This article was everything I have been saying for some 40 years. Even before I knew I was Queer, growing up in small town NC, Island of Misfit toys spoke to me in such a deep way & the connection to Herbie & Rudolph was real. Its still my favorite Christmas special to this day, and Years ago my mom bought me the entire collection of misfit toys as a present.
10
Give me a break. I'm a liberal. I don't have to be offended by everything.
8
While I and my family have enjoyed this seasonal classic for generations, I have gained a new perspective on it from this writer. I have to admit that I never thought of it from a queer or LGBTQ point of view, but more in the sense of being "different" and not fitting in, and when unable to change, being bullied and scapegoated by family and society for not being more "normal."
It is such a classic and, I feel, teaches compassion. Recently meeting our son's girlfriend for the first time and discovering she has many amazing gifts which actually caused her many problems, I greeted her to our home by saying, "Welcome to the island of misfit toys!"
9
now I've read it all! this writer has finally
surpassed herself in political correctness.
admittedly, I will never, ever understand
the concept of transgenderism, but can
we at least leave our holiday traditions
alone? let Christmas, Santa and Rudolph
gladden the heart of childhood for endless
generations to come without burdening it
with a "woke" lump of coal.
14
The makers of this were thinking about misfits in general when they made this.
This might come as a surprise to the editorialist, but not all misfits are gay. Indeed, I suspect only a small minority of them are.
But if it speaks to you in this way, fine. Just leave "A Christmas Story" alone.
14
Merry Christmas. I would never be able to get my mind around what it means to be transgender or what you have and as yet will go through. Lets just say we readers are glad to have you around, no need to live on the island. Keep speaking the truth.
7
I can't imagine (probably because I have never managed to be "mainstream") how anyone couldn't relate to this Christmas special. Kids who don't share the same religion or ethnicity with other kids in predominantly white schools, kids with disabilities, kids who wear glasses, kids who can't "go along to get along" and dare to speak truth to power, geeky kids, nerdy kids, fat kids, tall kids, underdeveloped kids, overdeveloped kids, LGBT+ kids, foster kids, kids with a missing parent, and the list goes on and on.
9
I just always enjoy reading whatever subject you are writing about, makes my day. You have a gift, Jennifer.
7
"Welcome to “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” the queerest holiday special ever.
I’m sure that conservatives who love this old holiday chestnut will be infuriated by this suggestion."
It's true, conservatives often have blinders on, when it comes to things they don't "want" to see.
On the other hand, I've noticed that LGBTQ people often have the opposite problem: They see "Queer" everywhere.
I'll think it's natural and unavoidable (if somewhat perilous) that all humans view the world through then lens of their own experience. But sometimes, a children's holiday special is just a children's holiday special.
You may feel free to disagree with me, of course.
12
This opinion piece and commentary explains why Trump has a 50 - 50 chance of winning a second term.
14
Identity politics bah humbug! The goal should be to end oppression not own it. We need to build bridges not silos.
Me and mine first is a dead end. We are facing crises that threaten the existence of the planet and the freedom of all people of conscience not just here but around the World.
We are living in dark and dangerous times. And Rudolf will
not light our way out.
M
M
4
The thing that bothers me about Rudolph as an adult is the fate of the Abominable Snowman.
Somehow, having internalized the movie's overall message of inclusiveness, I had rewritten the end of the story in my memory: In my (false) memory, Bumble was abominable because he had a toothache, and Hermey's expert dentistry restored his natural good humor.
In reality, Yukon Cornelius knocks Bumble out cold with a boulder so that Hermey can perform nonconsensual oral surgery, pulling every single tooth and literally saving Rudolph and his loved ones from the jaws of death. Then Cornelius and his dogs push the now-toothless monster over a cliff so Cornelius can "reform" him and bring him back on a leash to act as a slave for Santa. Maybe it's a commentary on toxic masculinity, but I like my version better ;-).
5
I think every gay person that grew up watching Rudolph has had the EXACT same realization. Hello, the pretty boy elf and a reindeer (that kinda sounds like a girl) that are "different" in socially unacceptable ways... that is epitome of the gay, coming of age experience! It resonates so deeply with our story. I'm sure anyone that has ever felt like an outcast or outsider can resonate with this story, but it belongs to the gays.
6
Many years ago, while I was working for a rather soulless corporation, my colleagues and I spent a lunch break discussing our favorite childhood Christmas specials. I turned to Jimmy (our resident gay man) and asked him, "So, in 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,' Hermey the elf..."
Before I could even finish my question, Jimmy burst out, "Oh, he's gay! That voice? That swoosh in his hair? Yeah, that boy knew about hair products long before anyone else did. It's not even a question. Trust me. He's gay."
7
WOW. Talk about choosing to view things through your own very special... and clearly CORRECT!... lens and no one else's. Shame on you indeed... for trying to put ANY sort of spin on a tale intended to make all of our society's "misfits" feel they have important roles to play and places to belong. That's kind of sick and I'm sad for you. You can read whatever you really want to into this... the elf COULD seems a bit gay... but maybe Rudolph is just like with a lot of us who felt lousy because they couldn't fix cars or do anything right in shop class. And what exactly are we to make of the Abominable?
I hope you and yours have derived some comfort and feelings of warmth from this story. Really hope you don't mind too awful much if the rest of us... pretty much all feeling insecure, excluded and alone some time in some ways... obtain the same.
4
Me thinks we overthink things. Yes, Rudolph is all about inclusion, any kid can figure that out. That is the core lesson. Beyond that, give it a rest and just think about a much simpler time before we had the ability to comment on NYT pieces all the time and needed to worry about the person crossing the street and walking into you while they were typing into their phone is a better time? This is like overthinking vanilla ice cream.
4
“Conservatives seem to miss the point of a lot of things having to do with Christmas, actually.”
And it appears that Liberals have missed the ENTIRE point of Christmas…the birth of Jesus Christ.
15
This was to dental school applications what “Top Gun” was to Navy enrollment.
2
Thanks for ruining it for me.
6
Is there anyone who doesn't cry when Dolly says, "I haven't any dreams left to dream?" Gets me every time. The hidden subversive potential of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" isn't that hidden. Santa is a jerk, and Hermey's a "dentist." Elves and misfits of the world unite! You have nothing to lose but your chains.
7
Sorry, but every kid that didn't fit in felt this way.
BTW, growing up as the other Jewish kid in a very Waspy school system will do it too.
So please, can we get a break from the identity politics for a sec.
10
My attraction has always to members of the opposite sex, so that qualifies me as heterosexual or straight. At age 50 had to return to school to retrain for another career after a 30 year stint in the steel industry abruptly ended, plant shutdown. Roomed with a man slightly younger who quickly told me he was bisexual to set the record straight in case I would be uncomfortable, which I was not. We remained with our sexual preferences to become good friends. I'm troubled when people refer to LGBT's as queer. My good friend Andrew was anything but queer. He taught me to be being more friendly, smile more often and be less judgmental at another's private sex life.
5
If everyone looked and thought like me, the world would be a better place!😀
2
I remember reading some article where "Huckleberry Finn" got this spin. Huck and Jim on the raft...at night... you get the idea.
Way to go. It's pieces like this helps assure that guess-who gets re-elected. Just because a good number of people within a five mile earshot all stand up and champion such things also means in a much much wider radius there are many many more eyes rolling. "This again" they mutter to themselves, when otherwise they're perfectly happy to let everyone carry on the the way they like... but they don't want or need to be constantly reminded of it? If I had to guess... I'd say shows like "Queer Eye..etc" were a major push in helping someone get elected in the first place. As many hearts and minds that you've won legit, the continual hammer-every-day message is also gonna get you twice the amount of acrimonious votes against. Acrimony outgunned hearts-and-minds by about two-to-one in 2016. You just have to face the fact there are some you are never going to reach, and pieces like this push them even farther away. Be happy for now with the tiger you bagged, don't keep beating the jungle for its significant other lest you attract the whole family of tigers all at once?
1
Well. I am fairly conservative. I like this holiday chestnut. But no, I am not infuriated. Does every single thing in the NYT have to insult non-liberals? I'm sorry about your dad. I'm glad you are happy. Ok.
3
Aaaand....cue Tucker Carlson.
I don't know about it being queer, but even at the age of 8 or 9, I saw this Rudolph special as a battle between the working class and bourgeoisie. Hermey is kept in his place by his lunatic boss, doing the dirty work for power-mad toy baron Santa Claus. Just another worthless cog in a capitalist society. The journey Rudolph and Hermey make symbolizes the proletariat breaking free from the shackles that have kept them down for far too long. After all, it's not called Rudolph the RED nosed Reindeer by accident!
