Cabaret ( French pronunciation: [kabaʁɛ] ) is a form of theatrical entertainment featuring music , song , dance , recitation , or drama . The performance venue might be a pub , a casino , a hotel , a restaurant , or a nightclub with a stage for performances. The audience, often dining or drinking, does not typically dance but usually sits at tables. Performances are usually introduced by a master of ceremonies (M.C.). The entertainment, as performed by an ensemble of actors and according to its European origins, is often (but not always) oriented towards adult audiences and of a clearly underground nature. In the United States, striptease , burlesque , drag shows , or a solo vocalist with a pianist, as well as the venues which offer this entertainment, are often advertised as cabarets.
110-578: The Folies Bergère ( French pronunciation: [fɔli bɛʁʒɛʁ] ) is a cabaret music hall in Paris , France. Located at 32 Rue Richer in the 9th Arrondissement , the Folies Bergère was built as an opera house by the architect Plumeret. It opened on 2 May 1869 as the Folies Trévise , with light entertainment including operettas , comic opera, popular songs, and gymnastics. It became
220-439: A 1980 law requiring the admission of women. For younger boys, lack of modesty might include public behavior as in 1909 when The New York Times reported that at an elementary school public swimming competition the youngest boys competed in the nude. Hygiene was given as the reason for official guidelines requiring nudity in indoor pools used only by men. Swimmers were also required to take nude showers with soap prior to entering
330-515: A basin attached to every cathedral. Both men and women were baptized naked, deaconesses performing the rite for women to maintain modesty. Until the fifth century CE, pagan nudity was associated with sex, Christian nudity with grace . Jesus was originally depicted nude as would have been the case in Roman crucifixions, but the Christian adoption of the pagan association of the body with sex prompted
440-420: A belt with a piece of string attached holding their foreskin shut over their glans penis . There was no shame or modesty attached to women's breasts, and therefore no garments devoted to concealing them; however, women did cover their pubic area in the presence of men, as exposing it was a cultural expression of anger and contempt. Pre-pubescent children wore no clothes at all. European colonists cited nudity as
550-420: A costume consisting of a skirt made of a string of artificial bananas and little else. The institution is still in business, and is still a strong symbol of French and Parisian life. The métro stations are Cadet and Grands Boulevards . Located at 32 Rue Richer in the 9th Arrondissement , and opened on 2 May 1869, the Folies Bergère, as the Folies Trévise , was built as an opera house , and patterned after
660-619: A decor described as "A sort of Beirut with Chinese influences." The composer Eric Satie , after finishing his studies at the Conservatory, earned his living playing the piano at the Chat Noir . By 1896, there were 56 cabarets and cafes with music in Paris, along with a dozen music halls. The cabarets did not have a high reputation; one critic wrote in 1897 that "they sell drinks which are worth fifteen centimes along with verses which, for
770-713: A form of protest, and those with power may impose nakedness on others as a form of punishment. While the majority of contemporary societies require clothing in public, some recognize non-sexual nudity as being appropriate for some recreational, social or celebratory activities, and appreciate nudity in the arts as representing positive values. A minority within many countries assert the benefits of social nudity , while other groups continue to disapprove of nudity not only in public but also in private based upon religious beliefs. Norms are codified to varying degrees by laws defining proper dress and indecent exposure . In general English usage, nude and naked are often synonyms for
880-574: A good deal of nudity . Shows also played up the "exoticness" of people and objects from other cultures, obliging the Parisian fascination with the négritude of the 1920s. In 1926 the facade of the theatre was given a complete make-over by the artist Maurice Pico [ fr ] . The facade was redone in Art Deco style, one of the many Parisian theatres of this period using the style. In 1936, Derval brought Baker from New York City to lead
990-470: A great deal of social commentary. When New York cabarets featured jazz, they tended to focus on famous vocalists like Nina Simone , Bette Midler , Eartha Kitt , Peggy Lee , and Hildegarde rather than instrumental musicians. Julius Monk 's annual revues established the standard for New York cabaret during the late 1950s and '60s. Cabaret in the United States began to decline in the 1960s, due to
1100-542: A human being unclothed, but take on many meanings in particular contexts. Nude derives from Norman French , while naked is from the Anglo-Saxon . To be naked is more straightforward, not being properly dressed, or if stark naked , entirely without clothes. Nudity has more cultural connotations, and particularly in the fine arts, positive associations with the beauty of the human body. Further synonyms and euphemisms for nudity abound, including " birthday suit ", " in
1210-421: A legal right in public and the workplace. Where public breastfeeding is unregulated or legal, mothers may be reluctant to do so because other people may object. The issue of breastfeeding is part of the sexualization of the breast in many cultures, and the perception of threat in what others perceive as non-sexual. Pope Francis came out in support of public breastfeeding at church services soon after assuming
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#17327721635401320-641: A loincloth for men and a skirt for women. The Tokugawa period in Japan (1603–1868) was defined by the social dominance of hereditary classes, with clothing a regulated marker of status and little nudity among the upper classes. However, working populations in both rural and urban areas often dressed only in fundoshi (similar to a loincloth ), including women in hot weather and while nursing. Lacking baths in their homes, everyone frequented public bathhouses where they were unclothed together. This communal nudity might extend to other activities in rural villages. With
