MovieChat Forums > Dirty Dancing (1987) Discussion > Jewish Girl's fantasy

Jewish Girl's fantasy

posted 8 years ago by cooler56
5 replies | jump to latest

This movie is a female form of the the "Jewish Romantic/Sexual Fantasy" Trope that was common in movies during the 80s.

We have Baby, from a progressive, yet well-off Jewish family. She basically comes of age in this film, and has to make her choice:

The rich, effeminate, immature, spoiled, weak, impotent, neurotic Jewish boy (that her family expects to marry).

or

The handsome, athletic, mature, uneducated, tall, blue-collar, rough, "bad-boy" shegetz (male version of Shiksa), who oozes charisma and sex appeal.

Clearly Johnny was the "taboo" choice. After all, why would someone like him be interested in a frumpy Jewish girl out of all people?

This film is about two opposites coming together. That is what makes it such a powerful romantic fantasy. The protagonist is able to overcome her "tradition" and embrace new social frontiers. After all, it's the 1960s!

[–] adamc (148) 3 years ago

Interesting. I'm from Europe, so I don't know everything there is to know about American culture.

Can you explain the movie 'Teen Wolf' too, please?

[–] Heisenberg (6730) 3 years ago

This request is pure genius.
I am still laughing.

[–] [deleted] 6 months ago

Teen Wolf is a coming-of-age story for jewish males. In Teen Wolf the jewish male passes through puberty and becomes extremely hairy and learns to embrace his hairiness.

[–] Furienna (3375) 3 years ago

It is very remarkable that I didn't get that they were Jewish until I read about in on the IMDB board.
But I guess that some things aren't that obvious to a non-American.

I think I would have gone for the "weak" neurotic boy though.
But I wouldn't have cared what ethnicity he was.

[–] leader (2103) 2 months ago

Ok but can we just admit this whole idea that you need to marry within your religion is just stupid?