The works in "Uncontrollalble Bodies" is relevant to this project in that the selections offer insights into ways in which different entertainment works could lead one to a greater personal understanding. The work looks at the ways in which we are influenced by external as well as internal influences and lends helpful insight into the ways in which these differences can be mainfested in a particularly memorable entertainment work. "Uncontrollable Bodies" suggests that we are influenced by both biological and hegemonic factors, that is that we each possess drives that come from within us(a result of our emotional and physiological processes) as well as drives from our external world or outside inlfuences. Within the framework of our project, the essays were written as if the authors were working on projects one and two simultaneously in that they introduced their personal account and influential entertainment work together. Thus from "Uncontrollable Bodies" we can learn how to better relate our personal situation to that of our entertainment work and also how to identify symbolic images that have retained significant importance for us throughout our lives.

In "Dense Moments" by Gregg Bordowitz, the author relates his personal experience by telling directly of his feelings and the impact that outside influences or views had on him as an HIV-positive gay man. He identifies several ideological categories that have been ingrained in him as correct with respect to the way society views them. For Bordowitz, society accepted that which was white, male, anglo-saxon, protestant, middle-class and heterosexual. Needless to say this view of hegemonically "acceptable" lifestyles were a sharp contradiction to the life that Bordowitz led. This relates to my project in that the main character in flashdance is well below middle-class and working tirelessly as a welder and a nightclub dancer, all in the hopes to someday legitimize her efforts by dancing professionally. She is a woman in a man's world in more ways than one as she is supervised by men, is surrounded by entirely male co-workers, and is watched by the same man at night when she dances. This relates to how Bordowitz felt the part of an outsider in a world which regarded homosexuality and AIDS as reprehensible. Bordowitz goes on to talk of his father's death and he juxtaposes this reference with a story of Evel Kneivel's attempt to conquer the Snake River Canyon. The physical gap of the Snake River Canyon represents the emotional gap Bordowitz felt with his father. This relates to "Flashdance" in that throughout the film the character is portrayed as very masculine, strong-willed, and defiant. However, in a particularly memorable scene, the very masculinity and strength that society would characterize as unsophisticated or unattractive in a female, is the source of strength, confidence and aesthetic beauty for the main character. In so far as the gap in Bordowitz''s work in represented in two different forms, so too is the masculinity and defiant qualities within the main character in "Flashdance."

In "Revenge of The Leech Woman" by Vivian Sobchak, the author parallels the aging process and the realization that one is getting older with the effect of horror movies. It is important to look at the details in this essay and they way in which they relate to our project. Sobchak views herself as a scary woman as she goes through the aging process, "This image-which correspondingly brings a subjective flush of shame and humiliation to my cheeks for the pity and unwilling horror and contempt with which I objectively regard hers- is that of an aging woman who not only deceives herself into thinking she is still young enough to wear makeup and poorly applies it, but who also inscribes upon her face the caricature both of her own desire and of all that was once (at least to some) desirable. Solchek then, through her application of rouge and makeup attempts to hide the reality that she is getting older. For her, the rouge is a rememberance of her youthful beauty, she covers up her face to hide that which society views as unattractive or undesireable. In contrast, in the dinner scene mentioned above, the main character in "Flashdance" removes her outer jacket and reveals her bare shoulders exposed through the sleeves of a man's tuxedo vest. This while lipstick was a symbol through which Sobchak sought to cover up the aging process, in "Flashdance" masculinity of the men's vest juxtaposed with the femininity of the character's shoulders uncovers images of confidence and strength.

"Revenge of The Leech Woman" bears further relevance to our project in that it chronicles the way in which Sobchak saw herself within her entertainment work. As she saw herself aging and the futility in the application of makeup to hide the aging process she identified herself with the leech woman in the horror movie. For the purposes of project two, we must also seek an identification of self within the film. This is not to suggest that Solchak literally viewed herself as a monstrous leech woman but instead it is a reflection of her chaging views on beauty and her own personal appearance. For the purposes of the project I identified myself with the main character of "Flashdance" in that even in a situaion where even the most secure of individuals might find themselves feeling slightly uncomfortable, she asserted her identity even more strongly, exuding confidence, attitude and inner strength all the while.