1430-549: A natural curiosity about their own bodies and the bodies of others. The report recommended that parents learn what is normal in regard to nudity and sexuality at each stage of a child's development and refrain from overreacting to their children's nudity-related behaviors unless there are signs of a problem (e.g. anxiety, aggression, or sexual interactions between children not of the same age or stage of development). Problematic childhood behavior often takes place in daycare, rather than home environments. The general advice for caregivers
1540-600: A new genre of entertainment for the Folies Bergère: the music-hall revue . Women would be the heart of Marchand's concept for the Folies. In 30 November 1886, the Folies Bergère, staged the first revue-style music hall show Place au jeûne ! , featuring Alice Berthier [ fr ] and scantily clad chorus girls, was a tremendous success. In the early 1890s, the American dancer Loie Fuller starred at
1650-447: A person's membership in their society, thus nakedness meant being at the bottom of the social scale, lacking in dignity and status. In each culture, ornamentation represented the wearer's place in society; position of authority, economic class, gender role, and marital status. From the beginning of civilization, there was ambiguity regarding everyday nakedness and the nudity in depictions of deities and heroes indicating positive meanings of
1760-469: A protest by mothers. However, only the middle school required suits, the elementary schools in the same district continued to allow girls to swim nude. The public health recommendation of male nudity continued officially until 1962 but was observed into the 1970s by the YMCA and schools with gender segregated classes. The era of male nude swimming in indoor pools declined steadily as mixed-gender usage became
1870-576: A revival of American cabaret, particularly in New Orleans , Chicago , Seattle , Portland , Philadelphia , Orlando , Tulsa , Asheville, North Carolina , and Kansas City, Missouri , as new generations of performers reinterpret the old forms in both music and theater. Many contemporary cabaret groups in the United States and elsewhere feature a combination of original music, burlesque and political satire. In New York City, since 1985, successful, enduring or innovative cabaret acts have been honored by
1980-521: A ritual costume by association of the naked body with the beauty and power of the gods who were depicted as perfect naked humans. In Etruscan and early Roman athletics, in which masculinity involved prudishness and paranoia about effeminacy , the Greek traditions were not maintained because public nudity became associated with homoeroticism . In the Roman Empire (27 BCE – 476 CE), the status of
2090-472: A sensation at the Folies Bergère in a new revue, La Folie du Jour , in which she danced a number Fatou wearing a costume consisting of a skirt made of a string of artificial bananas and little else, and Un Vent De Folie (1927). Her erotic dancing and near-nude performances were renowned. The Folies Bergère catered to popular taste. Shows featured elaborate costumes; the women's were frequently revealing, practically leaving them naked, and shows often contained
2200-597: A sign of Māori racial inferiority , calling them "naked savages". On the islands of Yap State , dances by women in traditional dress that does not cover the breasts are now included in the Catholic celebration of Christmas and Easter. In Brazil, the Yawalapiti —an Indigenous Xingu tribe in the Amazon Basin —practice a funeral ritual known as Quarup to celebrate life, death and rebirth. The ritual involves
2310-489: A street of that name by the stage door. However, the fr:Duc de Trevise objected. on 13 September 1872, It became the Folies Bergère, named after a nearby street, Rue Bergère ("bergère" means "shepherdess"). In 1882, Édouard Manet painted his well-known painting A Bar at the Folies-Bergère which depicts a bar-girl, one of the demimondaines , standing before a mirror. In 1886, Édouard Marchand conceived
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#17327721635402420-545: Is Faceboyz Folliez , a monthly burlesque and variety show at the Bowery Poetry Club in New York City . Folies Bergère is mentioned in the movie, The Last Time I Saw Paris . Venues: Theatre groups: Shows: Cabaret The term originally came from Picard language or Walloon language words camberete or cambret for a small room (12th century). The first printed use of the word kaberet
2530-529: Is a gradual process of social learning similar to other forms of group socialization . However, philosopher Krista Thomason notes that negative emotions including shame exist because they are functional, and that human beings are not perfect. The meaning of the naked body in Judaism , Christianity , and Islam is based upon the Genesis creation narrative , but each religion has their own interpretation. What
2640-560: Is accepted as natural. In contemporary rural villages, both boys and girls are allowed to play totally nude, and women bare their breasts in the belief that the meaning of naked bodies is not limited to sexuality. Full or partial nudity is observed among some Burkinabese and Nilo-Saharan (e.g. Nuba and Surma people )—during particular occasions; for example, stick-fighting tournaments in Ethiopia. In Lagos, Nigeria , some parents continue to allow children to be naked until puberty. There
2750-620: Is accepted vary. Indigenous peoples retain pre-colonial norms to varying degrees. People in Western cultures may practice social nudity within the confines of semi-private facilities such as naturist resorts , while other seek more open acceptance of nudity in everyday life and in public spaces designated as clothing-optional. In the Islamic societies of Africa nudity is forbidden, while in sub-Saharan countries that never abandoned, or are reasserting, pre-colonial norms partial or complete nudity
2860-522: Is asserted in the adoption of traditional dress—young women wearing only beaded skirts and jewelry—in the Umkhosi Womhlanga (Reed Dance) by the Zulu and Swazi . Other examples of ethnic tourism reflect the visitor's desire to experience what they imagine being an exotic culture, which includes nudity. In Asian countries, rather than always being immoral or shameful, not being properly dressed
2970-742: Is associated with sin, criminality, and punishment. The strong connection of nudity to sex produces shame when naked in contexts where sexuality is deemed inappropriate. The connection of nakedness with the corruptibility of flesh and death may have biblical origins, but gained real world associations during epidemics in the Middle Ages. Confronted with this ambiguity, some individuals seek to resolve it by working toward greater acceptance of nudity for themselves and others. Although psychologist Keon West found positive effects from short-term participation in social nudity, such as an improved body image, sociologist Barbara Górnicka found that lasting change
