Slow Burn
By Kevin O'Brien, Staff Writer, Emerson College
“Man this girl’s trying to fuck up my day!” That’s the first line of Dylan Brown’s Mac and Devin go to High School, starring Wiz Khalifa as Devin and Snoop Dogg as Mac. The best part about the opening line is that it’s said by an animated hominid joint named “Slow Burn.” Its really quite beautiful how succinctly that line reveals everything one should expect from the film; misogyny, kitsch, and, of course, marijuana. As the film progresses, however, the subtext of this scene becomes more clear; Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa have successfully written, whether it intentionally or not, an explicitly homoerotic film. The film is a testament of the fact that when misogyny is taken to ludicrous extremes, it transcends its assertive masculinity and becomes a rejection of women entirely; more notably, it becomes the embracement of men.
The film is the classic story of stoner deadbeat, Mac, meets class valedictorian, Devin, and teaches him how to be “young, wild, and free.” With help from the movie’s “tour guide,” Slow Burn, we learn about life, love, and weed, but mostly weed. Slow Burn, the friendly and pedantic talking joint instantly presents himself as a clear phallic symbol. I know that may initially seem like a stretch, I didn’t want to believe it myself -- Wiz and Snoop would never! I thought. But then it became undeniable in one of the cut scenes featuring Slow Burn. If the clear physical resemblance of a penis isn’t enough to attract the viewers attention, then the fact that Slow Burn is bouncing up and down in a sexual manner has to be. You’d have to be pretty high for it to slip past you, but then again, Slow Burn makes it very clear in the beginning of the film that it’s a “weed movie” and viewers should engage in appropriate preparation to watch the movie. While a phallic symbol alone isn’t inherently homoerotic, it is certainly not something you would expect to see in a film starring Wiz Khalifa and Snoop Dogg. Slow Burn’s physical presence only enhances the homoeroticism found more explicitly in the plot and specific dialogue in the film.
Things start to get more fishy when Slow Burn orders all females to leave the theatre or wherever it is the film is being watched (which is most likely on the iPad of a 15 year old white boy). Slow Burn wants to make sure that it’s only dudes in the room together because to him, women are nothing but “controlling bitches”. “If you have a controlling bitch in your life, get the fuck out now!” Slow Burn orders. In other words, if you have a girlfriend or are dating girls, Slow Burn wants nothing to do with you. Its guys only for this talking joint. Slow Burn likes to present his ideas simply as misogyny, a way to prove his masculinity. However, his tactics backfire on him. His hatred for women and love for the bros makes a perfect night for him chilling with his homies and getting high, a concept which, in our society is not only emasculating, but also suspiciously homoerotic. But Slow Burn isn’t the only character with these views. The philosophy is held dearly by all the main characters in the film, particularly Snoop Dogg.
During a scene when Mac and Devin are getting high off Novocain, Devin’s overbearing girlfriend or, referred to by Mac as “the bitch”, calls Devin’s phone. Mac knows just how to deal with the situation. “I want us to go to another planet called…Pimpeteria” says Mac, “and once we go there, let me tell you how I would address this bitch.” Mac proceeds to tell Devin’s girlfriend off by basically saying “bye bitch!” We can conclude that in Mac’s ideal world, he and Devin live together on another planet. Earth is not ready for them. On this fantasy planet, the two are alone and no one is there to kill their vibe, especially not any girls. Mac clearly values his alone time with Devin, and gets irritable when it’s interrupted. When Devin’s girlfriend comes to Mac’s crib to find Devin, Mac is enraged. He furiously kicks the girl out of his home so it can be back to just the two of them, together, smoking weed and talking about how much they hate girls.
One of the best exchanges of dialogue is best when read out of context. “You said you want to experience new shit, right?” Mac says to Devin, “Yeah, but what if it hurts?” Devin asks, to which Mac replies, “…you might like that.” They’re talking about Devin’s first tattoo, but it doesn’t do much to mask the clear homoerotic innuendo of the scene. Mac’s and Devin eventually get arrested for drug possession and both of them make bail and leave relatively scot-free. But Devin, realizing his future is at stake, severs ties from Mac altogether. This is the first time in the whole film where Mac shows genuine sadness. And if you still think that it’s just a “bromance” consider fact that Mac was offered sex from two beautiful women immediately after getting out of prison, to which he replied by suggesting the two go on without him. Slow Burn, too, is beat up about Devin ending his “friendship” with mac. “This got me fucked up right now” he says. “C’mon fellas, tighten up!” That’s right fellas, you heard Slow Burn, “tighten up!” Mac, throughout the film, was rejected by a girl, nearly expelled from school, and arrested all without showing a shred of remorse, but when his best bud Devin leaves him alone, he can’t quite shake the sadness. Its really quite beautiful, and while Snoop and Wiz would never admit to the homoerotic nature of the relationship, its certainly a present, thought- provoking aspect of the movie. I don’t want to spoil the film for anyone, it does that perfectly fine on its own, so I won’t reveal what becomes of the two. If you, for some reason, watch this film sober, for you might find out some things about Snoop and Wiz that will make you reconsider their music, and perhaps all of mainstream hip-hop in general.