5
Isn't there something better to write about and analyze than Rudolph? I mean, really?
5
As a LGBT, EIEIO member, let me assure you not only conservatives are offended by your bigoted take on things.
What a joke.
4
There are not many more difficult experiences than being "outcast" or feeling lonely. As much as I loved watching it growing up, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer always left me feeling a bit sad, and I'm glad it did.
4
Every adult I know with a wounded inner child loves the island of misfit toys. It's as if we all sat around the television set and had the same exact thought,"I belong somewhere." And you, Ms. Boylan, expressed that sentiment perfectly and beautifully.
But what was most poignant for me in your reflection was how lonely the holiday season can be for members of our community, people who are still forced into lives of silence or pay the heavy price of family separation.
Unfortunately, I do not have a pithy and witty comment. Instead I will let your essay be a beacon for this holiday season, a reminder to make every effort to be gentle and kind; to give more and to take less; and to value and encourage the authenticity of every person.
Isn't that what the carpenter said? Love your neighbor as yourself. I don't think he distinguished among neighbors. In fact, I'm pretty certain he meant everyone.
9
Ultimately, the meaning "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" is the same as the meaning of Christmas itself - that there is hope for everyone. That's the meaning of any good Christmas story, from "A Christmas Carol" to "Elf". That message is why we like Christmas stories so much, it's why we like Christmas so mucn.
2
Rudolph can mean many different things to many different people and that is what makes it classic and enduring.
4
Boy was life ever easier (and more fun) when everything didn't have some deep meaning.
6
No one forces you to read.
2
When was that?
2
My then-"tween"-age daughters and I caught on to this subtext almost 25 years ago. While not without its flaws, it is one of the few LGBTQ-D (for "dentists") inclusive holiday specials.
6
Yes!! Watching with my teenage kids 15 years ago, we appreciated the subversiveness of the script. Hermey popping out of the snowbank telling Rudolph “I’m a a a... dentist!” still makes us smile and our hearts melt for him.
1
I don’t know about the TV production, but the SONG is about a bunch of suck-ups who pick on someone until the Boss shows him favor and they all decide they love him.
But my mother said it was fun to watch Jimmy Durante sing it.
3
I thoroughly enjoyed this interpretation of my favorite Christmas special.
However, what about Bumble the snow monster? He is not allowed to be his man/deer-eating himself and must be subjected to extreme physical alteration (forced teeth-pulling) to be allowed to live in Christmastown. What about his self-expression?!
8
Merry Christmas Jennifer Finney Boyland. Merry Christmas Gray Lady. May we never stop being true to our mission.
With some luck maybe this season will bring better love to us all.
4
Maybe the misfit toys could have just had plastic surgery to resemble non-misfit toys, or possibly there were pills they could take?
6
This is an interesting interpretation. As a little girl I always found it incredibly unfair that none of the female reindeer were allowed to participate in the games or pull the sled. They weren't even allowed to have antlers, as actual female reindeer do, really it was almost Talibanesque. We were all expected to feel sorry for the mostly male 'misfits', but nobody thought twice about the exclusion of females from the sled team or the workshops.
19
Actually, it's "Frosty the Snowman" and Burl Ives that brings me to tears each holiday season. To each his/hers/their own. It is still comforting that at least something has the power to bring any of us to tears. "God bless ,us everyone".
5
but does it get better for women who want to break gender stereotypes? the hardening of gender stereotypes is the opposite of freedom to be who you are. i don't like nail polish and high heels and yet i was born a woman and i am still a woman.
10
The best fables and allegories exist to calm the terrors of children. And when those terrors stem from being outcast children who must code-shift in an otherwise homogeneous culture, the Christmas stories we tell to all children can resonate with those “closeted and excluded” in ways lost to those deemed to be normal.
By allowing an opportunity for those excluded to describe to the dominant culture the terror of growing up different , we learn more from their view of our common allegories than any diversity training might instill.
Many thanks from an old,straight, white male, who can now say, “ yes, Jennifer I understand”.
10
And yet last year the Huffington Post tweeted that Rudolph is “seriously problematic” because of its portrayal of bullying. Such is the ambiguity created by a culture that encourages watching a half-century-old Christmas movie to glean powerful social commentary.
14
@James L
Well as someone who was bullied, I find it honest to have someone bully those who are different. It shows how mistreated some people are and to what lengths they have to go to cope with the bullying.
It stops hiding the problem of bullying that is still prevalent today.
3
I understand how the author feels. I feel like an outcast as a white conservative Republican female Christian living in an ultra liberal Democratic City like New York. I am definitely in the minority and I sometimes feel out of place. Having said this, I do not intend to change my values and people must accept me for who I am. Live and let live as I always say. Merry Christmas.
17
@KMW
I think it's how we go about executing our individual songs. Some have it right from the start. Some struggle their whole lives to find the right melody (me). And then there is the last group, which is probably the saddest of all, they never seem to even try.
Merry Christmas
4
Very perceptive essay. By the way, it's always telling to witness conservatives arguing against inclusiveness and empathy, violating the very "Christian" values they profess to uphold.
6
@Pucifer
Sure, except for the fact their religion condemns homosexuality. So does Judaism & Islam but blame Christians only. Also, you can tolerate differences without celebration. I don’t think we should celebrate anyone’s sexuality gay or straight.
2
Minus the LGBTQ part, I have always seen this movie as unjustly cruel to outsiders, even having watched it every year. His dad, and Santa, the worst. And they don't really accept him the end, other than that he is useful. "I guess you'll do given you fulfill a need."
The LGBTQ link works too.
9
I guess we tend to see life as a reflection of ourselves.
10
There are many, many ways of being a misfit as a child.
I'll bet few children have never felt like one.
One is too short, too tall, too skinny, too fat, too slow, too fast, too shy, too talkative, too quiet, too loud, one's hair is too curly, too straight, one's nose is too big, or one's ears, one is too nerdy, too effeminate, too tomboyish, etc.
Rudolph, just like The Ugly Duckling, are stories about children who initially do not fit in, but eventually are accepted.
That is why they are universal favourites, because they speak to everyone.
10
And yet these nonconforming heroes defanged the Abominable and forced him into domestic servitude, reinforcing the message of the show, "We will like you if you are useful." But I guess in the end even bumbles want to belong?
12
Many complain about excessively over-analyzing a classic as if people are banging on their door, demanding that they read op eds like this. You're free to seek out more traditional interpretations of Santa and his reindeer, if that's what inspires you.
7
Sorry...but this is precisely why Dems will lose WH again in '20.
17
@Mike a.
Alternative interpretations of holiday classics is not an election campaign issue.
17
@Mike a.
The article is about Rudolph. Not the Grinch.
2
@The Buddy --Until Trump makes it one. Remember the "war on Thanksgiving."
The author's take on the Rudolph special as a redemptive tale of queer alienation and eventual acceptance is a valid one, as is the point made by others here that the story can be taken as applicable to anyone who is different from the oppressive, conforming majority. I find the lyrics of Rudolph and Hermey's "We're a Couple of Misfits" song (not present in all televised versions), that they sing when they make their escape, particularly poignant in summing up the moral of the story: "We may be different from the rest. Who decides the test, of what is really best?"
6
I have thought about that line in Good King Wenceslas for a while now.
The whole line is "Therefore Christian men be sure/ Wealth and rank possessing,/Ye who now shall bless the poor/Shall yourselves find blessing."
Written in 1853 as the sun of British imperial and economic domination of the work approached its zenith, it was there to assure the wealthy that there need be no fundamental change in the hierarchies of wealth or power in society, as long as you throw in a little charity to smooth things over with the Lord.
Much like what our donor class tells itself today!
That said, it's a great song.
2
Jennifer: what's normal. Or, what's "normal?" I think you can see this show operating on many levels -- I watched it first in 1964 and remember the Peppermint Mine lines -- but fundamentally wasn't/isn't the show simply about acknowledging and learning to accept differences we ALL have? Learning to live together in peace? Remember the date and historical context of the show in 1964: at the height of the Civil Rights movement in the U.S., a year or two after Selma and the Montgomery Bus Boycott and and M.L. King's "Letter from a Birmingham Jail," on the cusp of the Vietnam War in an Asian nation and threatened by global nuclear holocaust from strange people in Russia and China who "hated us," the brutal assassination of JFK, etc. I don't think you're wrong, I just think your take is a correct one among many, many possible correct ones -- all involving a growing movement (then and now) towards diversity, acceptance and living together in peace.
