Dita Von Teese & Lili St. Cyr: A Comparison Across Time and Genre
This module focuses on the careers of burlesque legends Lili St. Cyr and Dita Von Teese. I have been fascinated with Dita Von Teese for years, and upon researching burlesque, became intrigues by Lili St. Cyr because of the similarities I saw between her and Dita. Both of these performers have a legacy of their own, but the eras in which they lived have had a significant impact on their lives, views and careers. Burlesque and pin-up have both stood the test of time and are affected by the political and social culture in which they are practiced. In this vein, Dita and Lili had much different experiences throughout their careers. In this module, biographical information is given on both Lili and Dita, along with a synopsis and analysis of how the social and political atmospheres of the time impacted their careers.
Bettie Page, a famous pin-up and fetish star, was active during the same era as Lili St. Cyr, but in a different way. Bettie was a significant figure in the emerging underground fetish scene emerging during the 1940s and 1950s in America. Also, she greatly influenced Dita Von Teese throughout her career, and was able to gain a reputation because of the reminder she gave fans of pin-up and burlesque who were around during the time Bettie was prominent.
Burlesque, pin-up, and fetish culture are all aspects seen in the neo-burlesque movement we are currently experiencing, and all of these forms are present in Dita's career, as a neo-burlesque performer. She was heavily inspired by both Lili and Bettie, and gained popularity in part because of this.
In the following sections, a more in depth look will be taken in regard to these performers and their art.
