WARNINGOnly for individuals above the mental age of 18

Video Strip tease

Group MembersAnkush | Gargi | Rahul | Rutu | Shipra | Sonam

Overview• Analyzing the depiction of “striptease” in the songs of Indian Hindi commercial

cinema using the theory of Roland Barthes using following steps Identification of a typical striptease Analyzing women striptease depiction in Indian Bollywood over a span of 4

decades Comparison of female strip teaser with a male in present Bollywood

• The parameters used for analysis are: Dancing Props Clothes Décor

• Sample taken for analysis is set of Bollywood songs depicting striptease from each decade

• Striptease code has been analyzed using a set of Indian and western songs

Striptease = Strip + Tease• “Strip”-Through the shedding of an incongruous and artificial clothing striping

signifies Nakedness as a natural vesture of woman resulting in the end to regaining a

perfectly chaste state of the flesh

• “Tease" - slowness of undressing using various tactics Delay tactics include

• Additional clothes being removed • Putting clothes or hands in front of just undressed body parts, such

as breasts or between the legs Emphasizing act of undressing with sexually suggestive movement Fantasy themes- schoolgirl uniform, maid's dress, policewoman's outfit,

cowboy hats etc. Continued dancing by nude dancers after undressing Similar to any mystifying spectacle, the decor, the props and the stereotypes

intervene to contradict the initially provocative intention revealed during undressing and eventually bury it in insignificance

Parameters used for analysis by Roland Barthes

Props• Adornments

The furs, The gloves The feathers The fishnet stockings, g-strings with diamonds or sequins Precious stones.

• Analysis Feathers, furs and gloves go on pervading the woman with their magical virtue even

once removed, and give her something like the enveloping memory of a luxurious shell

Precious stone is a symbol of the absolute object which serves no purpose G-String covered with diamonds or sequins which is the end of striptease.

Geometrical shape, hard and shiny material, bars the way to the sexual parts like a sword of purity

All signifiers together signify the living body belonging to the category of luxurious objects which surround man with a magical décor

Parameters used for analysis by Roland Barthes

Dance• Dancing which accompanies striptease from beginning to end is the faintly

rhythmical undulation and exorcizes the fear of immobility• Dance consists of ritual gestures which have been seen a thousand times

Acts on movements as a cosmetic Hides nudity Overpower the sight by too many yet essential gestures, as the act of

becoming bare is derogatory.• Dancing makes the dancer

Remote Icy indifferent like a skilful practitioner haughtily taking refuge in the

sureness of their technique

Parameters used for analysis by Roland Barthes

Décor- Ambience• The music-hall, mostly rounded up constantly

make the unveiled body more remote, and force it back into the all-pervading ease of a well-known rite

• Establishes women as an object in disguise

Clothing Woman is covered with a series of coverings which she pretends to strip

it bare. It signifies a woman as an object in disguise Shedding clothes signifies nakedness as natural vesture of women

Analysis Of Demi Moore Video

Clothing• Tie School girl clothes - Indicative of male fantasy• Stilettos – Feminine grace & walk and gives height• Unbuttoning & unzipping – With a very slow pace to appeal to the

voyeuristic gaze• Garter Belt – Symbolism to deflowering• Throwing clothes – Making the tease personal & satisfactory• Order of undressing• Hair opening• Color of clothing:

– Black, Red– Shining colors: Indicative of luxury, especially diamond studded

garments

Props

• Pole- it symbolizes the sexual organs, used as support while dancing

• Hat– As additional clothing to delay the action– Countryside, cowboy which symbolizes raw and wild

desire, – To hide the face so that emphasis is on the body– Untying of hair

• Cigar- Smoking, indicative of ‘loose’ women

Ambience & Dance• Dark with spotlight on the dancer: The attention should be only

on the dancer• Lights usually red or blue• Stage is present in the centre

– Ramp– Semicircular Seating so that the dancer is equidistant

• Chairs and round tables• Dance

– Provocative, aggressive gestures– Slow, curvy movements– Sexual positions

1970s : Husn Ke Lakhon Rang

1970s – Husn ke lakhon rang• Clothing

– Western– Red color– Boots– Head Scarf– Jewel crusted belt

• Undressing: – Untying hair– Slow, teasing

• Props:– No props

• Ambience & Dance:– Occurring in a criminal atmosphere– Aggressive dance– Use of the symbolic bull fight

• Plot & character– Male: Villain– Female: Victim, not the female lead

1980s: Ek to kam zindagani

Analysis• Clothing

– Western, with foreign girls– Black Color, Shining clothes to attract attention– Costumes relating to fantasies: Police women, Jane, Blonde girls– Boots, stilettos

• Undressing: – No undressing

• Props:– Caps– Whips– Bear, signifying evil, danger

• Ambience & Dance:– Different colors of spot lights

• Plot & character– Male: Frequented by criminals and negative characters– Female: Dancers are objects, not the female leads

1990s –Ye Jawani hadh kar de

Analysis• Clothing

– Western– Black Color, Shining clothes to attract attention– Boots, stilettos– Jewel crusted belt

• Undressing: – No undressing

• Props:– Hats– Poles

• Ambience & Dance:– Occurring in a criminal atmosphere– Suggestive movements– Commercial motive

• Plot & character– Male: Frequented by criminals and negative characters– Female: Bar dancers, have information i.e. connection to criminals

2000s -Ye raat..

Analysis• Clothing

– Western, Jacket, tie, trousers, shirt– Black, white, red, ends with golden bling dress Shining clothes to attract attention– The other girls wearing shining shirts– Stilettos

• Undressing: – Slow, conventional, bold– Throwing of clothes at the audience– Untying of hair

• Props:– Poles

• Ambience & Dance:– Blue lights, Spot lights on the dancer– Suggestive movements– Darkness, mystery is the motive

• Plot & character– Male: Frequented by criminals and negative characters, clandestine lovers– Female: Bar dancers, lovers of criminals

Late 00s Hey Baby

Analysis• Clothing

– Western, Jacket, tie, trousers, shirt– Black, white Police uniform with cap: Fantasy– The girls wearing shining outfits– Nurse outfit in the audience

• Undressing: – Slow, conventional, bold– Throwing of clothes at the audience

• Props:– Poles

• Ambience & Dance:– Blue lights, Spot lights on the dancer– Suggestive movements

• Plot & character– Male: All are lead characters, for a good cause– Female: Voyeuristic

Commonalities

• Lead characters never strip• Stripping is associated with negative or loose

characters• Distinct association with black, red & shine• Emphasis on the body & movements through spot

lights• Use of props• Fantasies galore

Changes

• We are moving closer to the western complete act

• Relatively more liberal- More tease, acceptance of male strippers

References

• Mythologies by Roland Barthes• Semiotics for Beginners • Youtube.com• Wikipedia

Thank you