3080-440: Is based upon the idea that nakedness is connected to nature positively as a form of egalitarianism , that all humans are alike in their nakedness. Nudity also represents freedom: the liberation of the body is associated with sexual liberation, although many naturists tend to downplay this connection. In some forms of group psychotherapy , nudity has been used to promote open interaction and communication. Religious persons who reject
3190-674: Is found in a document from 1275 in Tournai . The term was used since the 13th century in Middle Dutch to mean an inexpensive inn or restaurant ( caberet , cabret ). The word cambret , itself probably derived from an earlier form of chambrette , little room, or from the Norman French chamber meaning tavern, itself derived from the Late Latin word camera meaning an arched roof. Cabarets had appeared in Paris by at least
3300-477: Is now an issue with strangers taking photographs, and they worry about pedophiles, but want kids to grow up with a positive body image and have the same freedom they remember from their own childhood. The upper torso of women is not sexual due to the general acceptance of breastfeeding in Africa, while their legs are covered by skirts to a greater extent than by Western clothing. The revival of pre-colonial culture
3410-464: Is one of the changes that mark the end of the Neolithic and the beginning of civilization, between 7,000 and 9,000 years ago. Much of what is known about the early history of clothing is from depictions of the higher classes, there being few surviving artifacts. Everyday behaviors are rarely represented in historical records. Clothing and adornment became part of the symbolic communication that marked
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3520-687: Is one of the changes that occurred in the late Paleolithic (40,000 to 60,000 years ago) in which humans became not only anatomically modern, but also behaviorally modern and capable of self-reflection and symbolic interaction. More recent studies place the use of adornment at 77,000 years ago in South Africa, and 90,000—100,000 years ago in Israel and Algeria. While modesty is a factor, often overlooked purposes for body coverings are camouflage used by hunters, body armor, and costumes used to impersonate "spirit-beings". The current empirical evidence for
3630-470: Is part of both Shintoism and Buddhism in Japan. Purification in the bath is not only for the body, but the heart or spirit ( kokoro ). Public baths ( sentō ) were once common, but became less so with the addition of bathtubs in homes. Sentō were mixed gender ( konyoku ) until the arrival of Western influences, but became segregated by gender in cities. Nudity is required at Japanese hot spring resorts ( onsen ). Some resorts continue to be mixed gender, but
3740-420: Is perceived as a breach of etiquette (loss of face ) in most situations, while nakedness may be part of maintaining purity by public bathing, or expressing rejection of worldliness including clothes. In contemporary China, while maintaining the traditions of modest dress in everyday life, the use of nudity in magazine advertising indicates the effect of globalization. In much of Asia, traditional dress covers
3850-445: Is reflected in its many meanings, often expressed in the metaphors used to describe cultural values, both positive and negative. One of the first—but now obsolete—meanings of nude in the 16th century was "mere, plain, open, explicit" as reflected in the modern metaphors "the naked truth" and "the bare facts". Naturists often speak of their nakedness in terms of a return to the innocence and simplicity of childhood. The term naturism
3960-532: Is shared by all was various degrees of modest dress and the avoidance of nakedness. The meaning of the creation myth is inconsistent with a philosophical analysis of shame as an emotion of reflective self-assessment which is understood as a response to being seen by others, a social context that did not exist. The response of Adam and Eve to cover their bodies indicates that upon gaining knowledge of good and evil, they became aware of nakedness as intrinsically shameful, which contradicts their intrinsic goodness "before
4070-536: Is the Kleinkunstacademie (English: Cabaret Academy). It is often a mixture of (stand-up) comedy, theatre, and music and often includes social themes and political satire. In the mid twentieth century, "the big three" were Wim Sonneveld , Wim Kan , and Toon Hermans . Nowadays, many cabaret shows of popular "cabaretiers" (performers of cabaret) are broadcast on national television, especially on New Year's Eve, when several special cabaret shows are aired where
4180-606: The Alhambra music hall in London by the architect, Plumeret , who was a building inspector of the crown The term "folies" refers to pleasure houses, vacation homes built from the end of the 18th century near large cities to discreetly shelter the adulterous loves of the bourgeoisie and aristocrats. It opened on 2 May 1869 as the Folies Trévise , with light entertainment including operettas , opéra comique (comic opera), popular songs, and gymnastics. The original name because of
4290-533: The Croix de Lorraine on the modern rue Bourg-Tibourg. In 1773, French poets, painters, musicians and writers began to meet in a cabaret called Le Caveau on rue de Buci, where they composed and sang songs. The Caveau continued until 1816, when it was forced to close because its clients wrote songs mocking the royal government. In the 18th century, the café-concert or café-chantant appeared, which offered food along with music, singers, or magicians. The most famous
4400-536: The Grateful Dead . A handful of music halls exist today in Paris, attended mostly by visitors to the city; and a number of more traditional cabarets, with music and satire, can be found. In the Netherlands, cabaret or kleinkunst (literally: "small art") is a popular form of entertainment, usually performed in theatres. The birth date of Dutch cabaret is usually set at August 19, 1895. In Amsterdam, there
4510-622: The New Kingdom of Egypt (1550–1069 BCE), that functionaries in the households of the wealthy began wearing refined dress, and upper-class women wore elaborate dresses and ornamentation which covered their breasts. These later styles are often shown in film and TV as representing Ancient Egypt in all periods. Male nudity was celebrated in ancient Greece to a greater degree than any culture before or since. The status of freedom, maleness, privilege, and physical virtues were asserted by discarding everyday clothing for athletic nudity. Nudity became
