#winslow/phoenix

[melodiesofmidnight]

It's interesting to me that so many take Winslow's interest in Phoenix to be romantic, because it's always seemed to me to be more based in what she can do for him -- or, more specifically, to be based in what she can do for his music. This, of course, plays into the film's exploration of the exploitative nature of the entertainment industry.

Even if Winslow were to feel some sort of physical attraction to her, which he never explicitly indicates, he states himself upon their first meeting that he would "never let his personal desires influence [his] aesthetic judgment." To him, Phoenix's ability to adequately perform his music is what matters.

[Further analysis under the Read More]

This is not to say, however, that Winslow is shielded from the film's searing exposure of the entertainment industry's tendency (specifically, in pertinence to male desire, be it sexual or otherwise) to exert ownership of the women operating within it. Philbin attempts to exert this ownership sexually, Swan attempts to exert this ownership literally, via the predatory contracts so often seen in the industry (though, of course, not quite to the degree seen in the film), and Winslow attempts to exert this ownership creatively.

He is using Phoenix too, albeit in a different way: everyone in the film wants something from her. Philbin, the audience, Swan, and Winslow. The only exception to this is Beef, who is immediately confronted by Winslow---which foists the attention back to Phoenix and which directly juxtaposes Beef against Phoenix (in that Beef's attempt to assume the role that 'rightfully' belongs to Phoenix will result in his death). The free will of both Beef and Phoenix is smothered and eradicated by the desires of the two primary opposing characters. It is interesting as well that Beef, who is equally used as a pawn by the traditionally-masculine Swan and Winslow, is queer-coded: which in the 70s would certainly have been meant to indicate that he was feminine. But, I digress...

Whilst not conventionally manipulating Phoenix, Winslow still forces his desires onto her. He wants to use her for his music: he knows she will be forced to sing if he kills Beef. He shows her what happens to those who do not "listen to [him]" when he takes her to the roof and reveals what he has done; he tells her that she is all he has, that she is the only one fit to perform his music, that she can be HIS voice now.

He does not want her to give into her desire to become famous, or to enact her own fantasies; he wants her simply to remain as she is, unknown, uncorrupted, 'pure,' -- a fit vessel for his music. He does not want her to pursue the path she wants to take, knowing that fame will transform her into an agent of the industry he so desperately despises and yet seeks to break into (on his terms, of course -- yet, Phoenix is not allowed this same choice).

He does not love her romantically; he loves that she can voice his music the way he wants it voiced. His music has always been his sole passion, and his sole obsession: his cantata is his soul, and Phoenix is his instrument. He cares for her the way a seasoned jazz musician cares for his saxophone.

His agony on the rooftop is not borne of jealousy of a romantic origin, but rather of his torment that Swan is yet again ruining his music: to claim Phoenix is to permanently divest Winslow of his voice. She is his last chance, and he does not intend to allow Swan to crush that.

This is not to claim that Winslow does not care for her as a person: of course he does. He would not attempt to save her from Swan's assassination plot once she has been 'corrupted' (in his view) otherwise. It is poignant that this act of selflessness not only results in his own destruction, but is ultimately meaningless: he may have saved Phoenix, but died amid a massive, televised Bacchanal that served only to exponentially augment Swan's fame. (An assassination live on television, coast to coast? Now that's entertainment!).

Just as the other characters in the film, be they major or minor, Winslow's designs for Phoenix exist to lampoon the entertainment industry, whose dulled teeth gnash ceaselessly as it devours those who leap into its insatiable, gaping maw.

Romantic love for Phoenix does not exist in this film for a reason: not from Swan, and not from Winslow...and that is the point.

#phantom of the paradise #winslow leach #brian de palma #jessica harper #potp #william finley #paul williams #meta #analysis #winslow/phoenix #garrett graham

[linniegator]

#phantom of the paradise #potp #winslow leach #phoenix potp #my art

[pencil-amateur]

my comic/essay on why I love phantom of the paradise as a trans artist. I may end up editing it and making a zine in the future

#phantom of the paradise #winslow leach #swan potp #phoenix potp #beef potp #my art #I hope you enjoy! this took a while to make #f slur

[fuluv]

WHATS UP DEADENDIANSSS i am BACK this year with parkvember but i will be uploading every 3 days instead of daily this time around

[prompt list]

#parkvember 2023 #parkvember #deadendia #dead end paranormal park #cahatel deadendia #pauline phoenix #barborah winslow #pauborah #paimon deadendia #deadendia cahatel #cahatel #deadendia paimon #paimon #my art #fanart #deadendia fanart #dead end #de:pp

[thewizardofschnoz]

Still can't get over the matching Paul Williams puppets from when he appeared on The Muppet Show.

Anyways what if Swan was a Muppet lmao

#myart #digital art #phantom of the paradise #potp #potp swan #potp winslow #potp phoenix #winslow leach #swan potp #Winslow potp #pheonix potp #muppets

[antiquechainsaw]

32 inch LDC TV $499

Edit: just realized i forgot to color in part of beefs belt but ignore it because i literally could not give less of a fuck

#fanart #shitpost #my art #art #phantom of the paradise #winslow leach #swan potp #phoenix potp #beef potp

[its-cripptid]

He sold his soul for Rock n' Roll🎸⚡

HAPPY 50TH ANNIVERSARY TO ONE OF THE GREATEST FILMS OF ALL TIME!

#my art #phantom of the paradise #winslow leach #phoenix potp #swan potp

[workandnonwork]

potp doodles (beef+phoenix were from april , swan+winslow were from work last week)

#phantom of the paradise #beef potp #swan potp #phoenix potp #winslow leach

[askparadise]

You're welcome.

#phantom of the paradise #winslow leach #podp #swan #phoenix

[olivaeeuropaea]

i am normal about them

#phantom of the paradise #winslow leach #phoenix #potp #my art #i just think they're neat

[melodiesofmidnight]

Phantom of the Paradise + Screenshots of Despair.

#phantom of the paradise #potp #screenshots of despair #winslow leach #swan potp #beef potp #phoenix potp #brian de palma

[little-whats-her-name]

*cough cough* Phoenix and Winslow

#the phantom of the paradise #phantom of the paradise #phantom of the paradise 1974 #winslow leach #phoenix potp #phoenslow

[linniegator]

#potp #phantom of the paradise #winslow leach #swan potp #phoenix potp #my art

[starleska]

Paul Williams as Swan and Jessica Harper as Phoenix in that one scene from Phantom of the Paradise 😳💖

#watching this for the first time i think my brain stopped working 🙈 #swan #swan potp #phantom of the paradise #potp #phoenix #phoenix potp #winslow leach #the phantom #paul williams #jessica harper #william finley #naughty tag #suggestive #starleskatalks

[greetings-from-the-eraser-king]

So my sibling @eeeeeeeeef made me the best birthday gift ever it's the phantom of the paradise soundtrack on a CD and she made a custom case an I wanna share because I love it so much

#phantom of the paradise fanart #phantom of the paradise #winslow leach #swan phantom of the paradise #phantom of the paradise phoenix #potp #swan potp #my birthday #birthday gift #:) #eraser king art

[spaghetti-aldente]

Mr. man + phoenix

#should prob rewatch soon #potp #phantom of the paradise #winslow leach #phoenix potp #art #my art #i love making Winslow more and more shaped every time I draw him..