Nowadays, it has become quiet around various Hollywood genres of the Classic Period of cinema. In the time between both World Wars, and also soon after WWII, Hollywood filmmaking meant entertainment to a frustrated and humiliated world audience. Especially dance-comedy- and musical-genres became more picturesque, especially because of Technicolor, the plots less melodramatic and the actors followed a progressive and innovative typecast.
Particularly the world of the Hollywood film musical opened up new possibilities when presenting a fictional world in their studios that enchanted an international audience. Hollywood spared no expenses and pains to explore particularly European capitals to promote a dream as well as their understanding of the American way. To which extent Hollywood created an image of Paris that gained acceptance with a global audience? And in how far can be said that American female stars changed their outer and inner appearance, in order not to correspond to obsolete Hollywood typecast.
In my work I would like to give a better impression of what historically happened in American filmmaking, that glorified and idealized the French capital; and in French filmmaking, that searched for new themes, settings and individuals. In the first chapter a historical outline of the time from the 1920s onwards, as well as a brief introduction into the structures of the American- and French-film industry will illustrate to what extent Paris turned out to be an aesthetic and significant feature in motion pictures of that time.
In the following it is of my concern to analyze the City of Light & Love and its international reputation. My analysis leads to one specific aspect of filmmaking – the divergence between the American female (stereo-) typology and European gender roles during the postwar years of the 50s and 60s. Audrey Hepburn serves as a well-known example, which is considered to be a representative for European subculture, French haute couture and American fairy-tale dreams. I try to illustrate in how far Audrey Hepburn changed the female image during a time in which anybody preferred blond femininity instead of brunette individuality. My aim is to find out how much Paris served as the ideological medium – both in French- and in Hollywood-filmmaking.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 1.1 Historical outline of the Parisian movements before the Second World War
- 1.2 A brief introduction to Hollywood- and French- film industry in the postwar period
- 2. Analytical Thesis on the 'City D'Amour'
- 2.1 The role of the city in films
- 3. Analytical Thesis on Stars
- 3.1 American female typology & European gender roles
- 3.2 Audrey Hepburn - a representative of European subculture
- 4. Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to examine the portrayal of Paris in American Hollywood films of the post-war era, specifically focusing on the evolution of genre cinema and gender roles. It explores how Hollywood constructed an image of Paris for a global audience and investigates the extent to which American female stars adapted their personas to diverge from traditional Hollywood typecasting. * The representation of Paris in post-war Hollywood films. * The evolution of genre cinema (specifically dance-comedy and musical genres). * The changing depiction of American female characters in relation to European gender roles. * The role of Audrey Hepburn as a representative of European subculture. * The influence of Parisian culture on American filmmaking.Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the historical context for the study. It provides a brief overview of the Hollywood film industry's post-World War II period, highlighting the rise of Technicolor and shifts in typecasting. The chapter also introduces the research question: How did Hollywood create a portrayal of Paris that resonated with a global audience, and how did American female stars adapt to challenge conventional Hollywood typecasting? It establishes the historical significance of Paris as a setting and the main themes of the paper, namely the relationship between American and French filmmaking, the portrayal of Paris, and the changing representation of gender roles in the context of American female stars and the Parisian subculture. 1.1 Historical outline of Parisian movements before the Second World War: This section delves into the cultural landscape of Paris in the 1920s, emphasizing its role as a hub for avant-garde movements like Cubism and Surrealism. The chapter discusses the influx of American expatriates who sought artistic freedom and anonymity, creating a rich blend of American and European cultures. It highlights the contrast between the Victorian era's influence on American culture and the newfound individualism experienced by these expatriates in Paris. The section also touches on the lasting impact of the "Lost Generation" and their influence on shaping the Parisian cultural scene. 1.2 A brief introduction to Hollywood- and French- film industry in the postwar period: This section offers a concise overview of the Hollywood and French film industries in the post-war era, exploring their respective styles, production methods, and thematic concerns. It foreshadows the following analysis, examining how each industry approached the representation of Paris and the interplay between these different cultural contexts in shaping cinematic representations of the city. 2. Analytical Thesis on the 'City D'Amour': This chapter would delve into a detailed analysis of how Paris itself is represented in the chosen films. It would explore the cinematic techniques used to capture the essence of Paris as "City of Love" and how these portrayals may differ between American and French productions. It would likely assess whether the image presented was an idealized vision or a more realistic representation. 3. Analytical Thesis on Stars: This chapter focuses on the analysis of American female stars and their representation within the context of European gender roles. This would involve a detailed examination of the specific ways in which American actresses adapted their personas to fit or challenge conventional Hollywood typecasting. The chapter would use Audrey Hepburn as a prominent example to illustrate the shift towards a more nuanced and individualized depiction of female characters.Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview
What is the main topic of this academic paper?
This paper analyzes the portrayal of Paris in post-war American Hollywood films, focusing on the evolution of genre cinema, gender roles, and the construction of a specific image of Paris for a global audience. It particularly examines how American female stars adapted their personas in relation to traditional Hollywood typecasting and European gender roles.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The key themes include the representation of Paris in post-war Hollywood films; the evolution of genre cinema (dance-comedy and musicals); the changing depiction of American female characters compared to European gender roles; Audrey Hepburn's role as a representative of European subculture; and the influence of Parisian culture on American filmmaking.
What is the structure of the paper?
The paper is structured into four main chapters: An introduction providing historical context and outlining the research question; an analytical thesis on the representation of Paris ("City of Love"); an analytical thesis on the portrayal of American female stars and their adaptation to European gender roles, using Audrey Hepburn as a case study; and a conclusion.
What specific historical context is examined in the introduction?
The introduction explores the historical context of Parisian movements before World War II, focusing on avant-garde movements and the influx of American expatriates. It also provides a brief overview of the Hollywood and French film industries in the post-war era, highlighting their respective styles and thematic concerns.
How does the paper analyze the representation of Paris?
The paper analyzes how Paris is represented cinematically in the selected films, examining the techniques used to create the "City of Love" image and comparing American and French representations. It investigates whether these portrayals are idealized or more realistic.
What is the role of Audrey Hepburn in this analysis?
Audrey Hepburn serves as a key example to illustrate the shift towards more nuanced and individualized depictions of female characters in American films, contrasting with traditional Hollywood typecasting and reflecting the influence of European gender roles.
What is the overall objective of this research?
The paper aims to understand how Hollywood constructed and presented an image of Paris to a global audience and how American female stars navigated and adapted to the differing expectations of Hollywood and European cinematic representations of femininity.
What are some of the subtopics covered within the chapters?
Subtopics include a historical outline of Parisian movements before World War II, a comparison of the Hollywood and French film industries in the post-war period, and a detailed examination of American female star personas within the framework of European gender roles.
- Quote paper
- Sandy Nirwing (Author), 2004, An American in Paris: Audrey Hepburn and the City of Light - A historical analysis of genre cinema & gender roles, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/49705