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4620-885: The Tropicana Resort & Casino in Las Vegas , which opened in 1959, closed at the end of March 2009 after nearly 50 years in operation. In the 1930s and '40s the impresario Clifford C. Fischer staged several Folies Bergere productions in the United States. These included the Folies Bergère of 1939 at the Broadway Theater in New York and the Folies Bergère of 1944 at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco . A recent example
4730-534: The Alhambra Music Hall in 1902, and the Printania in 1903. The Printania, open only in summer, had a large music garden which seated twelve thousand spectators, and produced dinner shows which presented twenty-three different acts, including singers, acrobats, horses, mimes, jugglers, lions, bears and elephants, with two shows a day. In the 20th century, the competition from motion pictures forced
4840-752: The Body" given in 1979, Pope John Paul II said that the innocent nudity of being before the fall is regained only between loving spouses. In daily life, Christianity requires clothing in public, but with great variation between and within societies as to the meaning of "public" and how much of the body is covered. Finnish Lutherans practice mixed nudity in private saunas used by families and close-knit groups. While maintaining communal nudity, men and women are now often separated in public or community settings. Certain sects of Christianity through history have included nudity into worship practices, but these have been deemed heretical . There have been Christian naturists in
4950-512: The Champs-Élysées opened in 1946, presenting Édith Piaf, Laurel and Hardy , Shirley MacLaine , Marlene Dietrich , Maurice Chevalier , and Noël Coward . The Crazy Horse Saloon , featuring striptease, dance, and magic, opened in 1951. The Olympia Paris went through a number of years as a movie theater before being revived as a music hall and concert stage in 1954. Performers there included Piaf, Dietrich, Miles Davis , Judy Garland , and
5060-407: The Folies Bergère on 13 September 1872, named after nearby Rue Bergère. The house was at the height of its fame and popularity from the 1890s' Belle Époque through the 1920s. Revues featured extravagant costumes, sets and effects, and often nude women. In 1926, Josephine Baker , an African-American expatriate singer, dancer and entertainer, caused a sensation at the Folies Bergère by dancing in
5170-578: The Folies Bergère. In 1902, illness forced Marchand to leave after 16 years. In 1918, Paul Derval [ fr ] (1880–1966) made his mark on the revue. His revues featured extravagant costumes, sets and effects, and "small nude women". Derval's small nude women would become the hallmark of the Folies. During his 48 years at the Folies, he launched the careers of many French stars including Maurice Chevalier , Mistinguett , Josephine Baker , Fernandel and many others. In 1926, Baker, an African-American expatriate singer, dancer, and entertainer, caused
5280-433: The Greek classical and later Abrahamic traditions has resulted in Western ambivalence, with nudity acquiring both positive and negative meanings in individual psychology, in social life, and in depictions such as art. The conservative versions of these religions continue to prohibit public and sometimes also private nudity. While public modesty prevails in more recent times, organized groups of nudists or naturists emerged with
5390-520: The Netherlands went through the same period of feminist activism in the 1960s–70s, but Dutch men were generally more open to the idea of gender equality, there being a prior history of regarding sexuality as healthy and normal, including nudity not always being sexual. A report issued in 2009 on child sexual development in the United States by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network asserted that children have
5500-578: The Papacy. Historically, men and boys bathed and swam nude in secluded rivers and lakes. In England when sea bathing became popular in the 18th century, beaches were initially male only, but with the easier access of the 19th century due to rail transportation, the mixing of genders became a problem for authorities. The addition of " bathing machines " at seaside resorts was not successful in maintaining standards of decency, men often continuing to be nude while women wore bathing costumes. However, public concern
5610-503: The United States promotes equal rights for women to be naked above the waist in public on the same basis that would apply to men in the same circumstances. Advocates of topfreedom view its illegality as the institutionalization of negative cultural values that affect women's body image. The legal justifications for topfreedom include equal protection , the right to privacy , and freedom of expression . The law in New York State
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#17327721635405720-542: The United States since the 1920s, but as a social and recreational practice rather than part of an organized religion. Islamic countries are guided by rules of modesty that forbid nudity, with variations between five schools of Islamic law. The most conservative is the Hanbali School in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, where the niqab , the garment covering the whole female body and the face with a narrow opening for
5830-437: The altogether " and " in the buff ". Partial nudity may be defined as not covering the genitals or other parts of the body deemed sexual, such as the buttocks or female breasts . Two human evolutionary processes are significant regarding nudity; first the biological evolution of early hominids from being covered in fur to being effectively hairless, followed by the sociocultural evolution of adornments and clothing. In
5940-708: The annual Bistro Awards. The Cabaret Theatre Club, later known as The Cave of the Golden Calf , was opened by Frida Strindberg (modelled on the Kaberett Fledermaus in Strindberg's native Vienna) in a basement at 9 Heddon Street, London, in 1912. She intended her club to be an avant-garde meeting place for bohemian writers and artists, with decorations by Jacob Epstein , Eric Gill , and Wyndham Lewis , but it rapidly came to be seen as an amusing place for high society and went bankrupt in 1914. The Cave
