In the early 1970s, rock music saw the birth of a new genre when Glam Rock was created in the U.K. The Rocky Horror Picture Show, which originally began as a stage production in London in 1973, was released as a film in 1975, corresponding with the end of the Glam Rock movement. It is no coincidence that the stage production and film were made during the same time and at the same place as the start of Glam Rock. There is a distinct connection drawn between Glam Rock and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, shown through the common use of themes like sexuality, gender, and authenticity. Both the genre and the movie explore the outward expression of non-heteronormative sexuality, gender fluidity in terms of aesthetic, and the notion of creating authenticity through characterization.

Glam Rock was a rebellion against a rigid, heteronormative society, showcasing the fluidity of gender and sexuality in a way that had previously been seen as taboo in mainstream culture. In many ways, The Rocky Horror Picture Show mirrors the contrasting relationship between society and Glam Rock through the interactions that are shown between Brad and Janet, the couple who represent a conservative and traditional wing of society, and Dr. Frank-N-Furter, who rebels against the established society through his expressive performances, extravagant visual style, and ambiguous vocal delivery. This project will explore this idea through a detailed analysis of the genre of Glam Rock, the listed characters in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and the performance of “Sweet Transvestite” by Tim Curry (Dr. Frank-N-Furter).