Showgirls - Satire Requires Clarity of Purpose

Special thanks to Chelsea for commissioning this episode! You can find out more about commissions on our Patreon. Today we were set a daunting challenge: find something that hasn't yet been said about infamous cinematic trainwreck Showgirls. As the modern conversation swings from "reclaimed camp" to "was it in fact Good Actually all along" following the release of the documentary YOU DON'T NOMI, it felt like time to wade into those claims. What the hell was Showigirls trying to do, anyway? CONTENT WARNING: Discussion of racism, ableism, homophobia, misogyny, rape culture, sexual assault, whorephobia, fatphobia, drug use, ageism, and auteur bullshit. Showgirls! The Musical!: https://soundcloud.com/showgirlsthemusical You Don't Nomi: http://www.youdontnomifilm.com/ 0:30 Commission Stuff 3:00 Content Warnings 5:00 In Summary 18:30 Some Notes on Camp 24:00 Eszterhas v Verhoven 29:00 A Second Bite at Flashdance 40:00 Versayce (The Characterization Problem) 48:00 Showgirl History 52:00 Failed Satire Say hi to the team on twitter: @dorothynotgale, @writervrai Our icon was designed by Allison Shabet. Get bonus episodes on our Patreon: patreon.com/trashandtreasures Join us every two weeks on Soundcloud, iTunes or Stitcher – and if you’d leave a rating and review, so that more people can find their way to us, we’d appreciate it!