6050-408: The association of nudity with sin regarding sexuality began with Judeo-Christian societies, spreading through Europe in the post-classical period. Traditional clothing in temperate regions worldwide also reflect concerns for maintaining social status and order, as well as by necessity due to the colder climate. However, societies such as Japan and Finland maintain traditions of communal nudity based upon
6160-459: The body, such garments might be removed in public for practical or ceremonial purposes. Children until puberty and sometimes women until marriage might be naked. All humans lived in hunter-gatherer societies until 20,000 years ago, and they were naked. In the tropical regions of Africa, Australia, the Americas and Southeast Asia, this way of life continued until a few hundred years ago. Perhaps
6270-568: The cabaretier usually reflects on large events of the past year. German Kabarett developed from 1901, with the creation of the Überbrettl ( Superstage ) venue, and by the Weimar era in the mid-1920s, the Kabarett performances were characterized by political satire and gallows humor . It shared the characteristic atmosphere of intimacy with the French cabaret from which it was imported, but
6380-434: The clothing of Christ. Some clerics went further, to hatred and fear of the body, insisting that monks sleep fully dressed. Christian theology rarely addresses nudity, but rather proper dress and modesty. Western cultures adopted Greek heritage only with regard to art, the ideal nude. Real naked people remained shameful, and become human only when they cover their nakedness. In one of a series of lectures entitled "Theology of
6490-1455: The club. . . . the question of the legality of these vouchers led to a famous visitation of the police. That was the night a certain Duke was got out by way of the kitchen lift . . . The visitation was a well-mannered affair' One of the main gathering centers of cabarets in Tehran (Iranian capital) was Laleh-Zar Street . Famous Persian cabarets were active in the city until 1979 . They also introduced many domestic artists. In common language, cabaret sometimes called by Iranians "home of dance" (In Persian : رقاصخانه ) or "dancing place". In Stockholm , an underground show called Fattighuskabarén ( Poor House Cabaret ) opened in 1974 and ran for 10 years. Performers of later celebrity and fame (in Sweden) such as Ted Åström , Örjan Ramberg , and Agneta Lindén began their careers there. Wild Side Story also had several runs in Stockholm, at Alexandra's (1976 with Ulla Jones and Christer Lindarw ), Camarillo (1997), Rosenlundsteatern/Teater Tre (2000), Wild Side Lounge at Bäckahästen (2003 with Helena Mattsson ) and Mango Bar (2004). Alexandra's had also hosted AlexCab in 1975, as had Compagniet in Gothenburg . In 2019
6600-691: The continued existence of the last music hall which remained faithful to the tradition. Since 2006, the Folies Bergère has presented some musical productions with Stage Entertainment like Cabaret (2006–2008) or Zorro (2009–2010). The Folies Bergère inspired the Ziegfeld Follies in the United States and other similar shows, including the Teatro Follies in Mexico and a long-standing revue, The Las Vegas Folies Bergere , at
6710-609: The dance halls to put on shows that were more spectacular and more complex. In 1911, the producer Jacques Charles of the Olympia Paris created the grand staircase as a setting for his shows, competing with its great rival, the Folies Bergère which had been founded in 1869. Its stars in the 1920s included the American singer and dancer Josephine Baker . The Casino de Paris , directed by Leon Volterra and then Henri Varna, presented many famous French singers, including Mistinguett, Maurice Chevalier , and Tino Rossi . Le Lido on
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#17327721635406820-810: The end of the century, there were only a few cabarets of the old style remaining where artists and bohemians gathered. They included the Cabaret des noctambules on Rue Champollion on the Left Bank; the Lapin Agile at Montmartre; and Le Soleil d'or at the corner of the quai Saint-Michel and boulevard Saint-Michel, where poets including Guillaume Apollinaire and André Salmon met to share their work. The music hall , first invented in London, appeared in Paris in 1862. It offered more lavish musical and theatrical productions, with elaborate costumes, singing, and dancing. The theaters of Paris, fearing competition from
6930-531: The entire body, similar to Western dress. In stories written in China as early as the fourth century BCE, nudity is presented as an affront to human dignity , reflecting the belief that "humanness" in Chinese society is not innate, but is earned by correct behavior. However, nakedness could also be used by an individual to express contempt for others in their presence. In other stories, the nudity of women, emanating
7040-516: The eyes, is widespread. Hands are also hidden within sleeves as much as possible. The burqa , limited mainly to Afghanistan, also has a mesh screen which covers the eye opening. Different rules apply to men, women, and children; and depend upon the gender and family relationship of others present. In Western cultures, shame can result from not living up to the ideals of society with regard to physical appearance. Historically, such shame has affected women more than men. With regard to their naked bodies,
7150-448: The fall". According to German philosopher Thorsten Botz-Bornstein , interpretations of Genesis have placed responsibility for the fall of man and original sin on Eve, and, therefore, all women. As a result, the nudity of women is deemed more shameful personally and corrupting to society than the nakedness of men. The meaning of nudity for early Christians was the baptism , which was originally by full immersion and without clothes in
7260-518: The final years of the Partitions of Poland . In the interwar Poland there was a considerable number of Yiddish -language cabarets. This art form was called kleynkunst (lliterally "small art") in Yiddish. In post- war Poland, it is almost always associated with the troupe (often on tour ), not the venue ; pre-war revue shows (with female dancers) were long gone. American cabaret
7370-496: The first 90,000 years of pre-history, anatomically modern humans were naked, having lost their body hair and living in hospitable climates. As humans became behaviorally modern , body adornments such as jewelry, tattoos, body paint and scarification became part of non-verbal communications, indicating a person's social and individual characteristics. Indigenous peoples in warm climates used clothing for decorative, symbolic or ceremonial purposes but were often nude, having neither
