**Historical Evolution of Striptease:**
– Striptease has ancient origins from Babylonia to 20th century America.
– The term “striptease” was first recorded in 1932.
– Various historical references to striptease in ancient texts by Ovid, Juvenal, and Lactantius.
– Ancient practices like the Sumerian myth of Inanna’s descent and Roman dances at the Floralia festival influenced modern striptease.
– Evolution of striptease in different cultures, from Greek auletrides to modern American and British traditions.
**Cultural and Legal Aspects of Striptease:**
– Striptease is subject to legal restrictions and cultural prohibitions globally.
– H. L. Mencken’s term “ecdysiast” for striptease artists and Gypsy Rose Lee’s approval of the term.
– Variability of laws on stripping worldwide, including venue licensing requirements and national regulations.
– Different countries have varying laws on public nudity and performer conduct.
– Iceland’s ban on striptease in 2010 and the impact of such regulations on the industry.
**Performance Elements and Traditions:**
– Elements of modern striptease acts, including slow undressing, audience interaction, and the importance of costumes.
– The influence of French, American, British, and Japanese traditions on modern striptease.
– Evolution of performance styles from ancient Rome and Byzantium to contemporary pole dancing and lap dancing.
– The emergence of new burlesque in the late 1990s, focusing on dancing, costumes, and entertainment.
– Male strippers’ rise in popularity in Western cultures post-1970s, featuring troupes like Dreamboys and Chippendales.
**Media Representation and Cultural Impact:**
– Depiction of striptease in mainstream films like “Barbarella,” “Flashdance,” and “Showgirls.”
– Exploration of striptease in documentaries like “The Raymond Revuebar the Art of Striptease” and “Confessions of a Male Stripper.”
– The portrayal of striptease in feature films such as “Magic Mike,” “Striptease,” and “The Full Monty.”
– Television shows like BBC Panorama and “Peek a Boo” that have covered the history and impact of striptease.
– The influence of striptease on theatre productions like “The Full Monty” and “Jekyll and Hyde.”
**Literature and Legal Analysis:**
– Books like “A Pictorial History of Striptease” and “The Stripping Question” that delve into the cultural and societal aspects of striptease.
– Legal issues surrounding strip clubs and regulations in different countries, from the UK to the US.
– Supreme Court cases addressing strip club regulations in the US and legal battles in cities like Detroit and Houston.
– Recognition of stripping as an art form in countries like Norway and the evolving guidelines and regulations in response to changing cultural norms.
– Literary works exploring related themes like the development of English in the US and the political economy of the sex trade.
A striptease is an erotic or exotic dance in which the performer gradually undresses, either partly or completely, in a seductive and sexually suggestive manner. The person who performs a striptease is commonly known as a "stripper" or an "exotic" or "burlesque" dancer.
The origins of striptease as a performance art are disputed and various dates and occasions have been given from ancient Babylonia to 20th century America. The term "striptease" was first recorded in 1932. In Western countries, the venues where stripteases are performed on a regular basis are now usually called strip clubs, though they may be performed in venues such as pubs (especially in the United Kingdom), theaters and music halls. At times, a stripper may be hired to perform at a bachelor or bachelorette party. In addition to providing adult entertainment, stripping can be a form of sexual play between partners. This can be done as an impromptu event or – perhaps for a special occasion – with elaborate planning involving fantasy wear, music, special lighting, practiced dance moves, or unrehearsed dance moves.
Striptease involves a slow, sensuous undressing. The stripper may prolong the undressing with delaying tactics such as the wearing of additional clothes or putting clothes or hands in front of just undressed body parts such as the breasts or genitalia. The emphasis is on the act of undressing along with sexually suggestive movement, rather than the state of being undressed. In the past, the performance often finished as soon as the undressing was finished, though today's strippers usually continue dancing in the nude. The costume the stripper wears before disrobing can form part of the act. In some cases, audience interaction can form part of the act, with the audience urging the stripper to remove more clothing, or the stripper approaching the audience to interact with them.
Striptease and public nudity have been subject to legal and cultural prohibitions and other aesthetic considerations and taboos. Restrictions on venues may be through venue licensing requirements and constraints and a wide variety of national and local laws. These laws vary considerably around the world, and even between different parts of the same country. H. L. Mencken is credited with coining the word ecdysiast – from "ecdysis", meaning "to molt" – in response to a request from striptease artist Georgia Sothern, for a "more dignified" way to refer to her profession. Gypsy Rose Lee, one of the most famous striptease artists of all time, approved of the term.