Life Drawing class as Burlesque show
October 29, 2006 9:14 AM Subscribe
"Two years of twisting my back for 15 bucks an hour as an artist's model convinced me that modern sketch classes weren't nearly as sexy as they were cracked up to be."
Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School, hosted in Brooklyn and with branches around the World , gives artists the chance to draw burlesque performers like The World Famous *BOB* , Dirty martini , and Amber Ray , and make real pretty pictures . A return to glory days? Or just another tired trend?
Oh, and there is a book.
(Possibly NSFW if your job doesn't like pasties. )
Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School, hosted in Brooklyn and with branches around the World , gives artists the chance to draw burlesque performers like The World Famous *BOB* , Dirty martini , and Amber Ray , and make real pretty pictures . A return to glory days? Or just another tired trend?
Oh, and there is a book.
(Possibly NSFW if your job doesn't like pasties. )
Too bad this isn't happening in the Bay Area, I'd love to go.
posted by lekvar at 9:36 AM on October 29, 2006
posted by lekvar at 9:36 AM on October 29, 2006
From what I can tell from never having visited a burlesque performance here in the Vancouver area, the ones here are more about goth and seriousness than the comedy that I find so enjoyable in those clips.
That's too bad. I think Tristan Risk is from Vancouver, but I don't know if she's funny as well as just really pretty.
One thing This or That did that I love them for forever is their Lady or the Tiger joke. A contestant has to choose between two doors. Behind one, a lovely blond girl ready to give him a lapdance. Behind the other, Tigger in a cocksock, also ready to give him a lapdance. Combining nudity with literary geekfests wins this girl's heart every time.
posted by juliarothbort at 9:51 AM on October 29, 2006
That's too bad. I think Tristan Risk is from Vancouver, but I don't know if she's funny as well as just really pretty.
One thing This or That did that I love them for forever is their Lady or the Tiger joke. A contestant has to choose between two doors. Behind one, a lovely blond girl ready to give him a lapdance. Behind the other, Tigger in a cocksock, also ready to give him a lapdance. Combining nudity with literary geekfests wins this girl's heart every time.
posted by juliarothbort at 9:51 AM on October 29, 2006
Too bad this isn't happening in the Bay Area, I'd love to go.
That's wierd that it isn't though. I always thought the bay area had the monopoly on sexy wierdness in the USA ; )
posted by juliarothbort at 9:52 AM on October 29, 2006
That's wierd that it isn't though. I always thought the bay area had the monopoly on sexy wierdness in the USA ; )
posted by juliarothbort at 9:52 AM on October 29, 2006
Too bad this isn't happening in the Bay Area, I'd love to go.
start one.
posted by YoBananaBoy at 10:33 AM on October 29, 2006
start one.
posted by YoBananaBoy at 10:33 AM on October 29, 2006
I don't know; personally, I'd pay *BOB*, Dirty martini, and Amber Ray to keep their clothes ON. Tired, old, stretched out flesh is about as appealing as an inner tube.
ESPECIALLY when those inner tubes are posed and painted in grotesque parodies of humans that might have been, at one time, actually sexy...
posted by Chasuk at 11:36 AM on October 29, 2006
ESPECIALLY when those inner tubes are posed and painted in grotesque parodies of humans that might have been, at one time, actually sexy...
posted by Chasuk at 11:36 AM on October 29, 2006
Tired, old, stretched out flesh is about as appealing as an inner tube.
Yeah, women are totally used up by their late twenties/early thirties. They should wear masks!
posted by juliarothbort at 11:41 AM on October 29, 2006
Yeah, women are totally used up by their late twenties/early thirties. They should wear masks!
posted by juliarothbort at 11:41 AM on October 29, 2006
Chasuk -- Body / Youth Nazi alert! There are plenty of "hot babes" who haven't got the verve or originality in any of those performers' little fingers. But you know, there's a world outside of porn.
posted by gorgor_balabala at 11:55 AM on October 29, 2006
posted by gorgor_balabala at 11:55 AM on October 29, 2006
That's fine. We'll just get Chasuk to post some of the pics from his burlesque show. I'm sure we'll be enthralled and amazed. As far as my physique goes? I don't critique others since I'm still amazed anyone wants to see me naked...
posted by Samizdata at 12:01 PM on October 29, 2006
posted by Samizdata at 12:01 PM on October 29, 2006
Masks? No, that would only cover their faces.