7480-489: The first Serbian cabaret club Lafayette opened. Although Serbia and Belgrade had a rich nightlife and theater life there was no cabaret house until 2019. It retained the intimate atmosphere, entertainment platform, and improvisational character of the French cabaret but developed its own characteristic gallows humour. By the late 1920s the German cabaret gradually had come to feature mildly risque musical entertainment for
7590-510: The gallows humor was a distinct German aspect. The Polish kabaret is a popular form of live (often televised ) entertainment involving a comedy troupe, and consisting mostly of comedy sketches , monologues , stand up comedy , songs and political satire (often hidden behind double entendre to fool censors ). It traces its origins to Zielony Balonik , a famous literary cabaret founded in Kraków by local poets, writers and artists during
7700-488: The last uncontacted hunter-gatherers are the community of a few hundred individuals on one of the Andaman Islands . The Europeans who first contacted tropical peoples reported that they were unashamedly naked, only occasionally wrapping themselves in capes in colder weather. Many pastoral societies in warmer climates are also minimally clothed or naked while working. This practice continued when western clothing
7810-399: The late 15th century. They were distinguished from taverns because they served food as well as wine, the table was covered with a cloth, and the price was charged by the plate, not the mug. They were not particularly associated with entertainment even if musicians sometimes performed in both. Early on, cabarets were considered better than taverns; by the end of the sixteenth century, they were
7920-441: The legal definition of indecent exposure . In the United States, the exposure of female nipples is a criminal offense in many states and is not usually allowed in public. Individual women who have contested indecency laws by baring their breasts in public assert that their behavior is not sexual. In Canada, the law was changed to include a definition of a sexual context in order for behavior to be indecent. The topfreedom movement in
8030-503: The middle-class man, as well as biting political and social satire. It was also a centre for underground political and literary movements. [...] They were the centres of leftist of opposition to the rise of the German Nazi Party and often experienced Nazi retaliation for their criticism of the government. Nudity Nudity is the state of being in which a human is without clothing . While estimates vary, for
8140-546: The most part, are worth nothing." The traditional cabarets, with monologues and songs and little decor, were replaced by more specialized venues; some, like the Boite a Fursy (1899), specialized in current events, politics and satire. Some were purely theatrical, producing short scenes of plays. Some focused on the macabre or erotic. The Caberet de la fin du Monde had servers dressed as Greek and Roman gods and presented living tableaus that were between erotic and pornographic. By
8250-612: The music halls, had a law passed by the National Assembly forbidding music hall performers to wear costumes, dance, wear wigs, or recite dialogue. The law was challenged by the owner of the music hall Eldorado in 1867, who put a former famous actress from the Comédie-Française on stage to recite verse from Corneille and Racine. The public took the side of the music halls, and the law was repealed. The Moulin Rouge
8360-533: The need to protect the body from the elements nor any conception of nakedness being shameful. In many societies, both ancient and contemporary, children might be naked until the beginning of puberty. Women may not cover their breasts if they were associated with nursing babies more than with sexuality. In the ancient civilizations of the Mediterranean, from Mesopotamia to the Roman Empire, proper attire
8470-656: The norm, and sped up following the passage of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 . Eventually all pools use became mixed-gender, and in the 21st century, the practice of male nude swimming is largely forgotten, or denied as having ever existed. Social acceptance of mixed gender nudity due to sauna culture is associated with greater gender equality, which is highest in Iceland, Norway, Finland and Sweden (the US being #53 of 153 countries listed). America and
8580-427: The number is declining as they cease to be supported by local communities. In Korea , bathhouses are known as Jjimjilbang . Such facilities may include mixed-sex sauna areas where clothing is worn, but bathing areas are gender segregated; nudity is required in those areas. In Russia , communal banyas have been used for over a thousand years, serving both hygienic and social functions. Nudity and mixed sex usage
8690-561: The opening of Japan to European visitors in the Meiji era (1868–1912), the previously normal states of undress, and the custom of mixed public bathing, became an issue for leaders concerned with Japan's international reputation. A law was established with fines for those that violated the ban on undress. Although often ignored or circumvented, the law had the effect of sexualizing the naked body in situations that had not previously been erotic. Public bathing for purification as well as cleanliness
8800-653: The origin of clothing is from a 2010 study published in Molecular Biology and Evolution . That study indicates that the habitual wearing of clothing began at some point in time between 170,000 and 83,000 years ago based upon a genetic analysis indicating when clothing lice diverged from their head louse ancestors. A 2017 study published in Science estimated that anatomically modern humans evolved 350,000 to 260,000 years ago. Thus, humans were naked in prehistory for at least 90,000 years. The habitual use of clothing
8910-399: The past there have been several theories regarding why humans lost their fur, but the need to dissipate body heat remains the most widely accepted evolutionary explanation. Less hair, and an increase in eccrine sweating , made it easier for early humans to cool their bodies when they moved from living in shady forest to open savanna . The ability to dissipate excess body heat was one of
9020-497: The pool, in order to eliminate contaminants and inspect swimmers to prohibit use by those with signs of disease. During women's weekly swim hours, simple one-piece suits were allowed and sometimes supplied by the facility to insure hygiene; towels were also supplied. Compared to the acceptance of boys being nude, an instance in 1947 where girls were given the same option lasted only six weeks in Highland Park, Michigan before
