Deconstructing Showgirls.

Artist and the Making of Meaning. Only a ridiculously liberal arts school would have such a class offering. But there I was, taking the class, faced with the onerous task of coming up with a "piece of art" to analyze in lieu of a final exam. A piece of art. The professor gave us wide range: music, film, painting, sculpture, dance. Any piece of art would suffice.

What did I choose to analyze?

The movie Showgirls.

I've included an excerpt from the twenty page paper for your edification.

Nomi's relationship with Cristal takes on erotic undretones and shows how neither one of them has a true identity, especially as women. Cristal maintains that the two of them are the same person:

"It tastes like dog food," Nomi tells Cristal, speaking of brown rice and vegetables.

"I used to eat dog food," is Cristal's response. Long time ago..."

"Really? I used to eat dog food, too."

"Doggy Chow."

"I loved Doggy Chow."

At first blush, this conversation seems like a complete non sequitor. Then the meaning seems to jump right out of the television set: both them were poor, lost girls. Both of them came from the same place, along with all the other faceless, nameless women in n the world. All of those women, sitting together, eating Doggy Chow.