Elizabeth Berkley Topless In Showgirls

Anatomy of a Nude Scene: ‘Showgirls’ And The Dangers Of High Camp

In our weekly series Anatomy of a Nude Scene, we’re going to be taking a look at (in)famous sex scenes and nude scenes throughout cinema history and examining their construction, their relationship to the film around it, and their legacy.

Enough time has passed since the release of Paul Verhoeven’s Showgirls that the film can finally be recognized for its achievements in the realm of high camp. It wasn’t always that way, though, and for many fans of the film, it still hasn’t earned enough respect for the pitch black and biting satire it reserves for the male-dominated entertainment industry.