Who are you tell tell me I ain't feminist? I'm a woman!
This topic is inspried by the thread started by the lovely and talented Red Sarah, but it's long winded and I didn't want to just chunk it in there. Bad Feng Shui.
I recently was interviewed and got asked 2 of the most standard "Isn't this just stripping" questions (implying that stripping is a bad thing to do) and this is what I wrote.
How is burlesque different from, for example lap or pole dancing?
First of all, lap dancing is straight-up stripping, (rather than the old fashioned style of striptease that is most common among modern burlesque performers,) and involves either full nudity or toplessness depending on what country you are in. Pole dancing is a specialised form of dance that is extremely strenuous, and also involves nudity (and, obviously, a pole, which is not something that you see in many venues that host burlesque events.) I have not until very recently seen pole dancing incorporated into a burlesque show, and the women who does it brings along her own pole. I admire women who do it well, but is generally only seen in strip clubs.
I could never work as a stripper, as I do not feel comfortable with complete nudity or toplessness in terms of my own work. I do not have a problem with other people doing it, but for myself, I have clearly defined limits, and I feel that to completely reveal myself, would be to lose my power. The small areas of my body that are covered up makes a remarkable difference in the way I feel, (as anyone who has had a pastie fly off mid routine will tell you.) I feel that I am in control of the situation. I also think pasties are beautiful to look at. They enhance the body's natural beauty while concealing a tiny, but substantial, dignity.
I find it much more erotic, someone who is partially clothed rather than fully nude, and actually prefer the look of the body when artfully attired. The mystery is lost when a body is completely uncovered. I also prefer that there is only one person in the world that I reveal everything to.
I have seen very few burlesque acts that involve full or partial nudity. Most women go down to pasties and knickers, and many do not even disrobe. In a few of my acts, I do not remove a single item of clothing.
Burlesque as people know it today encompasses only striptease, and not other elements of what burlesque theatre once was: a variety show with dancing girls, stand-up comedy, magic and short skits, often with a live band as accompaniment.
To me, I do not see burlesque simply as beautiful dancing girls. I see it as a more all-encompassing comedic theatrical production. Burlesque is a blanket term that contains striptease, comedic skits, stand-up comedy, music, and magic. It is a form of vaudeville and the women are only one aspect of it.
In the modern sense, it is mainly thought to be striptease artists and usually only the more beautiful and glamorous acts are imagined when people think of the term burlesque. I feel that it has many facets and I want that to become more widely known rather than just the flashy, feathery aspect of the scene.
I like the fact that burlesque can be used as a story-telling medium that is ideal for social commentary. I like to use my character to question notions of femininity in modern society, and provide a multifaceted view of women's sexuality: beauty, intelligence, wit, and ingenuity.
What is most attractive to me is to be able to get up on stage and make people laugh or to suddenly twist the plot in an unexpected way that is unusual and surprising.
What would you say to critics of burlesque who consider it to be 'seedy' or degrading to women?
I'd say come on down to see a show or two, and reserve your judgement until after. The burlesque scene is largely female-run, and most performers are women who have stong personalities, opinions and feminist ideals. Of course there are exceptions, but ask most burlesque performers and they have clear ideas about how their work is feminist in nature. And let's not forget, many performers are, in fact, men, who do not seem to feel degraded either.
At the opening night of our new show, we had protestors outside the club chucking eggs. They approached one of the performers' husbands who was outside if there were women stripping inside, and he said "Yes." They asked if there were men inside, and he said "Yes." They asked what the men were doing and he said "Stripping." They apparently didn't really know what to do about that.They got into a conversation about it, and apparently these people target clubs like Spearmint Rhino and had just heard that strippers were going to be in the club on that night and made their own assumptions. I wished I had been outside so that I could have invited them in to see what our show was actually about.
When someone approaches me and confronts me about my work being degrading and demeaning, I ask them "To Who?" I do not feel that I am damaging to myself or any other woman. In fact, many women approach me and tell me that they would love to do the same thing, and that they admire my strength. Most of the criticism I have received in the past has been from men, and my attitude towards that is simple: Who is a man to say that I shouldn't do what I do in the name of feminism? The same could be applied to women who are critical. Feminists are as diverse as any other group of person and everyone is entitled to their opinion, but finger pointers are not invited to my party.
ps I am glad that there are men in the scene and think it's great. I also know it's not only men who are critical of burlesque and that many women feel negatively about it, so don't think that I am male bashing. I am only recounting my own personal experiences. I love male performers and male audience members as much as females!
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