American Horror Story Cult is terrifyingly awesome (EP 1-3 Synopsis) *Contains Spoilers*
American Horror Story Cult, takes the show in a new direction from its past seasons with Lady Gaga (AHS Hotel) or last year's Roanoke historical fiction horror. This time it takes our modern fears rather than the classical ones, by merging the current clash of politics vs pop culture we have in our nation stemming from the election of President Donald Trump. The Gazette team will be doing something completely different than past media reviews - this time we will be covering the show's entirety by episode, rather than a season/series synopsis. For the sake of the show already being 3 episodes in however, this story will cover all of the previously aired episodes.
Episode 1: The greatest horror stories come from some of the most realist stories. After viewing American Horror Story it depicts the election from a perspective that addresses the fear and awakening of the radical conservative. There are multiple themes that address how both sides, seemingly against each other, truly fear the same thing.
Because in story we don't know the past lives of a character it is sometimes hard to see their full identity, especially early on in a series. AHS Cult however manages to illustrate the nature of the characters early on. The story plays out as authentic as a reality show. This season, what the characters are going through isn't far from fantasy. The setting of the story surrounds what many Americans are fearing, the threat to free speech, the rise of racism, and the overwhelming reality of rising violence in our nation. To make this hit home statements such as "the world was already fucked up, and then the election" really hit home with the viewer.
The Clowns:
As each scene occurs, the main characters (the Lesbian family) begin noticing "The others" through conversations and being perturbed by their own "Coming out." The understanding that clowns have created this cultist behavior has not been in the main theme, yet symbolizes something greater. The clowns represent the the psychological killing joke of too bad to be true. As each episode becomes more morally corrupt, you find the clowns becoming more involved with the lives of the innocent. At the end of the day, they still hide and kill behind the mask.
Episode 2: Psychological trauma mixed with a revolutionary world begins to blur the lines between hallucination and real life danger. Episode two brought up the point that the fear liberals face is labeling others. It is usually not a problem until it is them being labeled. The thought that peoples willingness to be inclusive and open is conditional was perfect timing. For example, there was backlash regarding putting a brown and black stripe on the equality flag is a prime example of how diversity is conditional. Who is right in this situation?
As Allyson (Sarah Paulson) is able to afford her isolation, the radical right winger Kai Anderson (Evan Peters) begins to analyze her false sense of protection, using a gun (something supported heavily by conservatives) no different than his willingness to change the world she can't face. The new couple that moved in is an "non-traditional" family with the couple who chose to marry despite the husband being gay and the wife being heterosexual. They essentially had an arranged marriage. As sexuality is expressed through culture vividly, how does the culture accept their style of marriage when there are constrictions on their own personal terms for the sake of their image. This ties into a larger issue relating to American social norms and role sets infringed upon the people. In high school, at such a young age where possibilities in the future are endless, these two chose to marry each other if they were both single at 35. Was that because the husband was not willing to be out? Or was it because society pressures us that if we don't have a car, house, and a spouse by 35 you must be a failure. Fears may project themselves via the clowns, but also are projecting themselves through the characters casually.
So the real question is:
"How long have we lived among these types of radicals?" Blacks are often quick to say with , "I told you so." Outspoken White liberals are becoming more conscious of the injustice in society.
Episode 3
Another issue that comes into play when discussing the couple who moved across the street is something I am grateful creators Brad Falchuk and Ryan Murphy brought to attention. In America you often hear liberals of color expressing that White liberals need to do better in regard to cultural appropriation or gentrification. I felt that episode 3 really nailed that on the head. In this episode there is a scene where the couple across the street begins to label Allyson as a racist, yet they show up to her house wearing sombreros... This shows how some liberals are quick to shame someone for being racist, but won't acknowledge their own wrongdoings. They also moved into the neighborhood because the housing was cheap (due to the homicide/suicide) which ties into the issues of housing acquisition.
This series really does an amazing job of illustrating how fears can truly distort reality. For Kai he is xenophobic, prejudiced, and Eurocentricly vile - his fears come from those who are different. With the husband and wife who move across the street, their fears tie into sexuality and the social constructs we've created to limit people. With Allyson, there is much more to unpack. She is afraid of being labeled as she labels people - other which ties into her fear of clowns. She is also afraid of being seen as insane and of losing her family.
Episode 3 was overwhelming because the line between psychopathology and morality confronted each other. The many topics addressed are the following: - How to become racist - When mental health is public - Racism is professionally connected - How fear can be the common demonstrator amongst White Americans
- The different factors impacting families both traditional and contemporary The growth of this story becomes perturbing in the sense that the product to be considered racist is only one socially accepted move away. The inability to understand that Ally has a mental health issue is too common. I personally believe that the cult leader is the counselor by his own self-affirming collective self. Cult leaders are natural dormant characters, able to use the power of manipulation to empower the weak to do their will without being completely owed to the mass.
Additionally has anyone else noticed that every time Ally has an interaction with the clowns her wife (Alison Pill) is not around? In the first episode the clowns were in the other room with Ally. In the second episode the wife was going to go to the store but Allyson offered to go instead. That's when she found the man that Pedro (Jorge-Luis Pallo) pulled a knife on dead in the butchery. In episode 3 there was a blackout and she then sent Pedro to check on Ally, who was just telling Ivy "its hard to be brown". This is a bold prediction but I think she is framing him, in the same way Kai framed the Mexicans in episode 1 to jump him while his friends filmed it.
The pinky promise death lock is one of the most controversial moments through the series because what Ozzy represents is our own deepest and darkest phobias. Fear of being the monster, the repression of our deepest fears and truths that are not politically correct. The revolution includes freedom from societal oppression - but it should consider the oppression that can be generated from political correctness.
Political correctness is one thing, but we all have a voice to be heard. We all have a stake in humanity. We need to listen to one another to gain true harmony. Once this occurs, the ugliest of ourselves can come to thrive, and not at the expense of others - from any side. Other truths are being revealed, and the weaknesses we once hid are consuming our internal complex and moral compass. Are you ready to free yourself from the pinky promise?