6
I used to fantasize that, after saving Christmas, Rudolph tells all the other reindeer to take their highly conditional approval and shove it, then goes off to the big city, where he can be his true red-nosed self without having to take a bunch of crap for it.
But eventually I realized that that would be unfair to the folks he left behind, some of whom *might* have seen the error of their ways and who *might* be ready to be nicer to the next red-nosed reindeer to appear among them. (Unlikely, I know --- they will probably continue to be heartless jerks. But it's important to look for the best in people, right?)
5
I agree with the author. I’ve always disliked this story - bullying, misogyny, etc. The only reason they accepted Rudolph is because he was able to do something for them not because of who he was. The whole subtext sucks.
3
Kind of like that other beloved children’s classic, The Giving Tree. I hate that story. That guy was a jerk who didn’t appreciate anything and destroyed his best friend. What is so heartwarming about that?
1
I love love love love love Jenny Boylan. This is a beautiful piece. To all the closeted misfit toys out there this holiday season - we see you and you are loved!
4
I hate "Rudolph."
Only when he becomes useful is he accepted.
There's no redemption or understanding--the misfits are tolerated by the perfect people, Abominable is defanged and humiliated...and made useful too. Rudolph's family never learns anything, Santa belongs at a MAGA rally, there's no racial diversity, Hermey's dream only comes to fruition when (wait for it) being a dentist is useful.
What, exactly is the theme of this mess? I watched it as a kid, but was always uneasy with what shallow, callous people ran Christmas. Gimme Santa Claus is Coming to Town, with a sweet, subversive, rebel gift-giving Santa, a present that melts the ice wizard, and a revisionist, anti-fascist plot any year.
5
@R Mandl exactly!
1
Ack!
Always hated Rankin/Bass Christmas programs. They were beyond corny, and the songs were stupid. Give me The Grinch, every time, and the cartoon with Boris Karloff, not the movie with Jim Carrey. That, and It's A Wonderful Life, with A Christmas Carol starring George C. Scott as honorable mention, and I'm good. All the rest always felt like syrupy, canned, predictable Christmas gruel spoon-fed to an audience viewed as an opportunity to make money as opposed to any kind of artistic endeavor. And I'm a sucker for Christmas.
3
Rudolph is 100% gay. He's made to wear a black cap on his nose and Donner doesn’t care how uncomfortable it makes him. Santa tells Donner that he should be ashamed of his son, as if Santa is a church elder trying to force Rudolph into conversion therapy. Rudolph can’t take it anymore and bolts, then meets Hermey, an elf who speaks with a Paul Lynde cadence and has flamboyant blond hair, red lips, feminine-shaped face, and long eyelashes. Unlike Rudolph, Hermey refused to live in the closet, so he left Santa’s workshop to open his own dental practice. When the two meet, they sing about being misfits and realize that the oppression of conformity they’ve been living under is a total sham. This is further underscored when they meet Cornelius, an older, hirsute man who embraces over-the-top masculinity, despite being gay.
When they reach the Island of Misfit Toys, they meet Charlie. If Hermey sounds like Paul Lynde, then Charlie sounds like Paul Lynde doing Charles Nelson Reilly at Liza Minnelli’s bachelorette party. As the sentry, he welcomes these like-minded gay men into a land where all people of difference are accepted and can flourish. We know it’s a land of otherness because when Rudolph, Hermey, and Cornelius spend the night, they sleep in a pink room with pink sheets and blankets. This is the gay community all of these men find after leaving the closet behind: the family of their own making that they devise because their own biological families rejected them.
7
@DC I love the Paul, Charles Lisa bit!
Merry Christmas! Jennifer!
Those who do not understand the clear subtext of this piece of art are either willfully ignorant or obtuse.
1
'What do they suppose is meant in “Good King Wenceslas” by the line, “Ye who now shall bless the poor shall yourselves find blessing”?'
It also seems relevant to mention that the "Good King," St. Wenceslaus I, duke of Bohemia (the Pope promoted him to King posthumously) was famously gay and the faithful page who is by his side in the Christmas song is Podivan, his lover who later avenged his assassination.
3
It is still my favorite of all of the Christmas shows, yes I've been watching it since the 60s. And yes Hermeydefinitely seems gay. Of course you can read all kinds of subjects into the characters and situations. But to me the bottom line is acceptance and forgiveness.
I always did wonder about Cornelius though.
2
The number of people who supposedly read the article, thought they understood it, but didn't, is amazing. Seems to be about the same portion of people who don't know what the Rudolph special is about either.
She never said Rudolph was gay, or that the show promotes some gay-specific agenda, or whatever.
Watch the special. It's not even about accepting an "outsider" who turns out to be useful - i.e., that there is no acceptance without usefulness. That would be a terrible thing to teach children. Yes, in the story Santa, etc., came around because of Rudolph's heroics. But that is just to force them into the knowledge that people (and in the story, toys, reindeer, ...) are to be accepted because they are *people*." It doesn't, or shouldn't, imply that one can only get acceptance as an outsider through heroics of some sort.
This interpretation is not just now being foisted in some 2019 agenda on top of a beloved Christmas special, it has been there since the very beginning and it is OBVIOUS.
4
When I was a little girl, I also delighted in this tale, thinking that Rudolph represented smart but physically awkward little girls who struggled to find friendship and a feeling of belonging—like me. Let’s not forget that sadly there are many, many ways both children and adults are made to feel like outsiders.
11
The sad thing is, the kids who 'got the message' back in the 60s were not numerous enough to drown out the braying of the kids who were 'normal' and liked beating up others on the futball field or leading the ones who lead the cheering for the mayhem, or the ones who turned into Reagan voters, or the ones who thought war would 'pay for itself', or ...
1
Interest theory.
Mine was that the Rudolph-and-his-nose story was a coded fable about alcoholism.
5
I am a little saddened by some of the comments here that imply the writer assumes that misfit toys are only lgbtq. Let me spell it out carefully for you: the writer clearly gets that misfit means misfit...whatever the "not fitting in" part may refer to.
4
Oh Goodness, Worrying about Rudolph when Santa has been traveling around for generations in his red velvet, fur laced suit! Heard the late Liberace was jealous of the outfit.
73
@Hello- Gold! No, wait! Fabulous!
3
I love this perspective. I find it wonderful when someone is able to share with others the lens by which they see the world. I was one of the fortunate who moved through childhood feeling like I was indeed part of the “system”. I so deeply appreciate a reading skilled and excellent t writer capture how they saw the child as one who felt deeply different.
I have not read other comments from readers as I suspect they will bum me out by regurgitating the “it’s just a kids movie” or ”everything isn’t about sexuality” tropes.
I sent this article to my whole family. It’s so great.
1
Thank you, Rankin/Bass Productions. This is a timeless piece of art.
3
We all create our reality.
1
Instead of a fun little Christmas story, we've been forced to make this a tale of gender identity, sexual preference identity, racial identity, etc., etc. Bah Humbug. Christmas is ruined.
16
Even as a kid I wondered: why should Rudolph care about joining in Santa’s reindeer games? Why should Herbie give away his dentist gifts to a bunch of elves too small-minded to appreciate his gifts? Why should misfit toys tossed on the trash heap want a place on Santa’s sleigh? By adolescence these questions grew into an anger, resentment, and rebellion worthy of a real Abominable. It took years to realize the anger and the ostracism were both playground games, fit only for children. Now I identify most with Old Burl, the Snowman who can finally look on the whole story with warmth of heart and a song. I guess there really are advantages to growing old.
4
Rudolf and his husband, Prancer are standing in our front yard - they were the first to arrive - Like Pete and Chasten, they are not only faster but way smarter than the rest of the herd.
3
Thanks for ruining a sweet story for the little kids that still believe in Santa. Shame on you.
32
@Betsy Herring Ruining you say? I'm not a member of the of the L.G.B.T. community, but I was raised in an extremely strict, authoritarian home where we were not entitled to our feelings or to be ourselves. Watching this Christmas Special as a child in the 1960s & 70s let me know it was ok to be me, an individual with my own thoughts, feelings and needs. Only if you've been parented to deny those things in yourself, can you appreciate the beauty of this article. It brought tears to my eyes.
86
@Betsy Herring Misfits find acceptance, friendship and love in the world. That ruins the story? Isn't that the sweetness of it?