For the record, I love burlesque. I've been to drag shows and strip clubs all over the world. I understand the elements of self-satire and lampooning that exist in the art form. However, there does come a time when a burlesque performer should gracefully retire, and that time comes when you resemble what you parody.
Age, the enemy of us all, brings us all low. Based on the photographic evidence, *BOB* and Dirty martini were, long ago, brought low.
Not even Mae West could carry it off towards the end.
I do make a hypocritical exception for Dolly Parton, whom I adore too much to criticize.
Tristan Risk is hot.
posted by Chasuk at 12:17 PM on October 29, 2006
For the record, I love burlesque. I've been to drag shows and strip clubs all over the world. I understand the elements of self-satire and lampooning that exist in the art form. However, there does come a time when a burlesque performer should gracefully retire, and that time comes when you resemble what you parody.
Age, the enemy of us all, brings us all low. Based on the photographic evidence, *BOB* and Dirty martini were, long ago, brought low.
Not even Mae West could carry it off towards the end.
I do make a hypocritical exception for Dolly Parton, whom I adore too much to criticize.
Tristan Risk is hot.
posted by Chasuk at 12:17 PM on October 29, 2006
My burlesque show? Yuck. I'm approximately 270 pounds, 5' 10", with Homer Simpson's belly. I'd pay myself to keep my clothes on. No, there is no self-loathing involved here, just a recognition of reality. I'm not hot. I used to be, but I got fat and old.
posted by Chasuk at 12:25 PM on October 29, 2006
posted by Chasuk at 12:25 PM on October 29, 2006
We saw *BOB* and Dirty Martini do their show at the Warhol museum last year and I don't think that they were really trying for sexy. It was comedy/performance art (with naked women); the MC was a 6' tall man in a blue bunny costume after all. You don't go to such a thing expecting 20 year old strippers with fake boobs.
posted by octothorpe at 12:34 PM on October 29, 2006
posted by octothorpe at 12:34 PM on October 29, 2006
However, there does come a time when a burlesque performer should gracefully retire, and that time comes when you resemble what you parody.
Huh? What do you think they're parodying? To me, one of the things parodied in burlesque is prudishness or society's standards of what is sexy. That is, people with attitudes similar to those you've expressed above. You've been to "strip clubs" world-wide? Why are you equating that with burlesque? If you think burlesque == scantily clad women, you're missing the point and obviousy have never seen Martini or BOB perform.
I mean, to think that you can access the value of a burlesque performer by looking at a photo is absurd. Do you do the same thing with actors, authors, comedians, and other artists?
Back on topic: thanks for the link. I hadn't heard of this.
posted by dobbs at 12:37 PM on October 29, 2006
Huh? What do you think they're parodying? To me, one of the things parodied in burlesque is prudishness or society's standards of what is sexy. That is, people with attitudes similar to those you've expressed above. You've been to "strip clubs" world-wide? Why are you equating that with burlesque? If you think burlesque == scantily clad women, you're missing the point and obviousy have never seen Martini or BOB perform.
I mean, to think that you can access the value of a burlesque performer by looking at a photo is absurd. Do you do the same thing with actors, authors, comedians, and other artists?
Back on topic: thanks for the link. I hadn't heard of this.
posted by dobbs at 12:37 PM on October 29, 2006
Okay, I concede. My apologies to everyone. I love drag shows, and those are usually what I attend. Dobbs is absolutely correct when stating "one of the things parodied in burlesque is prudishness or society's standards of what is sexy." Drag is all about stretching that principle to its maximum limit. I know that, so in retrospect I'm not certain why I reacted the way that I did.