9130-639: The power of yin , could nullify the yang of aggressive forces. In India, the conventions regarding proper dress do not apply to monks in some Hindu and Jain sects who reject clothing as worldly. Although overwhelmingly male, there have been female ascetics such as Akka Mahadevi who refused to wear clothing. In Bangladesh , the Mru people have resisted centuries of Muslim and Christian pressure to clothe their nakedness as part of religious conversion. Most retain their own religion, which includes elements of Buddhism and Animism , as well as traditional clothing:
9240-467: The preferred place to dine out. In the 17th century, a clearer distinction emerged when taverns were limited to selling wine, and later to serving roast meats. Cabarets were frequently used as meeting places for writers, actors, friends and artists. Writers such as La Fontaine , Moliere and Jean Racine were known to frequent a cabaret called the Mouton Blanc on rue du Vieux-Colombier, and later
9350-408: The presentation of all young girls who have begun menstruating since the last Quarup and whose time has come to choose a partner. The Awá hunters , the male members of an Indigenous people of Brazil living in the eastern Amazon rainforest , are "completely naked except for a piece of string decorated with bright bird feathers tied to the end of their penises". This minimalist dress code reflects
9460-433: The relative lack of body coverings was one of the first things explorers noticed when they encountered Indigenous peoples of the tropics. Non-western cultures during the period were naked only by comparison to Western norms. The genitals or entire lower body of adults were covered by garments in most situations, while the upper body of both men and women might be unclothed. However, lacking the western concept of shame regarding
9570-410: The result is a tendency toward self-criticism by women, while men are less concerned by the evaluation of others. In patriarchal societies, which include much of the world, norms regarding proper attire and behavior are stricter for women than for men, and the judgements for violation of these norms are more severe. In much of the world, the modesty of women is a matter not only of social custom but of
9680-400: The revue En Super Folies . Michel Gyarmathy [ de ] , a young Hungarian arrived from Balassagyarmat , his hometown, designed the poster for En Super Folies , a show starring Baker in 1936. This began a long love story between Michel Gyarmathy, Paris, the Folies Bergère and the public of the whole world which lasted 56 years. The funeral of Paul Derval was held on 20 May 1966. He
9790-753: The right to be briefly nude in public as a form of expression protected by the First Amendment , but not on a continuing basis for their own comfort or enjoyment as men are allowed to do. In 2020 the US Supreme Court refused to hear the appeal of three women after the New Hampshire Supreme Court found that the state law does not discriminate against women because it bans nudity, which has traditionally included female breasts. Breastfeeding in public may be forbidden in some jurisdictions, unregulated in others, or protected as
9900-458: The rising popularity of rock concert shows, television variety shows , and general comedy theaters. However, it remained in some Las Vegas-style dinner shows, such as the Tropicana , with fewer comedy segments. The art form still survives in various musical formats, as well as in the stand-up comedy format, and in popular drag show performances. The late 20th and early 21st century saw
10010-405: The social connotations of low status and deprivation rather than shame regarding sexuality. Slaves might not be provided with clothing. Other workers would be naked while performing many tasks, particularly if hot, dirty, or wet; farmers, fishermen, herders, and those working close to fires or ovens. Only the upper classes were habitually dressed. It was not until the later periods, in particular
10120-546: The spirit of the hunt and being overdressed may be considered ridiculous or inappropriate. The Western world inherited contradictory cultural traditions relating to nudity in various contexts. The first tradition came from the ancient Greeks, who saw the naked body as the natural state and as essentially positive. The second is based upon the Abrahamic religions —Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—which view being naked as shameful and essentially negative. The interaction between
10230-425: The stated purpose of regaining a natural connection to the human body and nature, sometimes in private spaces but also in public. Naturism in the United States, meanwhile, remains largely confined to private facilities, with few "clothing optional" public spaces compared to Europe. In spite of the liberalization of attitudes toward sex, Americans remain uncomfortable with complete nudity. The moral ambiguity of nudity
10340-416: The things that made possible the dramatic enlargement of the brain, the most temperature-sensitive human organ. Some of the technology for what is now called clothing may have originated to make other types of adornment, including jewelry , body paint , tattoos , and other body modifications , "dressing" the naked body without concealing it. According to Mark Leary and Nicole Buttermore, body adornment
10450-485: The unclothed body. The social humiliation of nakedness was not associated with sin or shame regarding sexuality, which was unique to Abrahamic societies. For millennia from Mesopotamia to the Middle Kingdom of Egypt the majority of men and women wore a cloth wrapped or tied to cover the lower part of the body. Both men and women would be bare-chested and barefoot . Complete nakedness was embarrassing due to
10560-564: The upper classes was such that nudity was of no concern for men, and for women only if seen by their social superiors. At the Roman baths ( thermae ), which had social functions similar to a modern beach, mixed nude bathing may have been the norm up to the fourth century CE. The encounter between the Indigenous cultures of Africa, the Americas and Oceania with Europeans had a significant effect on all cultures. Because clothing and body adornments are such an important part of cultural meaning,
