FLASHDANCE                                                           

1983

DIRECTED BY ADRIAN LYNE

STARING JENNIFER BEALS

 

On April 15, 1983 the release of “Flash Dance” a romantic drama film that was a surprise box office hit, changed the future for women, fashion, and Archetypes. (Rosebenburg, 2018)  History was made by an unknown actress, Jennifer Beals, who has influenced the world forever.  How did such a low budget film made such an impact on the world.

 

There is a trifecta of influences that changed the persona for what people were expecting from a woman in a motion picture.  The texture and contrast from two drastically different worlds were blended into one amazing woman. This movie was based on the real life of a women Maureen Marder.

 

The first shock was that women could do what was known to be a man’s job in this case she was a welder.  Not only could a woman do hard work, she can also be beautiful, talented, and sexy.

By day a blue color hard working American woman but by night an exotic dancer.  “Alex” Jennifer charter name, is proving to the world that with hard work, focus and dedication you can go after your dreams. 

Her true dreams are to be a professional dancer but her own self-doubt from not being from an upper-class society was holding her back.  Although, she goes on to break the barrier into the world of dance by bringing in a variety of different dance styles into her performance.  She had classical ballet, hip hop, break dancing, and even some night club moves to captivate and intrigue from the judges.                                                                                                             

The shock on the face of the judges as she not only shows talent of traditional dance but breaks the conservative restraints and brings modern dance and a force of sexiness that could not be denied even by the most conservative judge to be amazing.

Don’t think things ever went easy for the lead actress, “Alex”, she struggled for acceptance from the elite dancers.  She had to work harder than the well-trained dancer, but this showed the average American women you can do anything you want if you put your mind to it.  She shatters the restraints that women were put in. The future of everyday life in America was forever changed as women started going out and joining men in the workforce which was traditionally held by men.

Motion pictures typically always pair couples off by income, class, ethnic background but Flash Dance once again brought “Alex” to the spotlight showing that a hardworking girl can appeal to a man of different upbringing.

This box office hit changes the expected texture in the movie world.  It took women out of the soft gentle world and present her in a tough industrial setting.  It took sexy in a whole new light when Jennifer/” Alex” sweatshirt was ripped and off her shoulder.    The fashion world saw how beautiful this look could be and designed future top fashion inspired by that scene alone.

By then end it of the movie the gap was closed and the realization that a woman can be whatever she desires from a welder to a professional dance.  It also shows romance can happen between any two people is we see what on the inside and not judge by what we see on the outside.

 

Taking chances and using your imagination can pay off.  In this case this 1983 hit was the 3rd highest grossing film in 1983. They used techniques such as making scenes within the move resemble music videos.  This technique influenced future films such as Top Gun, Purple Rain, and Footloose. Flash dance was nominated for 25 awards and won 10 that year. (Wikipedia, n.d.)

In conclusion, this box office hit was a surprise even the critics which gave it bad reviews back in 1983.  Roger Ebert even put it on his most hated movies list. Not only did the movie do well its music soundtrack Flash dance including “Maniac” and “What a feeling” sold over 700,000 copies in the first two weeks.  It turns out America loved the working girl beauty make her life the way she wanted.

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                  

 

 

 

 

References

Rosebenburg, S. (2018, April 15). Lifetime. Retrieved from https://www.mylifetime.com/she-did-that/april-15-1983-flashdance-was-released-forever-changing-film-fashion-and-female-archetypes

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flashdance