If the burlesque stripper with her bawdy spirit & unruly insubordination has emerged for many as a new empowering model for the sexually aware woman then she also strikes horror in the heart of second wave feminism. Embodied by high profile artistes such as Dita von Teese & Catherine DLish the explosive revival of striptease burlesque & overt female sexual performance has proved no less alluring to a new generation of women artists familiar with the provocative work of 70s performance artists such as Hannah Wilke & Carolee Schneeman. Eloquent on prettiness & power desire & knowingness money sex & class & with an extensive knowledge of burlesques rich tradition Willson raises long overdue questions about womens erotic expression within a postfeminist condition. The new burlesque demands above all a response
- this fresh brazen provocative book at last provides it.