10670-542: The use of baths and saunas that provided alternatives to sexualization . The spread of Western concepts of modest dress was part of colonialism, and continues today with globalization. Contemporary social norms regarding nudity reflect cultural ambiguity towards the body and sexuality, and differing conceptions of what constitutes public versus private spaces. Norms relating to nudity are different for men than they are for women. Individuals may intentionally violate norms relating to nudity; those without power may use nudity as
10780-433: The world as it is including all possessions may practice nudism, or use nakedness as a protest against an unjust world. Many of the negative associations of nakedness are the inverse of positive ones. If nudity is truth, nakedness may be an invasion of privacy or the exposure of uncomfortable truths, a source of anxiety. To be deprived of clothes is punishment, humiliating and degrading. Rather than being natural, nakedness
10890-617: Was Le Chat Noir in the bohemian neighborhood of Montmartre , created in 1881 by Rodolphe Salis , a theatrical agent and entrepreneur. It combined music and other entertainment with political commentary and satire. The Chat Noir brought together the wealthy and famous of Paris with the bohemians and artists of Montmartre and the Pigalle . Its clientele "was a mixture of writers and painters, of journalists and students, of employees and high-livers, as well as models, prostitutes and true grand dames searching for exotic experiences." The host
11000-479: Was 86 and had reigned supreme over the most celebrated music hall in the world. His wife Antonia, supported by Michel Gyarmathy, succeeded him. In August 1974, the Folies Antonia Derval passed on the direction of the business to Hélène Martini , the empress of the night (25 years earlier she had been a showgirl in the revues). This new mistress of the house reverted to the original concept to maintain
11110-399: Was Salis himself, calling himself a gentleman- cabaretier ; he began each show with a monologue mocking the wealthy, ridiculing the deputies of the National Assembly, and making jokes about the events of the day. The cabaret was too small for the crowds trying to get in; at midnight on June 10, 1885, Salis and his customers moved down the street to a larger new club at 12 rue de Laval, which had
11220-595: Was challenged in 1986 by nine women who exposed their breasts in a public park, which led to nine years of litigation culminating with an opinion by the Court of Appeals that overturned the convictions on the basis of the women's actions not being lewd, rather than overturning the law as unconstitutional on the basis of equal protection , which is what the women sought. While the decision gave women more freedom to be topfree (e.g. while sunbathing ), it did not give them equality with men. Other court decisions have given individuals
11330-508: Was first introduced; for example Aboriginal Australians in 1819 wore only the jackets they were given, but not pants. Western ambivalence could be expressed by responding to the nakedness of natives as either a sign of rampant sexuality or of the innocence that preceded the " fall of man ". Norms related to nudity are associated with norms regarding personal freedom , human sexuality , and gender roles , which vary widely among contemporary societies. Situations where private or public nudity
11440-510: Was imported from French cabaret by Jesse Louis Lasky in 1911. In the United States, cabaret diverged into several different styles of performance mostly due to the influence of jazz music. Chicago cabaret focused intensely on the larger band ensembles and reached its peak during Roaring Twenties , under the Prohibition Era , where it was featured in the speakeasies and steakhouses . New York cabaret never developed to feature
11550-598: Was nevertheless an influential venture, which introduced the concept of cabaret to London. It provided a model for the generation of nightclubs that came after it. "The clubs that started the present vogue for dance clubs were the Cabaret Club in Heddon Street . . . . The Cabaret Club was the first club where members were expected to appear in evening clothes. . . . The Cabaret Club began a system of vouchers which friends of members could use to obtain admission to
11660-685: Was only regarding adults, it being generally accepted that boys at English beaches would be nude. This prompted complaints by visiting Americans, but Englishmen had no objection to their daughters being fully dressed on the beach with naked boys. In the United States and other Western countries for much of the 20th century, male nudity was the norm in gender segregated activities including summer camps, swimming pools and communal showers based on cultural beliefs that females need more privacy than males. Beginning in 1900, businessmen swam nude at private athletic clubs in New York City, which ended with
11770-572: Was opened in 1889 by the Catalan Joseph Oller. It was greatly prominent because of the large red imitation windmill on its roof, and became the birthplace of the dance known as the French Cancan . It helped make famous the singers Mistinguett and Édith Piaf and the painter Toulouse-Lautrec , who made posters for the venue. The Olympia , also run by Oller, was the first to be called a music hall; it opened in 1893, followed by
11880-551: Was required to maintain social standing. The lower classes might possess a single piece of cloth that was wrapped or tied to cover the lower body; the lowest classes including slaves might be naked. However, through much of Western history until the modern era , people of any status were also unclothed by necessity or convenience when engaged in labor and athletics; or when bathing or swimming. Such functional nudity occurred in groups that were usually but not always segregated by sex . Although improper dress might be socially embarrassing,
11990-693: Was the Cafe des Aveugles in the cellars of the Palais-Royal , which had a small orchestra of blind musicians. In the early 19th century, many cafés-chantants appeared around the city; the most famous were the Café des Ambassadeurs (1843) on the Champs-Élysées and the Eldorado (1858) on boulevard Strasbourg. By 1900, there were more than 150 cafés-chantants in Paris. The first cabaret in the modern sense
12100-478: Was typical for much of this history. Bathing facilities in homes threatened the existence of public banyas, but social functions maintained their popularity. Prior to the European colonization of New Zealand , Māori people went naked or partially clothed in casual settings as the climate allowed, although they did wear clothing to keep out the weather and denote social status. Men frequently wore nothing but
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