53
@Betsy Herring The mark of a really good kid's story is that it has layers that speak to grownups and go right over the heads of the under-8 crowd. Especially cartoons. From Bugs Bunny to Toy Story, it's part of the genre. My tween is dealing to group dynamics and being identified and rejected for difference (that has nothing to do with sexuality or gender). It will be interesting to see how this story hits him this year.
29
I long for the days when a cigar was just a cigar.
144
@Fighting Sioux
The cigar has never been just a cigar.
35
@Fighting Sioux It is still just a cigar, except in the heads of the overly imaginative.
17
@Fighting Sioux Freud would find that very interesting...
10
Well, that's lovely, but I first read this interpretation of the Rudolph special back in the 1980s.
3
Thank you so much for this heart-warming tribute to a classic show! And don't forget, the mistreated misfits of this world aren't ONLY those with non-hetero sexual orientation. We can all use some peace, love and understanding. Now a question: Can we find a good uncut version of "Rudolph" on any of the modern screening platforms?
4
I thought this essay was right on the (red) nose. Glad to learn that I am not the only person out there that bursts into tears when the misfits realize Santa didn't forget them!
6
As a conservative I am capable of reading "A Christmas Carol" and appreciating the primary theme of redemption. Scrooge was greedy and mean, and then he was redeemed. I am glad the story intimates that he remained an astute businessman while losing his greedy and mean tendencies, which are personal traits and had nothing to do with capitalism. Given the apparent time of the story (the birth of the Industrial Revolution), we should be all thankful he did.
3
I cry while viewing "Rudolph" every year, and I think its message of tolerance, acceptance and love gets better with age. Even the nasty Bumble gets won over by love, after some necessary dental work.
Let's be independent, together!
7
"A Christmas Carol" is a critique of being small-hearted and miserly, not a "fundamental critique of capitalism" as the author of this piece would have it. When Scrooge become generous at the end, it is the fruits of capitalism by which he is able to help others, and celebrate Christmas well.
12
@Mark
That is utterly and completely wrong. Did you ever read the actual story? It is a categorical slam on 19th century capitalism.
4
Prof Boylan misses the oddest aspect of Rudolph story, which is that his disfigured nose which had led all of the other reindeer to be mean to him suddenly turned out to be useful to the whole troop. So they did a turn-around and loved him. What message is that supposed to give outcast kids? That unless your "difference" can be turned into a wonderful thing, you'll continue to be tormented forever?
9
I think for the most part Rudolph's story is everyone's story -- Who among us haven't felt at one time in our lives an outsider or a misfit? -- the key to take that feeling we have when we are most ostracized, dejected, and alone and translate it into compassion and empathy for others who are most certainly experiencing the same -- by the very fact that they are human.
11
While it may argue for a bit more wiggle room, “Rudolph” still promotes pretty traditional gender roles. It tells boys that, even if they’re misfits, they can still grow up to become useful providers like “real men” should. By leading the sleigh, Rudolph essentially becomes the alpha male, and is thus accepted. The show offers no expanded role for girls and women in society, and it certainly beats no path for Rudolph to become Clarice.
10
Everybody will eventually feel like they don't fit in to the mainstream at some point of their lives. Everyone will feel like they are different in some way. And, hopefully, each person comes to realize that not fitting in is OK and that, what makes a person different, is actually something that makes that same person unique and special. We need to view stories at high, level archetypal themes and not within a narrow lens of artificially created liberal vs. conservative constructs. This piece only contributes to the a very narrow way of viewing things and is destructive in that it appears to have the agenda of "stirring things up", baiting factions to feed into tweets and the news cycle. Sorry, but everyone is special and unique. It's not about sexuality all of the time. And the views expressed here are so tired, so boring.
6
It's a fable about bullying someone who is different, but who is accepted later after the bullies grow up some but only after he saves Xmas. The deeper lesson is to accept or at least tolerate or consider difference without the salvation requirement.
Change reindeers to humans. It's a useful story to teach young children what it takes to be an decent and moral adult.
7
It wasn't my era. I saw it when I was no longer a little kid. I probably saw it again when my kids were little. Never saw any subtext in particular.
Having said that, the essay is a touching story about a kid and a dad.
1
There did in the 1960’s broadcast environment. However, these meanings aren’t hidden. They are expressed in plain sight using art.
Thanks for the real meaning behind "Rudolph"
I'm going to watch it now with the help of new insights.
And you can believe in whatever you want to, including Santa, and if you really believe nobody can spoil that for you.
Like all tales, fairy and otherwise, a personal interpretation adds to the fun.
1
Three points:
1. Almost everyone, at some point in their life, does not fit in.
2. Scrooge was miserly not because he was a capitalist. Fezziwig was a capitalist. Scrooge, after his redemption, was still a capitalist.
3. Does everything, including beloved Christmas TV classics, have to be subjected to political and social analysis? OMG! Leave poor Rudolph and Hermey alone, already!
22
@Douglas Murphy
A Christmas Carol is a pointed political and social critique and it is not flattering to capitalism.
1
@AnneMarie Dickey
TIny Tim Is doomed to an early death because his family can not afford the medical treatment he needs. He is saved because the reformed Scrooge takes an interest and pays for the treatment. I suppose that you could regard that as an argument for health care reform.
6
There really doesn't have to be hidden meaning in everything. Really.
16
The fact that so many people can see themselves or their lives in this show is a testament to "Rudolph." I loved it as a kid because it's funny, poignant, and goofy. Because many kids see themselves in Rudolph's hooves, not fitting in, not totally accepted.
The heartbreak part of the show is how bad we all want to be loved, and that we all won't end up like Rudolph, the much-loved hero. It does illustrate why all these communities all the Rudolphs live in are so important.
5
@R A Go bucks
You want an example of "misfits"? How about genuine religious believers who get ridiculed because the elite can't tell the difference between them and hypocritical evanqelicals.
1
As a kid (I’m 60) I identified with the blonde elf because he represented following your own path despite pressure not to. At the time I was made fun of because I was a bit bookish and a mediocre athlete. Had nothing to do with sexual identification. I felt the same about Rudolph - especially his bravery under trying circumstances. And yes, I thought Santa was a jerk. I learned valuable lessons - follow your own desires, don’t let others dissuade you from that as they’re usually projecting their own fears, etc. I still look for that special on TV.
17
yup, this is right up there with people being freaked out about sleeping beauty being kissed without her consent. why must innocuous, time-honored children's stories be subjected to 21st century political correctness and used as a diversity bludgeon? what's next, snow white and the seven dwarfs - oh, excuse me - snow white and the seven vertically challenged people?
15
Didn't Mario Cantone cover all this years ago?
January can't come soon enough.
7
I always wondered about Herbie *lol*. I never thought of it the way Ms.Boylan writes about, but come to think of it the scene with the Island of Misfit toys did hit me hard as a kid, maybe because I often felt the outsider, too, and empathized with the toys.Like any good piece of art there are many layers to Rudolph, on one hand it is an explanation for an already classic holiday song, on the other hand it has depth to it, parents who rather than support a child are worried about what others will think, the cruelty of authority figures (like the coach), unconditional love (Clarisse, probably the strongest character in some ways), true friendship and finding your own family (Herbie, Rudolph, Yukon Cornelius), redemption (Bumbles the snow man!), and a big one, that being different is a strength, not a weakness. given the history of LGBT people that this resonates is not a surprise, but it also works for anyone feeling marginalized.
The only character who never really redeems himself I think is Santa, it is only when he discovers that Rudolph is useful to him that he seems to accept Rudolph being different, it is kind of like racists who see non white celebrities as people or the bully in high school who stops picking on the nerds because he has been told geeks and nerds will be his boss down the road.
4
My favorite scene was always where the prospector, Rudolph and Hermey turn in for the night in a small, low-ceilinged room on the Land of Misfit Toys. Cosey, dim-lit room...just so vaguely homoerotic.
1
Ms. Boylan is not exactly breaking new ground; in fact, didn't this same article appear last year? The theme of "Rudolph" as a metaphor for the LGBTQ experience could well become as regular a Yuletide feature as conservative rumblings about an alleged War On Christmas (although, come to think of it, there hasn't been much of that this year, probably because, with their hero Trump facing impeachment, they have other things to worry about). In truth, it couldn't be any more obvious if Fireball, who befriends Rudolph until Rudolph's little secret is revealed, confessed his secret feelings toward the red-nosed reindeer. Personally, the only thing I ever wondered about is: why was the little girl doll a misfit? She looks very cute. Did she smell bad or something? Or maybe--wait a minute--she wasn't a girl in the traditional binary gender sense at all. There you go. More of the same.