Octothorpe: Fake boobs? Nah, those are gross. But the rest of your point still stands, and I was being a jerk.
posted by Chasuk at 12:58 PM on October 29, 2006
Octothorpe: Fake boobs? Nah, those are gross. But the rest of your point still stands, and I was being a jerk.
posted by Chasuk at 12:58 PM on October 29, 2006
Wait a minute, did someone just admit they were wrong and apologize?
I'm sorry, that was a dead giveaway. This is a fake internet. Just wait'll I find out what happened to the real one!
posted by aubilenon at 1:31 PM on October 29, 2006
I'm sorry, that was a dead giveaway. This is a fake internet. Just wait'll I find out what happened to the real one!
posted by aubilenon at 1:31 PM on October 29, 2006
Very classy, Chasuk.
posted by interrobang at 1:34 PM on October 29, 2006
posted by interrobang at 1:34 PM on October 29, 2006
Thank you, Chasuk. Classy indeed.
posted by juliarothbort at 1:43 PM on October 29, 2006
posted by juliarothbort at 1:43 PM on October 29, 2006
Uh oh... Did I just see a fundy rising naked up into the clouds? Crap!
posted by maryh at 2:01 PM on October 29, 2006
posted by maryh at 2:01 PM on October 29, 2006
I'm not convinced that those three dancers aren't actually men.
posted by Mayor Curley at 2:23 PM on October 29, 2006
posted by Mayor Curley at 2:23 PM on October 29, 2006
*BOB* describes herself as a "female female impersonator". huh?
posted by clevershark at 2:35 PM on October 29, 2006
posted by clevershark at 2:35 PM on October 29, 2006
I would love to see real tradititional style burlesque but it is not coming to my small town anytime soon. Some of the women at the local stripjoint tried to bring a little art to the place but it never seemed to catch on. I don't go there anymore. Molly Crabapples art brightend my day bigtime.
posted by Iron Rat at 2:41 PM on October 29, 2006
posted by Iron Rat at 2:41 PM on October 29, 2006
Chasuk - Done with style and grace. Many kudos and a tip of the hat to you.
(Coming from one of the lumpy ones... (Who was also a jerk - I so should not MeFi from work...)
posted by Samizdata at 2:43 PM on October 29, 2006
(Coming from one of the lumpy ones... (Who was also a jerk - I so should not MeFi from work...)
posted by Samizdata at 2:43 PM on October 29, 2006
I've had the luck of attending two different parties which were brought to a dead standstill Dirty Martini'a act. When she dances, you don't know which part of her to focus on, because everything is moving in a way you didn't expect-- a sort of rediscovery of the female body. And you can bet that she can get those tassles going in opposite directions. A person doesn't have to be your ideal physical type in order to be sexually powerful-- considering what Dirty is capable of doing with those curves, yout comment doesn't have a leg to stand on, Chasuk.
posted by hermitosis at 3:00 PM on October 29, 2006
posted by hermitosis at 3:00 PM on October 29, 2006
Or just another tired trend?
I'm inclined to vote tired trend -- my personal experience is that Vancouver's East side was putting on classic Burlesque nights monthly in 2000, and probably peaked about 3 years ago. They're still around, but now it's 'classy' downtown and west side joints that are selling them to the yupp-ish crowd.
Dirty 80's beardy-skid house parties are where it's at now. Everyone's traded in their wingtips for 1982 Sekine road bikes.
posted by Extopalopaketle at 3:20 PM on October 29, 2006
I'm inclined to vote tired trend -- my personal experience is that Vancouver's East side was putting on classic Burlesque nights monthly in 2000, and probably peaked about 3 years ago. They're still around, but now it's 'classy' downtown and west side joints that are selling them to the yupp-ish crowd.
