughts on this performance :)

[donttalktomebye]

Meg and Halseys performances were great and those alone would have been a huge change of the VMAs quality in years, but Chappells turned it into what feels like a revival of quality performances in award shows since probably kendricks performance at the grammys (or beyonces but she always does incredible)

[dvojko]

Interesting analysis! My interpretation of the performance is probably more simple, I think it's just a visual representation of lyrics of "Good Luck, Babe!", the knights surrounding her representing feelings/thoughts and the struggle with accepting your sexuality. The way how she interacts with the knights represents different stages of coming to terms with your sexuality. Denial, internalized homophobia, heteronormativity, but also acceptance. At one point she pushes them back, she fights them, then she also dances with them and goes with the flow, she sits on the knee, and then it all ends with the knights fighting each other and falling down to ground while Chappell being the only one that survived.

[melrific]

screaming crying throwing up. my friend is one of those lady knights and I did not expect to see her picture. 💕

[LaNonita]

Her red carpet look reminded me of a tarot card, the Queen of Swords who communicates very directly, is very assertive and independent

[TiredKnitter]

I appreciate that you're concerned about respecting Chappell's boundaries. I think in general, discussing art and what it means and the themes it's about is totally fair game. It's just when it turns into speculation about the artist's real personal life that it gets gross. I think this video did a great job analyzing the layers of the art and is very much within bounds. Thanks for the video!

[weewanee]

i love that comment "when the situationship had you burning down a mf CASTLE"
seriously though, i keep rewatching the performance it was just so phenomenal i would die for her lol i love this video!

[Bloodrange]

i knew what it was referencing but not to this level 🤯 ty if i wasn’t obsessed with her before i am now 🥰

[sebastiangeorge]

I NEEDED this!!! Thank you so much! I was confused about why there were so many men on stage but I get it now! Heart this B!

[alexiazz]

Chappell Roan making the VMAs relevant again

[mrrysngstrss]

I think your analysis is pretty solid - one detail I would add is that if she's meant to be playing Joan of Arc, then I suspect that this is an analogue to the Siege of Orleans. Joan helped break the siege on the city that had been under attack for nearly a year.

[reneelyons]

What she gave us was even BETTER!! Well said. 🥰💖💛💜♥💙

[mikiewilliams]

I was SO blown away by Chappells performance, I watched the VMA video 5 or 6 times!!

[toygarfieldinacar]

YAYY I WAS WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO MAKE A VIDEO ON THIS

[Suprachiasmatic]

Excellent video. Really, I enjoyed this a lot.