And yes, it is a shame that Santa is such an intolerant bigot, but if your wife served you food that matched the putty-colored walls, you'd be a little testy, too.
At any rate, as a late Boomer, I feel lucky that these 1960s holiday specials, still very much part of the cultural landscape, were made during my childhood, as if specifically for us. You can have your dorky Olaf, kids; I'll take Sam the Snowman any day.
It's just a Christmas puppet show, you can choose to interpret things any way you want, I can choose to disregard your interpretations.
8
Rudolph is exiled from society for being different, and only allowed to participate when he is identified as being "useful". To me, the message seems very Maoist.
1
It couldn't just be a nice story, without greater social significance?
Give me a break.
14
This strange and strained bit of critical exegesis beggars belief. I suppose you can find anything you want if you look hard enough. As a John McEnroe might put it, “You cannot be serious.”
6
Way to overthink things.
11
This is just a sad commentary on a children's classic. NO, it's not about homosexuality! Hate to burst your bubble.
15
Are you saying that Rankin/Bass intentionally developed this as a queer allegory? Or is this one way you can interpret it?
4
Brian Moylan at his absolute funniest
https://www.vulture.com/2016/12/rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeers-gay-subtext.html
This is ridiculous.
9
Is rudolph gay? I saw this proposed on one site.
1
I grew up with this show and never liked it. Aside from the treatment of characters who just didn't fit in, I found the show to be terribly demeaning to the females. There's "Mrs. Donner." "Mrs. Claus." No identity other than through their male partners. I always imagined that Clarise and Rudolph got married and she became "Mrs. Rudolph."
3
There's no question "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" is a classic, heart-warming Christmas holiday special for people of all ages, colors and creeds; no question that it waxes nostalgic about a simpler time in America for those who grew up watching the Rankin/Bass Christmas specials each year at this time; and no question that "Rudolph" is also about accepting those who are different, regardless of what makes them different.
But it is nonetheless striking that little to nothing is said about the REAL reason we celebrate Christmas: the Nativity, the Birth of Christ.
In "Rudolph," Santa cancels Christmas due to immoderate weather, and the title character - a quadruped - saves the day. That's the extent to which Christmas is referenced.
In "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town," another classic Rankin/Bass Christmas special, Fred Astaire's postman tells us Santa chose the "holiest night of the year" to make his once-a-year global gift-giving trip for all good boys ands girls. Christmas Eve is clearly the night implied, but that's the extent to which Christmas is referenced.
In the end, these Christmas specials are very nice to watch, and I recognize their role is not to provide religious education for a secular society. But for people of Christian faith, they do fall a little short by making Christmas synonymous simply with Santa and kind-heartedness, and not even (or barely) mentioning Christ Who, for Christians, is the Living Embodiment of all things good, right and true.
1
Sometimes a reindeer is just a reindeer.
I have always loved Rudolph because it's a show about acceptance, no matter who you are. As for Santa and his bullying adult reindeers, they are in desperate need of a time out.
8
I'm never going to watch this program again without remembering this article. As a child bullied for things I could not control, my sympathies for Rudolph and the toys always made me feel sad.
3
If you want to deconstruct the real meaning of the Rudolf story, you have to consider that it wasn’t inspired by an overflow of joyous Christmas spirit (as you might argue that Clement Moore’s “The Night Before Christmas” was), but by a dead-line driven copy-writing assignment to create a marketing piece that would manipulate the emotions of children and increase sales at Montgomery Ward department stores.
The meaning of the Rudolf story can be found in naked capitalism – the real meaning of Christmas in America.
2
Any parent with a special needs child can notice the subtext in Rudolph. Fitting in, finding your place, having other kids make fun of them. It's pretty obvious.
6
Oh my god, but of course!
And Rudolph succeeds not by hiding his light, but by letting his light shine brightly. Flame, if you will.
Those who doubt your interpretation have no idea how many gays have been working in media since day one, and how often they have used art to send the quiet, positive subtext: “we are here.”
And, no, you don’t have to be gay for the story to matter. But at the same time, the story of Rudolph sounds much like the story of pretty much every gay person I’ve known.
6
About the K³eep America Great Christmas ornament reasonably priced at $60.00 (compared with the retainer for good legal counsel) I'm just curious if they've disclosed the oranges of the gold used to gild the silly? Is it possible Rudy Giuliani (not red nose) brought it back from a recent visit to Argentinia? Anyone wanna go halvesies and we'll scrape some off and have it tested?
Why this writer chooses to sexualize Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer is beyond me. This story applies to anyone who may feel left out or isolated. Newsflash to the author but the story could apply to a child landing in a new school, an immigrant who just came to this country, a terminally ill child, someone who was left an orphan through no fault of their own for example.
It is a sweet innocent story. Leave it that way and let each viewer utilize its message in their own way. It is not the province of the LGBTQ experience, but of any human being trying to make their way through life.
15
“Rudolph” was balm for my ostracized sissy soul when it came out in the ‘60s. I was in third grade, beginning to get the message loud and clear that I was way out of alignment with the other boys in my class. The coach in the Reindeer Games sequence still resonates horribly with me to this day – gym class the setting where it was glaringly obvious I would never live up to the macho model, the way Rudolph was taunted by all of the other reindeer hit home and still does. Rudolph’s father’s discomfort with his son’s “nonconformity” – yeah, a lot like what I was facing at home, too. Really, apart from Mr. Rogers, there were precious few moments gay boys like me could get a sense we were okay just the way we are. If only I had been able to get a glimpse into the present, me and my guy snuggling on the couch, him in his Rudolph PJ’s, which he breaks out every year at Christmastime. (Also, my dentist is gay. Just saying.)
7
I sympathize with LGBTQ people who are "sundered" from their families. However, that is between you and your families. Please don't expect the world around you to change everything because your feelings are hurt. You may ask to be treated fairly and with respect in public. But don't take away what is enjoyable to others. This is true for everyone, irrespective of race, religion, ethnicity, sexual preference, or whatever choices you have made in your like. Live and let live.
7
@Jack What that is enjoyable is being taken away from you and others by this piece? What changes are being asked of you to make? I'm not gay, but I certainly see the writer's perspective here. Live and let live is exactly what the writer is requesting.
6
One of my favorite holiday traditions for the last 30 years has been watching Rudolf with friends and pointing out all the gay subtext and code. It’s been a favorite of the gay community for years.
Yes Rudolf and Hermie, it gets better. 😊
8
"Hey! - what do you say we both be independent together, huh?". A line I've dined out on for decades.
2
I live in Key West and refer to it as the Island of Misfit Toys. I think the author is reaching a little here but whatever works for you. It is still one of my top two Christmas specials along with the Grinch who stole Christmas.
6
yes. "reaching" is the perfect word. everyone feels different at various times, but I can see the LGBTQ community adopting this. we all love this special.
The hardest lesson for us to learn is also the easiest:
It’s not for us to judge one another’s suffering, but to love them for it.
I was a chubby, not-good-at-sports intellectual girl in school (decades before STEM was a buzz word). I was made fun of by the jocks and cheerleaders. I was a misfit with only a handful of other misfits to hang out with. All of us were straight and this movie still spoke to our hearts. The message was simple: it's OK to be a few misfits awash in a sea of cool kids who shun you.
Just goes to show that this movie truly is timeless - misfits of every generation can define 'misfit' according to their own needs, soothe their own hurts and find the courage to be themselves.
And by the way, Dolly for Sue is missing her nose, hence she is different as well. Just a biologists' logical observation.
8
My friend and I have been saying this for years, and have been amazed that we could find nothing else published on the obvious allegory of this Christmas special.
I think there are some specifics, however, that the author didn't mention: 1. The snow monster (the 'Bumble') respresents the Christian Right in the US. They are, in the end, shown to be toothless. 2. The island of misfit toys is San Francisco in the 1960s. A safe haven, as it were.
1
As a child, Santa's bad behavior was very troublesome to me, although it is recognized at the end and he repents. The story is a gift to all "misfits" of any kind, and certainly teaches tolerance and loving acceptance of differences.
The real problem with it now, for a modern child, is the outrageous sexism, which goes unrecognized by the characters. Only the male reindeer boys get to play games; the girls get to admire them from the sidelines. Rudolph's pompous father even orders his wife to stay home and wait patiently, instead of being an active participant in events. Throughout the story, the males are agents while the females are bystanders.
Ah well. It's still a lovely classic.
2
Like Boylan, I grew up watching this special in the 1960s and it always made me cry, too. And I was a straight white middle class girl that seemed to fit in just fine. But like many people, I felt different inside, especially during that era of stifling cultural norms -- especially for girls. Lots of us didn't want to live like a typical girl or woman but we had no choice until at least the 1970s!
