Dirty Dancing (1987) is remembered as a feminist awakening, a sexual coming-of-age story, and one of the most beloved romances in pop culture history—but how does it hold up when we really look at it? In this episode of The Problematic Gaze, we revisit the summer of ’63 through an ’87 lens, unpacking age gaps, power dynamics, class politics, reproductive rights, and the film’s complicated ideas about masculinity and desire. Is Dirty Dancing quietly radical, deeply troubling, or somehow both at once? Nobody puts this rewatch in a corner.

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Dr Lee and Dave are having the week off! Before our next week's episode on 'Dirty Dancing', here's an episode from last year for our Gazers new and old to enjoy!

Greetings from PG Towers! Join social historian Dr Lee Arnott and TV Producer Dave Moor for a lighthearted look at the world of TV, Film and Popular Culture from yesteryear that has since been considered problematic. This week we cast our Gaze over high school musical 'Grease' from 1978. The Travolta phenomenon steps up a gear and Olivia Newton John hops aboard. Many a teen girls and gays favourite. Euphoric, innocent fun? Or perhaps a darker representation of teens, cultural morals and gender roles.

Also, Dr Lee bursts Dave's 'fake it till you make it bubble'. And just who is the Sandra Dee, and who is the Rizzo in this friendship.

You can watch Grease on many media formats in the UK and across the globe!

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Please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts. They really help to spread the word of The Problematic Gaze.

And if our fellow Gazers want to comment on what they've heard in our episodes, or to suggest future topics, please email us at theproblematicgaze@gmail.com. We love hearing from you!

Welcome to The Problematic Gazette, a bonus addition to our main show. Our Dave and Dr Lee chew the fat, read out Gazer comments and discuss things we've seen, read and heard this week.

To watch video versions of our full episodes check out The Problematic Gaze YouTube channel here!

Click here to follow us on all our socials

Please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts. They really help to spread the word of The Problematic Gaze.

And if our fellow Gazers want to comment on what they've heard in our episodes, or to suggest future topics, please email us at theproblematicgaze@gmail.com. We love hearing from you!