Dirty 80's beardy-skid house parties are where it's at now. Everyone's traded in their wingtips for 1982 Sekine road bikes.
posted by Extopalopaketle at 3:20 PM on October 29, 2006
MetaFilter: Just another tired trend.
posted by Faint of Butt at 5:37 PM on October 29, 2006
posted by Faint of Butt at 5:37 PM on October 29, 2006
Kickstart70 - I've been to a few burlesque shows in Vancouver, specifically The Fluffgirl Burlesque (MySpace link, alas), and I think only one performer did a goth routine. All the rest were different (tiki, sailor, waitress, etc.) themes. It was pretty fun to watch, and everybody - audience & performers - had a good time.
posted by Zack_Replica at 6:15 PM on October 29, 2006
posted by Zack_Replica at 6:15 PM on October 29, 2006
Thanks Zack...it's probably just bad advertising on their part then. I've been turned off by their posters and other mentions so I never persued going.
(Now that I'm a father of a baby and about to move into the Interior, I don't expect I'll get the chance anyway)
posted by Kickstart70 at 6:35 PM on October 29, 2006
(Now that I'm a father of a baby and about to move into the Interior, I don't expect I'll get the chance anyway)
posted by Kickstart70 at 6:35 PM on October 29, 2006
Just because it's a trend that's over 2 years old doesn't make it tired. At the danger of permanently dangering my reputation, I enjoy looking at hot, curvy women. And I'll continue to do so, even after all the yuppies have gone on to stare at some new faddish thing.
There, I said it.
posted by Deathalicious at 7:57 PM on October 29, 2006
There, I said it.
posted by Deathalicious at 7:57 PM on October 29, 2006
Holy crap. I think I know *BOB* from my misspent youth! If she's who I think she is, she gave me a mohawk once!
posted by lekvar at 1:03 AM on October 30, 2006
posted by lekvar at 1:03 AM on October 30, 2006
*BOB* describes herself as a "female female impersonator". huh?
That's nothing. Dianne Torr does a show in which she, as a drag king, recreates her dead brother's drag queen act. To recap, she's a female male impersonator impersonating a male female impersonator.
posted by jack_mo at 6:18 AM on October 30, 2006
That's nothing. Dianne Torr does a show in which she, as a drag king, recreates her dead brother's drag queen act. To recap, she's a female male impersonator impersonating a male female impersonator.
posted by jack_mo at 6:18 AM on October 30, 2006
34 comments and still no jonmc? Man, that guy is slipping...
posted by hincandenza at 2:20 PM on October 30, 2006
posted by hincandenza at 2:20 PM on October 30, 2006
Well, he did just get married. He might have other things on his mind.
posted by lekvar at 3:30 PM on October 30, 2006
posted by lekvar at 3:30 PM on October 30, 2006
Isn't anyone going to comment about the main link?
modern sketch classes weren't nearly as sexy as they were cracked up to be. Where was the romanticism? The booze-and-hot-chicks fantasy so many of us went to art school for?
Even if she's joking, I fail to find humour there.
posted by digitalis at 9:18 PM on October 30, 2006
modern sketch classes weren't nearly as sexy as they were cracked up to be. Where was the romanticism? The booze-and-hot-chicks fantasy so many of us went to art school for?
Even if she's joking, I fail to find humour there.
posted by digitalis at 9:18 PM on October 30, 2006
"Even if she's joking, I fail to find humour there."
Sounds like you probably fail to find humor on a regular basis.
I thought the whole idea of burlesque art drawing was rather brilliant, and yes, humorous.
posted by dirtylaundry at 2:11 PM on October 31, 2006
Sounds like you probably fail to find humor on a regular basis.
I thought the whole idea of burlesque art drawing was rather brilliant, and yes, humorous.
posted by dirtylaundry at 2:11 PM on October 31, 2006
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I hope This or That starts putting up some new clips from their shows. Anyone know if new shows are even happening?
From what I can tell from never having visited a burlesque performance here in the Vancouver area, the ones here are more about goth and seriousness than the comedy that I find so enjoyable in those clips.
Oh, and TWF*B* and Dirty Martini both have shows in them, if you're interested.
posted by Kickstart70 at 9:21 AM on October 29, 2006