I think Rudolph's story has endured because so many people feel different inside compared to what they see around them. In response, some are desperate to conform, others are desperate to rebel, and most of us muddle along somewhere in the middle throughout our lives. To assume that other people feel just fine is a big mistake. Our external view of them almost certainly doesn't match their internal reality, just as it didn't for Boylan growing up.
And for those who truly don't feel different from the rest of the pack, Rudolph can serve as a wake-up call that difference is not just OK but good. It encourages tolerance and understanding of all differences, large and small.
3
I think you are reading way too much into Rudolph. Everyone feels rejection at some point in life and feels left out. Not just the LGBTQ community. It is part of life. Remember Rudolph soars at the end.
13
I’ve loved it since early childhood, and serendipity struck when I channel flipped onto it a few days ago. I did notice some of the things you’ve mentioned, but thought I was just being “sensitive “. NOPE. You nailed it, and I enjoyed this piece very, very much.
Happy Holidays to All.
6
If we need to uniformly conform (and along the way denounce all the good fun and really harmless things in the world) to multitudes of differences, desires, opinions, variations of life, whether they be a majority or a minority, we will irreparable harm the true values of diversity in beliefs and preferences. Leave “Rudolph” alone. Enjoy a spirit of the moment.
6
I think you may have missed the point the author’s making.
1
It's nice to see how many middle-aged people still consider this show "appointment TV" and enjoy it so much. I wouldn't miss it and I was nearly around for the premiere.
CBS pulled a fast one this year and ran it on Monday instead of Tuesday; we nearly missed it. But it's on again Saturday evening.
7
Thanks for the info. I’m now recording it.
3
I am thoroughly convinced by the premise of this piece. But my objection to RtRNR was the sexist nonsense between Clarisse and Rudolph, and the idea that men had to "protect the womenfolk", or however the narrator put it. At six, when it first came out - so to speak - I subsumed that message as the way gender roles worked. But by the time I entered adolescence, I figured out no female whom I could respect was going to buy that noise. By my 20s, I assumed that that sort of nonsense had been relegated to the "dustbin of history".
So, fast forward to the 2000s, and imagine my dismay when my wife and kids adopt it as essential holiday viewing...
1
What a wonderful perspective on this family classic (as I'm sure it's advertised), thank you Ms Boylan. Also nice to have this breath of fresh air at this particularly weird time of year. Yes, for me, it's always the holidaze! I will look for this Rudolph and revisit what I've seen at least a couple of times before, but now I'll be ready for a new perspective.
3
While I can follow the author's interpretation, I believe the plot of the story encompasses a much broader spectrum of "misfits". Girls who wanted a career other than wife, African American children who saw themselves nowhere in the Christmas story, boys more interested in study than sport, the disabled who daily saw people shrink away from them in horror and distaste.
I am thankful that in today's world all these "different" groups (and others) have gained some level of acceptance from a large portion of society. And that a "Santa" centric story can remind us every year of the true meaning of the birth and life of Jesus when so many "religious" are completely oblivious of it.
11
I can't help but feel the author's father was referring to something much more than tears.
7
As a gay male approaching retirement age,I have had a love/hate relationship with Rudolph since the 60s. I had no interest in sports in jr. high school,which was obvious to everyone in gym class,including the coach who encouraged everyone to make fun of me. Hence,the coach in Rudolph to this day exemplifies the cruelty of teenagers and most gym teachers "back in the day".
4
While lots of people can equate to being different in some way and we all find meaning in songs, stories, and movies that may or may not have considered our particular difference the part of this Opinion Piece that got my attention Ms. Boylan's point something that I mention annually:
"Conservatives seem to miss the point of a lot of things having to do with Christmas, actually."
Like Ms. Boylan I wonder, how do conservatives watch "A Christmas Carol", "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas", or "A Wonderful Life" and miss the meaning or think it must be about someone else.
Do they cheer on the pre-visitation Scrooge and throw their shoes at the TV when he realizes how getting rich hurting others isn't the point of life? Do they embrace the thieving Grinch but dismiss the Grinch with a heart that does more than pump blood? Do they root for George Bailey to fail every year? How they can they celebrate the birth of baby Jesus knowing what he is to become: the greatest force for love, kindness, treating others with compassion and respect, and that wealth and selfishness are not the pathways to God or heave. It is heard to imagine any one more liberal than Jesus and what he taught. He was such a threat tot he conservative establishment they had him killed. How do they miss all this and somehow justify their actions as being "Christian"?
17
@Marie
"this rabble you're talking about, they do most of the working and paying and living and dying in this community. Well, is it too much to have them work and pay and live and die in a couple of decent rooms and a bath?"
This could have ended on such a sad note. I'm so happy Jennifer's dad responded to his child in such a compassionate and loving way.
4
As a child, I thought Rudolph was about being different but still wanting to belong. Still a favorite even after all these years.
6
For people outside an accepted circle - LBGTQ, disabled, living in poverty, minority race or religion etc. - Rudolph represents understanding and urges self-acceptance. For people inside the circle - Rudolph represents, hopefully, an awakening of compassion and, just as importantly, an object lesson that 'normal is a really big place" that they should embrace or, at least, accommodate.
7
I'm pretty sure that the point of Rudolph is essentially self-acceptance. It's absolutely feasible that people working on it wrote it from the lens of LGBTQ self-acceptance, and if they didn't it's still good that the story of learning to love who you are still resonates.
14
The original 1939 "Rudolph" story grew out of the experiences of its author, Robert Lewis May, who, as a young Jewish boy in Chicago, had been taunted for his big nose. "A shy misfit." (In 1947, his brother-in-law adapted the story into the song lyrics.) It is understandable that the story and the song have new relevance today, in an era of growing LBGTQ awareness and acceptance—far too long in coming.
66
@E-Ann Yes, happily anti-semitism, the original issue, is no longer a concern. Oh, wait...
3
Our son, who came out at 13, and who is now much older was the one who pointed this out to us.
I’ve loved Rudolph ever since.
I’ll love it more when they do Rudolph the Sequel in 2019.
9
I have been using Rudolph in my Critical Theory class for years. So much is going on in it, from the Panopticon-like Santa's Castle to the subaltern elves, who are actually forced to sing a song about how much they like being exploited. Listen carefully to the song "We're on the Island on Misfit Toys." It contains the classic line "Don't you know it's time to come out?" That says it all.
171
@Fester I have an important moment to add to your Critical Theory class that largely gets missed as it appears at the very end when the credits are rolling and Santa is letting the 'misfit' toys go - FIRST by the way: When he comes to the bird with the broken wing, it sits at the edge of the sleigh, hesitant and unsure whether it can fly. It finally decides to take what is literally a Leap of Faith, jumps off the edge and flies away all on it's own. THIS is the scene that makes me cry.
12
Lol. Being mistreated for being 'other' is a pretty foundational feature of human existence. It's okay to see your own experience reflected in it, but don't appropriate, and make it all about you.
61
@Warbler Exactly. I had the same reaction. As a nerdy, overweight, unathletic straight white kid Rudolph speaks directly to my experience in trying to fit and avoid being "other". Rudolph is popular not because it is for one group, but because it's universal.
33
There’s nothing in this well written, thoughtful article that excludes anyone. Articulating the ways in which a narrative speaks meaningfully to your personal experiences, and more generally to a wider group’s experiences, doesn’t imply that these are the only things the story does mean or can mean.
Rudolph reflects, among many other ideas, important lessons about more humane treatment of members of the LGBT community. It resonates with Boylan and many, many others because it tells a relatable story. If those realities denigrate the story in your eyes or make you feel excluded, that’s on you.
45
@Warbler
Lighten up Francis l.
1
Another thing about "Rudolph" that I noticed, even while watching as a child, was what a jerk Santa is! Even the Jolly Old Elf doesn't accept Rudolph until he determines that Rudolph's nose can save Christmas. Lesson: Adults can be thoughtless, selfish jerks, even if they're supposed to know better. Kids know this.
I think the reason that this special remains popular and is still watched today by adults as well as children is that it really highlights the messy realities of human existence and the complex labyrinth of hypocrisies that are part of the human condition. Long may it be broadcast!
256
@eheck
It's been years since I saw this cartoon, but one thing I remember is the adult, head reindeer siding with the bullies against Rudolph. It's not just Santa.
