SheDoneHimWrong:SpectacleandNarrative

quot;THEUNRULYWOMANGENDERandtheGENRESOFLAUGHTERquot;里关于MaeWest在“SheDoneHimWrong”表演的选摘。Theplotisn’tthemajorinterestinthefilm,however,butmerelyabackdropforWest’sperformance—as“Lou”andasactress/author/unrulywoman“MaeWest.”Thatperformancedisplaysanumberofmotifstraditionallyassociatedwiththeunrulywoman:acarnivalesqueopennesstowardsexuality;anironicattitudetowardromance;thepresentationofherself,especiallyhergenderedself,asvisualconstructorimage,createdthroughaperformanceoffemininitythatexaggeratesitsattributesandthusdenaturalizesit;andacomicgenderinversionthatreducesmentointerchangeablesexualobjectswhileacknowledging,asLoudoes,thatmenmaketherulesofthegame(“I’mjustsmartenoughtoplayittheirway,”shesays).West’sfamousinvitation—“Whydon’tyoucomeupandseeme?”—mocksnotonlyPuritanattitudestowardsexbutVictorianidealsoffemaledelicacyandsentimentality.AccordingtoBerger,businessinearlycapitalismwasoftenconductedinroomslinedwithpaintingsofpassivefemalenudes,whosedisplayofsexualdifferenceandavailabilityreassuredthebusinessmenoftheirownpower.Inthiscase,however,Westturnsthetablesonthemen,assertingbothherpowerover—anddesirefor—them.ShedrawsonwhatGaylynStudlardescribesasthemasochisticpleasuremenmayexperienceingivingthemselvesovertotheimageofafemalewhoevokestheall-powerfulmother.LoudisplayshersavvymanipulationofherimageandherabilitytoactivelycontrolthemazegazeinanearlyscenewithDanandthecrookedcouple,SergeandRita.Inherowncareer,Westbroughtelementsofburlesqueintothemoremiddle-classperformanceformofvaudeville.ShealludestotheconnectioninSheDoneHimWrong,whenachoruslineofbare-leggedwomenintroducesLou’ssingingact.Thefilm,infact,issetduringtheheydayofburlesque,when,asitsopeningtitlesremindus,“legswereconfidential.”Westwasunique,however,bothinhercontrolofherimageandinitsimpact.Assheexplainsinherautobiography,GoodnessHadNothingtoDoWithIt,“Ibecameawriterbytheaccidentofneedingmaterialandhavingnoplacetogetit.AtleastnotthekindofwritingIwantedformystageappearance....Yes,Ihadtocreatemyself,andtocreatethefullymatureimage,Ihadtowriteitouttobeginwith”(72).Thatimagetookonalifeofitsown,shenoted:FewpeopleknewthatIdidn’talwayswalkaroundwithahandononehip,orpushingatmyhairdressandtalkinglowandhusky.IhadcreatedakindofTwentiethCenturySexGoddessthatmockedanddelightedallvictimsandsoldiersofthegreatwarbetweenmenandwomen.Iwastheirbanner,theirfigurehead,anarticulateimage,andIcertainlyenjoyedthework.(163)Furthermore,theimageshedidcreatewasmultivalentandpowerful,consistentwiththetoposoffemaleunruliness.Whilesomereviewerspraisedherskillsasacomedianandherappealasanentertainer,Varietyreviewedheractintermsofthegrotesque:“Sheisoneofthemanyfreakpersonsonthevaudevillestagewherefreakishnessoftencarriesmoreweightthantalent.”