MovieChat Forums > Independence Day (1996) Discussion > Why did they make Jasmine a stripper?

Why did they make Jasmine a stripper?

posted 10 years ago by zeekmati
42 replies | jump to latest

What narrative purpose did it serve? The same story beats of her at work, seeing destruction on TV and then trying to sway a co-worker from going to the alien welcome event could have occurred in any work setting. She could have been a receptionist,a teacher or an accountant; anyone with a job where there might be access to a television with co-workers nearby.

But for some reason, she was made into a stripper. Now, I have nothing against strippers or stripping for money in general. It's not like the brief scene where Will Smith's character is reminded that he will never get to fly a space shuttle if he marries a stripper is relevant. The movie is not about a talented fighter pilot who is unfairly held back from becoming an astronaut due to his relationship with a woman NASA finds unsavory in her choice of career. And let's not forget that after Jasmine and her kid survive the initial destruction, she never uses any "stripping" skills to survive. She drives a truck, rescues a few people and tends to a gravely wounded first lady but these skills are not stripper exclusives. Even though there is a brief mention of her stripping (exotic dancing?) during a scene with the first lady, it serves very little to enrich the scene. She could have felt sorry for her all the same for any dead-end job and not necessarily one that society views as shameful.

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] youropinionmeansnothing 10 years ago

Could't agree more. Besides it being a plot device to acknowledge will smith's desire to work for nasa, I think the scene between her and the first lady was the major reason she was an 'exotic dancer'. You said it perfectly so I won't bother reiterating it. Well said my friend.

[–] indyhu 10 years ago

But that was a point the writer was making.

Don't judge a book by it's cover, it could save the world.

Hiller's reality before the invasion was he would never get ahead because of the way others view appearances.

That scene with the first lady and the stripper was supposed to beat you over the head with the reality of life and why people do what they do.

Jasmine had to be a stripper, to show that anyone can save the world,even the husband of a stripper.

Of course we now live in an age when a sex tape star is considered one of the most powerful celebs in the world that everyone seems to hate and yet we can't escape her.

[–] foster11 10 years ago

Because she's built like a stripper, not a teacher

You don't have to stand tall, but you do have to stand up!

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] chocchipbookie 9 years ago

Lolz what a trashy thing to say

[–] R_Kane (15828) 6 years ago

“Because she’s built like a stripper, not a schoolteacher.”

Congratulations! You’ve made the R_Kane List of 10 Dumbest Internet Statements in the Past 20 Years. “Sorry, Joan. You’re too stacked for us to allow you to teach.”

[–] jimmyolsenblues 10 years ago

In 1996, they wanted as many ethnic stereotypes as possible for this movie.

[–] Will1988 10 years ago

What I don't get is why a Marine Fighter Pilot would want to marry a stripper.

[–] crc32 (2584) 7 years ago

More like just keep them as a live in girlfriend.

[–] mike_clark_5729 9 years ago

Because Roland Emmerich makes spectacle movies where the characters are mostly just archetypes but with enough of a twist to make them not complete stereotypes. Hiller is fighter pilot but he's not a macho a-hole. Whitmore is a war hero but he's not a "shoot first ask questions later" war hawk. David is a nerd but not a friendless loser in a basement who's repellent to women. Russell is an alcoholic redneck who won't shut up about his alien abduction, but he's never shown to be racist, was in fact married to a Hispanic woman, and has mixed race (step?) children.

To that end, Jasmine is a single mother who strips for a living but she's not trashy or a drug addict or a prostitute, just a loving mother who happens to have a job as a stripper, presumably because it pays better than waiting tables or being a receptionist.

[–] Joel_S 9 years ago

^Excellent observation!! Kudos to you sir.

[–] Pellam33 (420) 6 months ago

I agree, she was quite proud of it also and even defended it. Also an excellant choice with that body.

[–] bl82-1 9 years ago

Funny. I always thought Russell's wife was Vietnamese.

In the end, I suppose it doesn't matter.

[–] mike_clark_5729 9 years ago

I get that, since the actor who plays his stepson is part Vietnamese, but then the character's name is Miguel and they live somewhere in the American southwest, so more likely he's meant to be Hispanic and the actor's thoroughly mixed ethnicity lets him play any sort of vaguely not-white character.

[–] MydnightRose 8 years ago

Probably just wanting to show different aspects of American society from the highest to the lowest that have nothing to do with each other but are connected by this common event.

1. BVS 2. TWS 3. Avengers

[–] R_Kane (15828) 6 years ago

Archetype and stereotype are two completely different ideas.

[–] GreenGoblinsOck8 (7818) 6 months ago

If the redneck guy's wife was supposed to be Hispanic he failed miserably at it cause none of his kids look Hispanic.

[–] aqib4 9 years ago

Because they needed something about her that would make having a relationship with her an impediment to Will Smith's career goals and have him have to make the decision that he cares more about her than his career. Its sweet. Stop hating. ;)

[–] strntz (12736) 6 months ago

And there's the answer.

Steve wanted to be an astronaut but knew he was never going to be selected for the space program because of Jasmine and yet he chose Jasmine over space (something else he very much wanted).

He finally gets his chance anyway when he pilots the alien craft into space to attack the mother ship.

[–] Bye_Felicia 9 years ago

Because it showed Will Smith getting rejected for the space shuttle program and his friend mentioned he will never get the job if he marries a stripper.

[–] Intothenightalone 9 years ago

Yup, that's it. Writing is about conflict, and conflict between a couple in terms of social class is fair-game for any writer.

I personally didn't like her but me not liking her made the scenes she was in more interesting than if she was the mayors assistant or some other *beep* job that they could have written to empower black people.