13
@eheck
I always thought that if I were Rudolph I'd of told Santa where to go when he needed my glowing nose.He and the other reindeer would have had to eat a lot of crow and to a ton of apologies before I'd of helped them.
4
I have always disliked the Rudolph story. The lesson is that you are an outcast if you are different, but will be accepted if you are found to be useful.
20
@Mary Ann
But, of course, that lesson is true.
If you are the out-of-shape, eyeglass-wearing nerd (or a whatever...), you will be accepted, in a story or in real life, if you can figure out how to win the big game, or invent a new computer feature, or plot the trajectory of a guided missile. If you can't, then as far as your fellows are concerned, you're just a loser.
Look at "social media": To be accepted, you must be beautiful, and engaging in fascinating activities, or at least appear to be.
1
I had that revelation several years ago..as a moment of unfolding wonder that continued throughout until the end and I was in tears.
Because there IS a place for the misfit, the gay, the Jew, the immigrant, for anyone who is not entirely within the "norm".
This is the most loving and accepting xmas story in mass media.
And I love it more deeply than ever.
11
Leave to a college professor to, incredulously, read politics and sexual identity into this utterly harmless children’s Christmas classic. I’ve read this piece several times over now and am still struggling to understand whether she is serious or satirical.
But if serious, she needs to understand that it was, and remains, nothing more than a simple story about being different. Not LGBTQ, not MAGA, just that and nothing more. To read more into than than that is ludicrous. It’s that simple.
35
Bah humbug, Ebenezer!
2
Your search for the author’s connections to the story fail because they are too superficial, and perhaps because you start with offense that she has appropriated an “utterly harmless” story to make a point uncomfortable to your own sensibility. The Rudolph story itself isn’t inherently gay or queer. But it’s relatable to gays and queers, indeed to all marginalized people, precisely because it demands attention to the reality that marginalization of people is not utterly harmless, and that they have inherent value and deserve love and respect not just despite, but often in celebration of the their uniqueness. The poignancy of many Christmas tales is that, in this season, we are supposed to pause, mediate on love, and the circumstances of fellow humans and creatures, and by doing so become better people. Try again.
12
@Michael Grossmann Beautifully said.
2
"if you watch the show without understanding that its central conflict is the way people who are different are constantly shunned and humiliated — well, I don’t know what show you’re watching. "
But that's sort of what you're doing. The show says nothing specific about sexuality. You're assuming that for one to be "different" and "constantly shunned and humiliated", they must be "queer".
Did you go to school in America? There are an infinite number of reasons why someone might be shunned and humiliated, not least of which are simply being unattractive, socially awkward or (the one we least want to talk about) physically weak.
61
@MA I made the same point, but you made it better.
4
@MA Someone who was bullied for being disabled can take Rudolph as a story about disability acceptance.
A queer person can take Rudolph as a story about self acceptance when you don't fit gender/sexuality norms.
A person of color can take Rudolph as a story of not fitting in racially with your community.
The message of any piece of art can be interpreted in a multitude of ways depending on the framework and experiences of the viewer. Shocking, I know.
13
@MA I believe she was simply linking the show's general theme to her own experience, which happens to be transgender. (Although I agree that the headline was a bit over the top.) You are welcome to submit your own piece on how you can relate to "Rudolph" based on your own misfittedness. Were you a Poindexter (like me), did you have bad complexion, a stutter, a weight problem (not enough was almost as bad as too much), poor athletic skills (once again, like me)? I'm going to wrap up this comment now so I can start my own Op Ed, "Rudolph, the Nerdiest Holiday Show."
7
I don't know if you guys know this, but Rudolph definitely likes Clarise, and he is not faking being straight--I mean did you SEE him when Clarise called him cute? That is not fakery.
117
@John It's called being an ally. When I was in school even the thought of befriending a "misfit" was a risk. It's also a question of universal recognition of each other's "imperfections." Sure, Rudolph was straight, but that nose! I'm ok with it - I can only hope he's ok with me.
11
@John Rudolph doesn't have to be gay, to make the show about inclusiveness. Jennifer's point is, that the show is about acceptance of differences among us, and she shows us that this is a theme of LGBTQ life -- hoping for love and acceptance for all. And yes, Santa was kind of a jerk. I saw that as a child and I still see it. You don't have to be LGBTQ to get the point here.
116
@John yeah, but does he LIKE her like her
30
Love this!!! Thank you!!!
6
Yes, you've let the cat out of the bag. Now the fundamentalists won't let their kids watch this classic in the future. As a dentist and part of the LGBTQ community, this has always been my go to at Christmas. For me it's hilarious and sweet at the same time. We decorate the tree with all the characters and then I get to explain why when asked. Even did it at the office and no one was offended. Thank you for this, Jennifer, but the jig is up!
12
The world is a cruel place if you are different. Humans have many kind traits, but it amazes me how things like religion, stupidity, ignorance, being closed minded and intolerance get in the way of being accepting and welcoming. Fortunately we are all different and not everyone is like this. There are people in the world who don't need scapegoats to feel better about themselves and this is the person I want to be around and I strive to be.
10
At the risk of being thought un-woke, I always thought the whole production was pretty gay.
9
This subtext isn't exactly breaking news. People have been saying this for decades. And Santa was a jerk, too.
6
Brilliant!
2
Not sure why Jennifer chose to mutate a classic, fun and harmless Christmas into a story of her own journey or into today's world decades after this came out.
She should just enjoy this classic simply as a tale of struggle first and redemption at the end.
68
@Tom
I also watched the show as a six year old the first time it was broadcast, and many times since. Jennifer's viewpoint is spot on. Open your mind, eyes, and heart.
114
Yes, that’s what she said. The twist of insight is her own, and the “ah ha!” moment we all hope to discover everytime we read. This article was a surprising delight.
37
Who cares? People can get different things from the same film that’s the joy of art. For me Rudolph reminds me of my childhood Christmas’ but if the author sees it as an acceptance of their identity it doesn’t hurt me in any way.
100
Back in 1964, when I watched Rudolph, I was deep inside the closet. It took me another14 years to come out. What a relief to be out in the light. We lgbtq people have nothing to be ashamed of!
88
@BSR No, you don't. Indeed, with much respect. I have really enjoyed this column and the responses to it, which are deep and varied. I add a thought. As a liberal pastor I originally thought about this Rudolph character to be a water down quality to our Christmas hymnody. But my daughter took exception and sent me a marvelous flying stature of Rudolph. That gave me second thoughts and also led me to examine the story's origin. You can look the author up, as I did, and hopefully be deeply, deeply touched by why he conjured this story for his child, as I was. I still have the red nose statue. Yes, come out with joy!
4
Bravo
1
Actually, there’s another “hidden” analogy. The Bumble; scary unknown, who actually turns out to be an okay guy. He’s the quintessential bad one from far away.
18
I've seen it this way for years. It always bothered me that Santa was portrayed as a homophobe who only came around when he saw that Rudolph could be useful.
13
Rudolph is still among the greatest of Christmas shows, and for all the reasons you so beautifully describe. Back in the eighties, I was a young actor in DC and all of my friends would gather to watch it on a VCR. Listening to a gang of theatrical misfits—gay, straight and other—belting out “there’s always tomorrow” over Gilberts martinis is one of the great memories of my life.
198
@Michael Judge What a beautiful memory. Thank you for sharing that.
8
@Michael Judge
Thank you for sharing. Rudolph is a shared experience in America. One that we should embrace more often.
7
Thank you for your opinion piece. Our family watched "Rudolph" last weekend with our transitioning 9-year-old. The subtext you described nearly screamed its existence out to me. The kids looked at me and said, "Mom, you're crying? It's going to be ok." Although they may not have gotten it, I sure did.
143
@TCL with all respect, what does transitioning entail for a 9 year old? I'm curious because it is the youngest age I've ever heard of going through this process.
28
There’s nothing bizarre about a transitioning 9 year old - you just haven’t seen it before.
My four year old is perfectly certain that she’s a girl. Now, she happened to be identified that way at birth. But I don’t think her feeling like a girl has anything to do with that. It’s just who she is, and nobody questions it. Trans children are just the same way - they know what they are, not because anyone told them but because they know. If you believe my 4 year old knows her gender, why can’t you believe it about this 9 year old?
(And while I have no idea about this particular child, I believe transitioning for a kid that young usually means some combination of publicly changing clothing, hair, name and pronouns. Don’t overthink it, unless you normally obsess about the hormones of prepubescent children.)
13
I refused to let my daughters watch this because I deemed it chauvinistic. Didn't anyone else notice that only the boy elves got to make toys, and only the boy reindeer were allowed to fly? All the girls did was bat their eyes and flirt with the boys. I love the music and the tradition of it, but it certainly didn't do anything for the cause of women's liberation!