Kevin O’Brien is a New Jersey native who is studying film production at Emerson College. He is a Pitchfork Historian, accomplished musician, and aspiring Internet celebrity. Girls love him, boys want to be him, you’re just jealous because he’s famous. @kevinobrien_
“Man this girl’s trying to fuck up my day!” That’s the first line of Dylan Brown’s Mac and Devin go to High School, starring Wiz Khalifa as Devin and Snoop Dogg as Mac. The best part about the opening line is that it’s said by an animated hominid joint named “Slow Burn.” Its really quite beautiful how succinctly that line reveals everything one should expect from the film; misogyny, kitsch, and, of course, marijuana. As the film progresses, however, the subtext of this scene becomes more clear; Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa have successfully written, whether it intentionally or not, an explicitly homoerotic film. The film is a testament of the fact that when misogyny is taken to ludicrous extremes, it transcends its assertive masculinity and becomes a rejection of women entirely; more notably, it becomes the embracement of men.
The film is the classic story of stoner deadbeat, Mac, meets class valedictorian, Devin, and teaches him how to be “young, wild, and free.” With help from the movie’s “tour guide,” Slow Burn, we learn about life, love, and weed, but mostly weed. Slow Burn, the friendly and pedantic talking joint instantly presents himself as a clear phallic symbol. I know that may initially seem like a stretch, I didn’t want to believe it myself -- Wiz and Snoop would never! I thought. But then it became undeniable in one of the cut scenes featuring Slow Burn. If the clear physical resemblance of a penis isn’t enough to attract the viewers attention, then the fact that Slow Burn is bouncing up and down in a sexual manner has to be. You’d have to be pretty high for it to slip past you, but then again, Slow Burn makes it very clear in the beginning of the film that it’s a “weed movie” and viewers should engage in appropriate preparation to watch the movie. While a phallic symbol alone isn’t inherently homoerotic, it is certainly not something you would expect to see in a film starring Wiz Khalifa and Snoop Dogg. Slow Burn’s physical presence only enhances the homoeroticism found more explicitly in the plot and specific dialogue in the film.
Things start to get more fishy when Slow Burn orders all females to leave the theatre or wherever it is the film is being watched (which is most likely on the iPad of a 15 year old white boy). Slow Burn wants to make sure that it’s only dudes in the room together because to him, women are nothing but “controlling bitches”. “If you have a controlling bitch in your life, get the fuck out now!” Slow Burn orders. In other words, if you have a girlfriend or are dating girls, Slow Burn wants nothing to do with you. Its guys only for this talking joint. Slow Burn likes to present his ideas simply as misogyny, a way to prove his masculinity. However, his tactics backfire on him. His hatred for women and love for the bros makes a perfect night for him chilling with his homies and getting high, a concept which, in our society is not only emasculating, but also suspiciously homoerotic. But Slow Burn isn’t the only character with these views. The philosophy is held dearly by all the main characters in the film, particularly Snoop Dogg.
During a scene when Mac and Devin are getting high off Novocain, Devin’s overbearing girlfriend or, referred to by Mac as “the bitch”, calls Devin’s phone. Mac knows just how to deal with the situation. “I want us to go to another planet called…Pimpeteria” says Mac, “and once we go there, let me tell you how I would address this bitch.” Mac proceeds to tell Devin’s girlfriend off by basically saying “bye bitch!” We can conclude that in Mac’s ideal world, he and Devin live together on another planet. Earth is not ready for them. On this fantasy planet, the two are alone and no one is there to kill their vibe, especially not any girls. Mac clearly values his alone time with Devin, and gets irritable when it’s interrupted. When Devin’s girlfriend comes to Mac’s crib to find Devin, Mac is enraged. He furiously kicks the girl out of his home so it can be back to just the two of them, together, smoking weed and talking about how much they hate girls.
One of the best exchanges of dialogue is best when read out of context. “You said you want to experience new shit, right?” Mac says to Devin, “Yeah, but what if it hurts?” Devin asks, to which Mac replies, “…you might like that.” They’re talking about Devin’s first tattoo, but it doesn’t do much to mask the clear homoerotic innuendo of the scene. Mac’s and Devin eventually get arrested for drug possession and both of them make bail and leave relatively scot-free. But Devin, realizing his future is at stake, severs ties from Mac altogether. This is the first time in the whole film where Mac shows genuine sadness. And if you still think that it’s just a “bromance” consider fact that Mac was offered sex from two beautiful women immediately after getting out of prison, to which he replied by suggesting the two go on without him. Slow Burn, too, is beat up about Devin ending his “friendship” with mac. “This got me fucked up right now” he says. “C’mon fellas, tighten up!” That’s right fellas, you heard Slow Burn, “tighten up!” Mac, throughout the film, was rejected by a girl, nearly expelled from school, and arrested all without showing a shred of remorse, but when his best bud Devin leaves him alone, he can’t quite shake the sadness. Its really quite beautiful, and while Snoop and Wiz would never admit to the homoerotic nature of the relationship, its certainly a present, thought- provoking aspect of the movie. I don’t want to spoil the film for anyone, it does that perfectly fine on its own, so I won’t reveal what becomes of the two. If you, for some reason, watch this film sober, for you might find out some things about Snoop and Wiz that will make you reconsider their music, and perhaps all of mainstream hip-hop in general.
Kevin O’Brien is a New Jersey native who is studying film production at Emerson College. He is a Pitchfork Historian, accomplished musician, and aspiring Internet celebrity. Girls love him, boys want to be him, you’re just jealous because he’s famous. @kevinobrien_