Written by: Laura Salvaggio
I may be fighting a losing battle here, as even dictionary.com seems to miss the point. This could mean the death of theatre! I see the scary evolution trend happening with the beloved word theatre, but in the meantime, here are the technical rules:
The word theater can refer to a theater building, the art of theater, or even a home theater system.
The word theatre should always refer to the art form and only the art form.
A “home theatre system” is a travesty to the art of theatre. Unfortunately, evolution caused largely by capitalism is slowly causing the word theatre to be drained of all its meaning. Once completely drained of its meaning, why have the word theatre at all? This evolution could cause the death of the word theatre altogether.
I totally agree!!!
One of my pet peeves is the misuse and misrepresentation of the word Burlesque. It’s such a lovely word and it’s original meaning is dying out.
What annoys me even more is the amount of performers that actually
use the term and yet include no form of satire or parody within their performance… I have no problem with Tease as an art-form whether it is performed with or without the satire but it is NOT Burlesque by default
The origin of the term ‘burlesque’ is contentious with most citing the French burlesque, which was, in turn, borrowed from the Italian burlesco, derived from the Spanish burla (‘joke’) as its root. Its literal meaning is to ‘send up’.
Put simply, burlesque means “in an upside down style”. Like its cousin, commedia dell’arte, burlesque turns social norms head over heels. Burlesque is a style of live entertainment that encompasses pastiche, parody, and wit. The genre traditionally encompasses a variety of acts such as dancing girls, chanson singers, comedians, mime artists, and striptease artistes, all satirical and with a saucy edge. The striptease element of burlesque became subject to extensive local legislation, leading to a theatrical form that titillated without falling foul of censors.
A) A burlesque act does NOT have to end with a pair of nipple tassels
but ‘Classical Burlesque’ to be authentic and true to it’s origins
should include a parody or satire.
B) Following it’s re-emergence in early 20th Century America, the term “burlesque” was used loosely to describe adult revue shows in which striptease acts would perform—often with themes, characters or gimmicks—but classic striptease and “hootchy kootchy” dance were already forms in themselves and not automatically “burlesque” by default.
C) Seen one pair of nipple tassels … seen em all!
D) Taking ones clothes of in a coy and cheeky manner does not
necessarily make for interesting parody
anyway, now I have had my little rant i will go away again
xxx
Yes, I knew this and I always make that distinction since I work in Theatre. Thank You for making this clear for all those morons who think I’m just being pretentious by spelling it that way. ‘Wish I could SAY it that way!(but then I really would sound pretentious) Unfortunately, even as I write this the spel chekcer is telling me, “NO!! You are WRONK!”. That and Theatre is slowing dying in favor of movie theaters. LAME!
The English language is continually evolving, as are all other languages. Another ART word that it most near and dear to me has devolved as well, ‘Grotesque’. It was originally coined during the Italian Renaissance as a description of a NEW form of visual Art, a decorative (often sculptural) Art used in painting margins and in Architecture that ornamentally mixed human, animal, and plant forms, as well as some architectural elements. ‘Grotto’ for the “cave” in which this style was “discovered” which was really a recently excavated old Roman Palace called the “domus aurea”. And ‘-esque’ as in “in the spirit of”, a suffix we throw around alot nowadays. This was the first time Art was ceated for Art’s sake, without some religious or moral content. Which when you think about, is what the Renaissance was ALL ABOUT!
Anyways, it’s devolved over the last half millennia or so to just mean ugly, deformed, and generally disgusting. But if you research this word you will discover GREAT BEAUTY. In fact, you see it all over SF and OAK in the more beautiful buildings. I say it’s dear to me because this is my thing in sculpture and has been since college when a fantastic comparative literature teacher enlightened me on the subject. See? Even the horrible is gorgeous on some level. Theatre Rules!
Thank you for sharing; how intriguing!