AIBU to think that burlesque is a bit crap?

[TiggyR]

My friend phoned out of the blue last week and asked if DH and I would like to join them to see a burlesque show in the London. I said yes, because
a) I like going out and don't get to go out often enough,
b) there was talk of dinner after,
c)I didn''t have the heart/guts to say 'Good God woman, what on eath do you want to sit through that cheesy tripe for?'
d) I was caught unawares and panicked.

Now I am not a prude, at least not where a consenting couple and a a bedroom are concerned. I have been known to be a bit inventive/naughty on occasion, and I have had a passing aquaintance with bumsex, bondage etc, so NOT a nun or a repressed saddo, and do I realise that burlesque is not full-on pornography, but I just find the thought of all that cheesy old fashioned titillation caberet-stylee excruciatingly embarrassing and cringey. I don't find it sexy, I find it a bit seedy and sad. I won't know where to look. I can't bear to think I'll be in a room with two hundred bald fat middle aged men who are all pretending to enjoy the 'art' and the music, and the spectacle, when actually their eyes are glazed over and they've got a hard-on under their popcorn. ICK!
I can't bear the chippendales, stripograms, hen-nights or lap-dancing or anything that's designed to get people horny whilst in a room full of strangers. Its all so undignified and cringey and desperate!

I googles the 'artiste' I'm going to have to sit through, and watched a video of her stripping (artistically) whilst singing some crap caberet style song, and I felt a sickeing feeling of impending doom. I'll be fidgeting in my seat all night, for all the wrong reasons and looking through gaps in my fingers.

Am I wrong?

YANBU.

I find the whole shebang a bit dishonest. I have more respect for the stripper who comes round the pub with a pint glass afterwards; she is honest about the purpose of her act.

Many of the burlesque performers I know are adamant that they are not 'strippers', they are artistes, and that getting their tits out empowers them in a way that the common 'strippers' wouldn't understand

Won't there be comedy and skits too?

if it was tongue-in-cheek with some funny, rude cabaret songs I might enjoy it.

you could always get pissed......
everything is more funny when pissed

You know 'many' burlesque artistes? I really should get out more....

I know... I keep being introduced to them... I'm in poncey East London though, so everyone is a 'Burlesque artist'. They think it makes them interesting.

YABU - i think it's fab! Glam and glitz and celebratig curvy women and their curves. We did a burlesque evening for one of my friend's hen nights and it was great - we all felt really feminine and sexy afterwards. and there's actually quite a lot of science behind those twirling nipple tassles!

YABU. I'm Eastwards too and it's ace - not seedy at all. Sodding refreshing to see curvy pretty girls having a laughing good time cheered on as much by the lasses as the lads. 'Snuffin like pole-dancing and all that. 'Scompletely different atmosphere and intention.

PS 'I have been known to be a bit naughty on occasion...' !!!!

Mum? Is that you?

Oh it's a load of wank. Newsflash, girls = it's not empowering to take your kit off even if you do it 'ironically'. You're still being judged on how attractive you are and whether or not people like your tits.

I should think practically every other 20-something female in East London is a burlesque artiste at this rate.

It's all a bit zzzzz.

It's just stripping that's somehow socially acceptable for leftie liberal blokes who claim to be feminists.

At least there's an honesty of purpose about t'pole.

I love it, also Burlesque itself is a form of comedy, the stripping is only one aspect of it.

The dictionary describes it as;
"1. A literary or dramatic work that ridicules a subject either by presenting a solemn subject in an undignified style or an inconsequential subject in a dignified style. See Synonyms at caricature.

1. A ludicrous or mocking imitation; a travesty: The antics of the defense attorneys turned the trial into a burlesque of justice.
2. A variety show characterized by broad ribald comedy, dancing, and striptease."

Unfortunately it's still going through a bit of a trendy phase which means there are a lot of people claiming to do Burlesque when really it is just stripping. I've seen some truly horrific "burlesque" but then I've also seen some beautiful, hilarious and talented performances.

Tiggy Most burlesque audiences are predominantly female and the aim isn't to make anyone horny. In fact I've seen people thrown out for treating a burlesque show like a seedy strip club.

I am now very curious to know who is performing at that night! I could show you some performers who'll make you wish you'd been born blind, but I can also show you some spectacular Burlesquers who really are worth seeing.

YANBU.

Burlesque is mainly just stripping, but with middle class girls who want to be "interesting", "different" and wear corsets.

Each to their own I suppose.

"Unless I'm very much mistaken it's not possible to do burlesque without having to get your tits out."

You are being very much mistaken

I always thought it was just stripping for fat girls...
Too much 80s black and red lingerie for my liking too.

I've never known a single performer take their pasties off.

As for jeans etc. Burlesque is about glamour, where do jeans and trainers fit into that? It's also meant to be reminiscent of the 1950's and backwards.. when women wore corsets/girdles etc.

Saying that though, there is one Chav act I can think of..

"Too much 80s black and red lingerie for my liking too. "

Black is fairly rare on stage, doesn't show up well. And it's 50's not 80's

Tiggy, you have put it so well, you really have.
It is crap and appeals to peopel who have to hide behind al lthat guff about it being art/ironic and so on.

What a pile of crap.

I would rather be fingered by Frank Bough than sit through a minute of a 'burlesque show'.

Yeeuch.

There are dittany, they aren't the majority though. Like I said, it's about glamour and modern burlesque is a nod towards Burlesque of the 40's and 50's, so the fashions used will predominantly be feminine and sexy.

I want to know about the Chav act

HinnyPet for you

I thank you Kaloki