Sweet Charity Flashcards
Hey Big Spender
Use of musicality- drums her fingers against her back in time with the rattle in music.
Dancers lean forward towards men at the end and return to their starting position- reflects the idea of them trying to seduce men.
We are watching from the males perspective-this links to the idea of objectification of women.
Rich Mans Frug
Reflects the idea of aristocracy and mimicking the upper classes through the movement.
Tiger in the cage-represents the idea of wealth and power.
Walk- legs are extended out in front of them as their heads are tilted up in the air which indicates the idea that upper classes believe that they are better than everyone else- takes on the theme of discrimination towards upper classes.
Use of head nods forward and to the side- links to the similar idea of upper classes being above everyone else and having power.
There’s gotta be something better than this
Can be used to link to the influence of Robbins onto Fosse as it has clear links to “America” from West Side Story-Latin influence through inverted arms with palms facing out, use of shaking skirts, stamping, claps, “C” jump-clear influence of Fosse’s style, the use of physical setting-rooftop is the exact same.
If They Could See Me Now
-The use of hat and cane as she swings the door shut with both hands on the cane and hat on her head and then she swings her hips towards the door to close it-hat and cane are fosse’s key stylistic features.
-Shadow in the spotlight reflects Fosse’s use of fingers as her thumb is on the bottom of the edge of her hat and her index finger is on top with her three other fingers splayed out as she marches on the spot, facing the spotlight.
-Use of shoulder isolations-she travels in a small circle around herself with her left hand holding the cane extended it in front of her whilst her right shoulder rolls backwards with her right hand on her hip.
Rhythm of Life
-1960s hippie culture highlighted in movement content-shaking with fixed gaze which can be used to convey the idea that they are on drugs.
-Cult behaviours- all members of this cult are surrounding “Big Daddy” in a circle and are following his lead- for example they join in with him as he says “flip” and then “fly” which highlights his power that he has over these members. Furthermore, we see Charity getting involved with the cult as he asks them to crawl and she does as such. This further highlights the idea of 1960s hippie behaviours and the power that the leaders have over the members.
I’m A Brass Band
-Similarities to If My Friends Could See Me Now with the use of finger isolation on the hat (use of hats and white gloves-stylistic feature). However, we are introduced to a calmer style within Fosse’s style through the balletic features.
-Tear drop hands-(same phrase as in Dam Yankees), she is marching to the right with her left arm across her body as she extends her right arm in front of her with this “tear drop hand” each time she drops onto her right leg to bring her left leg up to retiree.
“Big Spender”-narrative
-Nickie, Helene and girls are trying to get a man to choose them as his escort.
“Big Spender”-stylistic features(8)
-hip movements
-turned in feet/legs
-use of wrists/hand movements
-snaps
-isolations
-bent knees
-sharp movements
-hunched over
“Rich Man’s Frug”-narrative
-making a mockery of wealth
“Rich Man’s Frug”-stylistic features
-use of wrists
-bent knees
-grounded movement
-use of hips
-isolations-hips, head, chest
-contracted
-vocals
“if my friends could see me now”-stylistic features
-beats at the same time as music
-use of hips
-bent knees
-use of shoulders
-props-canes and hat
-turned in
-grounded
-jazz hands
“there’s got to be something better than this”-narrative
-reflecting on how they don’t want to be taxi dancers anymore and trying to remove themselves from this life
“there’s got to be something better than this”-stylistic features
-use of dresses
-grounded has elevated movements-crescent jump
-flicks
-accents on beats
-coming out of reality
-combined seamlessly with latin dance
“the rhythm of life”-narrative
idea of cult of hippies as they bow down to the leader
“the rhythm of life”-stylistic features
-bent knees
-flexes of feet
-snaps
-crescent shape
-use of wrists
-accented movements on beats