19
@J. Fry
It's an inherently problematic film. For my family, the fact that there are no persons of color among santa's elves speaks volumes about the inherent racial prejudices of the film.
The fact that Jennifer Boylan is perfectly okay with it is saddening. In an ideal world, the film would be banned.
3
@Sándor
Wow! I seriously hope you’re joking! Seriously! Reindeer are not white!!!!
2
We all pretend the rainbow has an end
And you'll be there, my friend, some day.
There's always tomorrow
For dreams to come true
Tomorrow is not far away.
5
There's always tomorrow for dreams to come true.
4
Beautiful piece. And such a pleasurable read. Thanks.
1
Yes. And thanks for pointing it out.
3
I believe this is called cultural appropriation.
20
Yes, yes, yes. Adopted child here. We, too, were misfit toys hoping someone would want us. Rudolph goes deep.
229
What is most upsetting in Rudolph is the gym teachérs behavior when he spots Rudolph's nose. Maybe it's too much to expect that he say, “Now, children, some of us have shiny noses, some of us have shiny teeth, it doesn't really matter.” But at least he could have steered Rudolph to a special needs class, which existed even then. Instead he actively encourages the children to ostracize the poor kid, explicitly humiliating him and implicitly the whole family. I've always wondered if that coach wound up in college football.
14
@Michael Livingston’s
I went to grammar school in the sixties, and I hate to tell you, but that is what teachers did. Maybe not all of them, but enough that it was considered to be standard and unremarkable.
4
@Eric Yep, it happened to me in the 70s. Fun times.
2
When I saw the headline of this column, at first I thought, oh, here we go again, another twisting of a simple tale for political purposes. But when I read it, I was deeply moved, and want to say to Jennifer, “Happy Christmas”. Not just “Merry” in the too often superficial spirit of the season, but truly and deeply “Happy” for you.
24
huh. I hadn't thought about it that way, and it is an interesting perspective. I think the beauty of the tale is that most every one feels misfit at one time, and that this is a story of 1) knowing you are not alone, and 2) a lesson in tolerance for others. Thanks to you I have a different perspective! Although for sure I still get an odd kick out of seeing the bird that can't fly being pitched out of the sleigh without an umbrella at the end......
6
What a delightful article. Thanks.
3
This was great. I happen to be at home with the kids for a snow day, and I’m going to put it on right now.
3
The song itself (1939 for Montgomery Ward) makes some strange conclusions. The bullying of Rudolph by the other reindeer is never challenged as unacceptable. The patriarchal Godlike Santa gives him a job highlighting his difference. In the final verse, the reindeer celebrate him because he worked and is famous. Fame seems to be the prize. Really, you and I know that Rudolph never gets over his hate for the abusive reindeer, and that there should be a sequel in which he gets all Carrie-at-the-prom with them.
26
@Tony Adams
Sounds like Carrie at the prom might have happened with Cruz from MSD shooting of bullying classmates, and most of those shootings where perpetrators were bullied mercilessly by fellow classmates for their differences. Have to search for better solution--braver teachers is one solution. My observation of abusive bullying is that it occurred when teachers wanted to be "liked" too much and turned the other way or even laughed along with cruel class turning against someone different. Brave fellow classmates who stuck up for them had mob turn against them or suffered ostracism at the cafeteria while teachers remained indifferent or complicit. Courage and indifference to popularity should be among most important criteria in hiring of teachers.
7
@Tony Adams
"Fame seems to be the prize."
Really, it's just that "all the other reindeer" are hierarchy-hypersensitive brutes, just like school kids (and most people) in real life.
Initially, Rudolph was at the bottom of the pack and could be abused with impunity, but after Santa promoted Rudolph to the most powerful position ("Lead Reindeer"), "... all the reindeer loved him, as they shouted out with glee..." because now he had potential power over them and they couldn't afford to cross him. Of course they didn't really love him, they just suddenly had to pretend to, for their own sakes.
I hated that song since childhood, because it shows that people will never accept you if you are different, unless you achieve a position of power over them, and then they will only pretend to.
And, yes, there are still people from childhood I would "go all Carrie" on if I met them again (or ruin their careers if I encountered them in my work environment). An elephant never forgets.
1
@Eric Exactly. There is no admirable moral to this story. No one is heroic or saintly. There is one TV version in which the reindeer (post Rudolph's fame) goad him into "doing that thing" with his nose where he aims a red beam of light at a suspended disco ball. Rudolph then grouses about being treated as a novelty act. A carnival sideshow. Where is the happiness? Where is the nobility?
The universal themes of hero's journey and fish out of water tale delightfully smashed together. I was (am!) a bookish nerd and I really identified with Hermey, as well. Hopefully we will keep progressing on issues of treating all with dignity and respecting each and everyone's uniqueness.
16
Yes, a thousand times yes. I had the same feelings while watching this show each year. Come on, who wouldn't love that adorable spotted elephant? My heart yearned to tell him I loved him unconditionally. And I still do ... as I now live in San Francisco, the ultimate island of misfit toys.
73
@christopher Yes! As a child, I cried every year for the spotted elephant. I still tear up when I see the little guy because I want him to know that he is loved unconditionally—spots and all.
Growing up, Rudolph and the Misfits helped me understand that even when I feel different or unwanted, I can find a "family" of outcasts who will love me for me. I wish for everyone to have that sense of home this holiday season.
7
Thanks for making my day. Since the first time this show aired, it has struck a chord with me that I never fully appreciated until now.
8
Despite identifying with and rooting for the misfit toys, in all these years of watching Rudolph (I'm old enough to have seen the premiere) I never quite thought of it this way. Thanks for the great insights, the old story is new again!
32
If we're really going to analyze the core message of Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer", isn't that we are loved and appreciated by society when we are deemed to be of use.
When we are not, we are disposable.
43
@Julian Fernandez Exactly, Julian. Shunned, until our use is demonstrated. Give credit (a small slice of it) where it’s due, though...Santa did ask, he didn’t demand.
10
@Julian Fernandez
Soylent Green of invisible elderly who are impoverished, feeble, falling through the cracks every day--can't make it on their meager social security, which is taken away down to $750 a month to live on by Department of Education, if unable to pay back student debts from 40 years ago even. Not many see them or advocate for them.
3
I've watched Rudolph annually for 55 years, and this year for the first time I thought the same thing. What sparked the lightbulb for me was when Burl Ives refers to Rudolph's nose as "Your, er, nonconformity."
36
@DM
It is not just one group. It is all those who do not conform. It can be based on their identity, their looks, their ideas, or simply refusal to conform to standards such as just shaving one's legs, where witnessed 14 year old girl who went into class every morning to be greeted by a class singing a cruel ditty, rhyming her name with "Gorilla." Burl Ives sang and regaled children living transiently on boats in Dinner Key Marina in Coconut Grove, Florida, where I lived as 7 year old. Folk singers like that should visit schools today to sing, to encourage acceptance and even celebration of our differences.
7
A beautiful sentimental story highlight the differences between a world wherein YOU to be whom you wish against the desires of those who wish you to who THEY think you are, a fellow resident trapped in Misfit World.
Sometimes, one should not look at Life through the lens of being LGBT. One should remember that LIFE IS ABOUT REACHING OTHERS WHILE THEY JOURNEY ACROSS OUR PATHS.
Hopefully one day, you will stop asking yourself why ‘YOU’ had this journey and just sit back and feel real, for you are, and not all is seen as US versus THEM...for WE ARE ONE people on Earth.
8
@Mrs. America
A nice thought, and I am sure LGBT people and others who feel marginalized would love a world where they are judged by who they are as people, rather than constantly being reminded by some who they are. In a perfect world, being LGBT, like being tall or short or fat or European or African or Hispanic or whatever would be what someone is, not who they are as a person, but society still alas makes one equal to the other.
1
Very well-written and touching memorial to your youth. Thanks for sharing your story.
4
Thank you for this moving take on the holidays and LGBTQ acceptance
13
Wow. I'll never watch Rudolph the same way again. Thanks for this new perspective on a beloved old Christmas show.
9
I was born in 1959 and grew up with this great production. It warmed my heart then, and still warms my heart and helps me feel "home." Thanks for such a great story. Peace.
32
OMG! I just watched that show the other night and thought the exact same thing that you just wrote here! Keep on keeping on and thank you for this article. It made me laugh and I sorely need to laugh these days. Happy holidays.
17