Art Imitates Us: How Survival of the Thickest Mirrors the Magic of Real Life
- Natasha Parker
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
A famous quote by Oscar Wilde says "life imitates art far more than art imitates life," but what if that thought/concept was, like Missy Elliott said, flipped and reversed? What if art actually imitates life? Right?
What if art is just an extension of who we are... or who we desire to be? What if we’re just art in motion... music notes dancing around this thing we call life? "Rhythm orchestrated by Quincy Jones," just as Stokley said in "Art of Motion."
If that’s how you envision life—and like me, sometimes hope—that legendary, dope, and beautiful pieces of well-thought-out visual expressions of who we are, in all walks of life, are written about, sung about, theatrically played out in theaters and on the big screens and even in television… then you’re in for a treat when watching not only Season 2 of Survival of the Thickest but Season 1 because creator, writer, and producer of the show Michelle Buteau has done just that.
Michelle not only talks the talk in real life about being inclusive, but she made it her priority to make sure the people she cares about dearly were represented in her Netflix top TV shows in the U.S.—shining a bright light on the trans community, the LGBTQ+ community, the fabulous big girls community, and simply making sure that we, as Black and Brown people, are shown as being magical no matter where we lie in those communities.
Season 2 has a themes of doing the internal work on self—letting yourself know it’s okay not to settle out of fear, comfortability, even pressure. That it’s okay to forgive after reflection. That friends are family. That inclusivity matters. And yes—that it’s okay to have a hoe phase in your mid-30s, lol.
Michelle touches on so much, you’ll find that each time you watch, you’ll see it from a different perspective—with a new set of eyes.
Michelle spoke with Women for the Culture exclusively on her Radio City special, asking "you talked about how comics shouldn’t make fun of the LGBTQ+ community—and in the show, you really back that up. Everyone feels seen and valued. Why was that so important to you?"
Head over to our Instagram page to hear what Michelle had to say about inclusivity, friendships, taking chances, feeling inspired, being tasteful when joking, and how joy is an act of resistance.
Have you binged Season 2 of Survival of the Thickest yet?! Chile, Mavis was giving us LOOKS every episode! Drop a comment and let us know your favorite look of the season!
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