The film is set in the year of 1963, John F Kennedy was still president and the Vietnam War was not considered a threat, the Beatles had yet not reached America and the Freedom riders were on. In reality the well known and loved, cult girly film, and 'classic' romance was made in 1987. There have been many attempts throughout the film to represent the time in which it was set and yet there are clear indications that the film is of a more modern make. Essentially the film could be classed as both a dancing film and a romance in its genre. It aims to demythologise the myth of the American dream by portraying fundamental rifts within societies thinking. The idea of a relationship occurring between the workers (working class) and upper classes is not a new subject, yet it is obvious that many issues raised within the film, show a deep argument about moral ideas posed by sex.

The film opens with a stirring sound track with the montage of suggestive images in black and white gyrating across the screen. The viewer from the opening scenes maybe has an idea why the film is called dirty dancing. Right from the beginning it is clear that the majorit

Trowler, Paul. Investigating Mass Media. Unwin Hyman Limited, CollinsEducational. 1996

emely revealing dress revealing nearly all of her chest. This expression denotes an idea of almost prostitution and whores. This is echoed in the dancer Penny. She is always seen wearing red and her room is covered in red drapes. Her illegal abortion also raises the moral question posed to both Baby and the audience on the idea of sexual expressiveness and promiscuity rather than monogamy. The sound track even includes the song "Will you love me tomorrow?" and "She's like the wind" both hinting at the idea of wanton activities. 'Robbie-the-creep' is a good example of this. The Jewish upper class visitors, namely Baby's family, dislike him because he sleeps around. . Lisa taunts Baby with the threat of "humping" the entire army. The waiters are told, behind closed doors, to show the daughters a good time and the entertainment staff are strictly warned that "nothing else" should happen. They are all examples of Sexual promiscuity being seen in a bad light throughout t!

Both Baby and Penny show that this is not necessarily true. Penny explains that she doesn't 'sleep around'. The ideas that by portraying oneself as a being intent on sexual behaviour doesn't automatically mean licentious viewpoints. She confesses that she thought Robbie 'loved' her. Johnny also reveals that his previous flirtatious behaviour with female guests is simply for financial stability. There is an equal power share by the two lovers. He has previously dared her on two occasions to dance now she dares him. Previously she has been instructed to follow his lead. She now instigates movements and actions. He responds and they move in a fluid and uninterrupted 'dance' of sexual feelings. Neither gets any gain over the other.

Baby is witness to both rigid dance moves of dances such as the meringue and mambo as opposed to the highly erotic show of dancing of which is termed 'basement' by. The rigid dance

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