| Popis: |
This study analyzes and discusses the phenomena of the sexual woman in the historical period of The Golden Age of burlesque, approximately 1900-1930s in the USA. By studying examples of prominent burlesque artists from this period such as Mae West, Gypsy Rose Lee and Carrie Finnell as portrayals of the sexual woman, the study includes theory of humour by sociologist Michael Mulkay and rhetoric Stefan Kjerkegaard. By this aspect the humour shows the portrayal of the phenomena of the sexual woman to be more complex in relation to whether the examples of burlesque performers can be perceived as repressed or empowered. The study therefore includes the discussion of the sexual and humorous woman in different feminist perspectives. It is concluded that in the perspective of second wave feminism the sexual and humorous woman in burlesque can be perceived as repressed whereas the perspectives of the third and fourth waves shows burlesque as more liberating in relation to female sexuality. Furthermore, the compilation of sexuality and humour in the examples from The Golden Age of burlesque shows that humour ridiculing sexuality does not necessarily mean a repression of sexuality but the opposite. The humour in relation to female sexuality in burlesque in The Golden Age can be a tool of communication, where the norms and discourses around women and their sexuality can be both reproduced and rejected. |
