As you know, I have mixed feelings about burlesque.
Actually, that's not true, I have mostly negative feelings about burlesque.
My dislike, however, is motivated less by it being just another form of objectification of women excused/obfuscated by the costumes/atmosphere being 'vintage' (although I think that's exactly what it is on a mainstream level) than by the subculture revival of it mostly being overrun with talentless amateurs who couldn't carry a rhythm if you impanted a metronome in their pelvis and who moreover I would really rather didn't take their clothes off (in a 'sexy' way that is - I have no objection to naked people in general) in front of me.
Which is not to say I don't think they should take their clothes off and jiggle provocatively - if that makes them feel empowered or whatever that's lovely for them, but I sort of feel like it's ceased to be about the audience any more at that point and becomes solely about the performer - their experience, their empowerment, their sense of self.
That's great, but if I'm paying to watch you wander about aimlessly on stage throwing bits of clothing around as a celebration of your positive self-image, you might just as well stand on the street with a bucket and a sign reading "I FEEL GOOD ABOUT MY BODY: PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY".
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Actually, that's not true, I have mostly negative feelings about burlesque.
My dislike, however, is motivated less by it being just another form of objectification of women excused/obfuscated by the costumes/atmosphere being 'vintage' (although I think that's exactly what it is on a mainstream level) than by the subculture revival of it mostly being overrun with talentless amateurs who couldn't carry a rhythm if you impanted a metronome in their pelvis and who moreover I would really rather didn't take their clothes off (in a 'sexy' way that is - I have no objection to naked people in general) in front of me.
Which is not to say I don't think they should take their clothes off and jiggle provocatively - if that makes them feel empowered or whatever that's lovely for them, but I sort of feel like it's ceased to be about the audience any more at that point and becomes solely about the performer - their experience, their empowerment, their sense of self.
That's great, but if I'm paying to watch you wander about aimlessly on stage throwing bits of clothing around as a celebration of your positive self-image, you might just as well stand on the street with a bucket and a sign reading "I FEEL GOOD ABOUT MY BODY: PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY".
no subject
I, also, have no interest in people just taking their clothes off at me.