Rhetorical analysis of Strip Club Owners
Michael Reich
Clint Buffington
WRD 111
2/29/2012
Rhetorical analysis of Strip Club Owners
This country was founded on the ideals of freedom and those freedoms were somewhat clearly defined the day the US Constitution was drafted. That being said, people and judges in every state of the union have a different interpretation of what these freedoms are. This is the case for the strip club owners in the state of Kentucky, although they are not the only state to be under fire from the city governments. The main issue at hand is that city officials are being pressured to restrict strip clubs from the practices that have formed their business and this is ultimately impacting the customer base seeking this entertainment avenue. Strict laws force people to push the envelope to ensure they meet their basic needs. I will try to define the exact issue that club owners are facing today and how they are doing whatever it takes to ensure their business doors stay open. Past history shows, that just because some good or service is taken away from a demanding customer; the result is not always the intended one.
The struggle between strip club owners and city officials is not exactly a new development. Year after year, in cities all across the nation, club owners are facing city council members working to issue new zoning regulations. A major US Supreme Court case, which happened in 1991 and was Barnes v. Glen Theatre, Inc., laid the foundation for future cases because of its decision. Ultimately it ruled that the state had the right to regulate the use of expressive conduct, and in Justice Souter’s words, “nudity itself is not inherently expressive conduct.” (Barnes) Souter was merely saying that it wasn’t an issue of being nude, but one of being nude and dancing erotically. This paved the way for more cities to go after club owners and force them to ensure their performers were wearing a proper amount of clothing. Scott Lindsay, co-owner of the Godfather
Clint Buffington
WRD 111
2/29/2012
Rhetorical analysis of Strip Club Owners
This country was founded on the ideals of freedom and those freedoms were somewhat clearly defined the day the US Constitution was drafted. That being said, people and judges in every state of the union have a different interpretation of what these freedoms are. This is the case for the strip club owners in the state of Kentucky, although they are not the only state to be under fire from the city governments. The main issue at hand is that city officials are being pressured to restrict strip clubs from the practices that have formed their business and this is ultimately impacting the customer base seeking this entertainment avenue. Strict laws force people to push the envelope to ensure they meet their basic needs. I will try to define the exact issue that club owners are facing today and how they are doing whatever it takes to ensure their business doors stay open. Past history shows, that just because some good or service is taken away from a demanding customer; the result is not always the intended one.
The struggle between strip club owners and city officials is not exactly a new development. Year after year, in cities all across the nation, club owners are facing city council members working to issue new zoning regulations. A major US Supreme Court case, which happened in 1991 and was Barnes v. Glen Theatre, Inc., laid the foundation for future cases because of its decision. Ultimately it ruled that the state had the right to regulate the use of expressive conduct, and in Justice Souter’s words, “nudity itself is not inherently expressive conduct.” (Barnes) Souter was merely saying that it wasn’t an issue of being nude, but one of being nude and dancing erotically. This paved the way for more cities to go after club owners and force them to ensure their performers were wearing a proper amount of clothing. Scott Lindsay, co-owner of the Godfather
Cited: Barnes v. Glen Theatre, Inc., 501 U.S. 560. Supreme Court of the United States. 1991. LexisNexis Academic. Web. 29 Feb. 2012. Chinn, Valerie. "Lap dancer, nudity to end at Louisville strip clubs." WDRM. N.p., 2010. Web. 1 Mar 2012. Hilyard, Scott. "Big Al 's owner says strip club tax could wipe out businesses." Journal Star [Peoria, Illinois] 17 Feb 2012, n. pag. Web. 1 Mar. 2012. Keller, Rudi. "Supreme Court upholds limits on strip clubs." Columbia Daily Tribune 15 Nov 2011, n. pag. Web. 1 Mar. 2012. Lindell, Chuck. "Texas Supreme Court tackles tax on strip clubs." Statesman [Austin, Texas] 25 Mar 2010, n. pag. Web. 1 Mar. 2012. Meador, Jonathan. "Strip: Tease Are Louisville’s adult entertainment regulations bad for business?." LEO Weekly [Louisville] 20 Jul 2011, n. pag. Web. 1 Mar. 2012.