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- Mulvey, L. (1999) "Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema". Film Theory and Criticism: Introductory Readings. Leo Braudy and Marshall Cohen. New York: Oxford UP

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- The opening to Madonna's 1993 world tour featured dancer Carrie Ann Inaba performing a routine topless on a tall go go pole as an opener to the show
- Madonna has always been vocal about her support of feminism so I think that her using this as an opener to her tour was done to subvert peoples views on the practice and empower those who partake in it

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MADONNA - Introduction Erotica (The Girlie Show) 1993 Remastered HD

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- This music video caused controversy among feminists, as they argued that it was glamorising stripping and that sort of lifestyle and also degrading to the women involved
- It utilises Laura Mulvey's Male Gaze theory, but does so in a way that is empowering to Rihanna and the women performing the pole dancing
- It was directed by Rihanna herself, making it empowering in a sense, which would not be the case had it been directed by a male

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- Wrote an essay titled 'Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema'
- Speaks about how in cinema women are portrayed as sexual objects for heterosexual males to gaze at and objectify
- "In a world ordered by sexual imbalance, pleasure in looking has been split between active/male and passive/female. The determining male gaze projects its phantasy on to the female figure which is styled accordingly." (Mulvey, 1999, p. 387)
- "In their traditional exhibitionist role women are simultaneously looked at and displayed, with their appearance coded for strong visual and erotic impact... Women displayed as sexual object is the leit-motiff of erotic spectacle: from pin-ups to striptease, from Ziegfeld to Busby Berkeley, she holds to look, plays to and signifies male desire." (ibid)

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- Many feminists argue that pole dancing promotes the objectification of women by men as it is typically found in the setting of a strip club
- They even shun it as a form of fitness or exercise because it glamorises this practice and makes it seem appealing to younger girls
- In opposition to this, new wave feminists argue that it is a way for women to reclaim their sexuality and it can't be referred to as objectification as it is a consensual act

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- Women aged between 21 and 38
- Including students, housewives, mothers etc.
- Reasons for taking the class included; keeping fit, gaining upper body strength, to have fun etc.
- The participants of the class were predominantly female (7) and one male (myself)

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- Vertical Fitness class at The Knights Templar Gym in Baldock, Hertfordshire
- I found it physically challenging, requires a lot of core strength
- Movement content was very sensual, mainly using legs and arms to support yourself on the pole

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- A fun and different way to keep fit
- A way for women to reclaim their sexuality and express themselves
- Ever growing social media/mainstream media presence

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- Originated from Indian sport called 'Mallakhamb' over 800 years ago
- In 1920's travelling circuses would feature pole dancing acts
- Since 1980's pole dancing has been combined with striptease routines, go go dancing and lap dancing
- Recently it has taken the form of a competitive sport and a means of exercise