Set It Off
"Cleo has no illusions about her chances for mobility, and the film's implicit message is that homosexuality or inappropriate masculinity will not get you where you need to go in a society that emphasizes heterosexuality or femininity for biological women...Cleo even admits, in a conversation with Stony, the allegedly innate limits that her class and sexuality circumscribe her" (Springer pg. 187).
While watching the film, this aspect of Springer's argument seemed really interesting and important to me. Throughout the film, Cleo was the most excessive one, either with drugs and alcohol, or through behavior. She was always drinking, flirting with her girlfriend, or yelling and creating a scene. From the initial scene, it was obvious that she could not be successful in society, because she was not a "civilized lady." This is even more emphasized when put in contrast to Stony. While Stony is being courted by a middle-class man who has money and a stable job, Cleo is spending her robbery money on a sexy outfit for her girlfriend and flaunting her new wealth. Cleo's character was the most interesting to me, because she was the most extreme character with many messages attached - class, overt sexuality, and race. To the audience, Stony has the potential to survive in society because she is attractive and finds heterosexual and civilized love. Cleo, in contrast, will not survive (therefore showing a negative view of masculinity in women or lesbianism) because she is too masculine and is a lesbian. Through this lens, it is obvious some of the messages Set It Off expresses through the characters of Stony and Cleo.