Analysis of Cindy Lauper's Girls Just Want to Have Fun

On this note, it may be best for me to characterize what I'm doing as "having fun" to the outside world. That is what they call it.

Let's refer to Cindy Lauper:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIb6AZdTr-A&ob=av2e

At the beginning of the documentary (that's what I'll call the video), she's upset with her parents because they are restricting her access to the outside - ultimately limiting her access to DNA that will infuse her offspring with the characteristics that she wants- so that she can have a genetic impact and increase the strength of the species. (They do this because it's a (possibly accidental) holdover from their child-protective instinct, but that's another story I won't dwell on here.)

She calls her friends to "have fun." Which means in this case, form a collective social unit that will be more successful in attracting and evaluating mates. As they go out, they'll use group-reasoning to evaluate potential mates - and check on how the mates respond to the group setting (checking on social skills).

"some boys take a beautiful girl and hide her away from the rest of the work" says Cindy. (An ape is depicted - referencing our evolutionary past which is out of scope to get into here, but interesting.) Point is, she wants to maximize her exposure to potential mates, not be hidden away. Girls expect to be approached and that will never happen unless they are spending time in reasonably social situations with peers.

Jewelry and clothing that Cindy and her friends wears is designed to attract attention (literally flashing - reflecting light that a human visual system to respond to dramatically) - to encourage the approach.

(Going play by play) OK, now the girls are dancing through a line of males - creating some attraction. Using dance - as most animals do - to demonstrate a degree of health, for the nervous system (and to identify the species - with spiders).

OK, now the girls have managed to coerce the situation to a co-ed party in the bedroom. Clearly setting the scene for possible genetic transfer with a carefully selected mate. And now... there's a kiss occurring, human nonverbal signal of consensual sexual attraction. But, with birth control - they're really just going to be activating reward pathways.

So that's "fun."