Rug Rash follows from the perspective of a lesbian couple from the height of their pelvis’. Two handmade bushy rugs feature and are the only subject of the film. For 30 seconds the ‘rugs’ jump around, lie on top of each other and cut the length of their hair, not only being erratic but intimate and playful.
Rug Rash creates parallels to the historically derogatory phrase “carpet (or muff) muncher” used by heterosexual people about lesbians and female people who are outwardly perceived as masculine. Playing societal norms by creating comically large bushes people who aren’t only lesbian but grow pubic hair feel normalised in a society where the norm is that women are expected to shave and be delicate for the male gaze.
