From: Ahn@pop.cis.yale.edu (Eugene R. Ahn)
Subject: Re: R&S: Instruments for a higher cause?
Followup-To: alt.tv.ren-n-stimpy
Organization: Yale University
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1992 11:59:42 GMT

>    I wouldn't think so, because Ren was embarrased to take off his fur in 
> front of Stimpy... (in Nurse Stimpy), if they were gay, they'd make a 
> queer couple... (bad pun)

The two do not have to be an actual couple to have a homosexual subtext in
their relationship. My theory is that the show breaks many societal taboos
with its fascination in grossness, but it makes the primary source of
conflict between Ren and Stimpy, a repression (i.e. the maintaining of a
taboo) of homosexuality, still dominant. However, the show still works to
disintegrate that taboo: the gleeful celebration of breaking other taboos
than sexuality seems to establish a positive value judgement on being free
from taboos in general. 

In a cut scene from the series, we have Ren romantically dreaming about
kissing Stimpy followed by him being grossed out (Big House Blues). This
also appears in Robin Hoek. Thus we see a definite sexual desire, the
anxiety of its presence, and the desire to repress it. "Thank god it's only
a dream" Ren thinks as he wakes up, only to see Stimpy in female garb. 

Also, Ren wanted to make sure no one knew about the innocent bath in Nurse
Stimpy. When Ren reads the newspaper the next day, sees himself in the
headlines, freaks out and relapses into sickness, the joke plays on the
fact that both the viewer and Ren have anxieties about whether or not the
things they do have a homosexual nature to it. 

The show in general then proceeds to redefine masculinity. The show appeals
through its fascination with grossness. It appeals through joyfully
breaking taboos which most people have already done at some point though
(for many people) not to that excess. Blatant nose picking, crotch
scratching, farting, taking a dump, and so on. And the show recognizes that
sexual anxiety and taboos are more difficult to break.

Thus, I believe JK uses the media of cartoons to (for lack of a better
word) to desensitize people about sexual anxiety in general. The helmet of
Stimpy in one episode resembles a condom and the end flashes when the TV
show comes on. Ren's demise in Stimpy's mouth is sexual (he washes him down
with milk!). In a cut scene, the mike in Stimpy's Big Day originally got
shoved into his mouth, not his nose. Stimpy's nose is always erect. The
sexual references are countless! Perhaps R&S functions, outside of being
simply a great, hilarious show, to gradually break that taboo.

But to finish this post, I grant that all these things may be here, but
there may still be no conscious intent on JK's part. Also, though it sounds
good in writing, it may not have the desired effect. Perhaps this pattern I
have noticed as well as others is simply a reflection of JK's
disappointment with mainstream sanitized cartoons as he states in the FILM
THREAT interview. His honesty of a fascination with grossness and sexual
anxiety may simply be his attempt to bring more truth to his cartoon
characters. I grant all those things. But if I can come up with this idea,
then so can anyone else, and who knows?

--
Mos Eisley  
"Children's television is like dog food. They don't care what it tastes
like as long as the kids eat it." Bob Camp, producer, now director of R&S,
on TV networks