Immigration in Film

Analytical Essay # 116038

Film > History of
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Immigration in Film

An analysis of immigration as seen in the American cinema since the 1930s.

1,862 words () | 5 sources | MLA | 2009 United States

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses the Great Depression-era films that explored the plight immigrants faced assimilating into American culture as well as earning a living and realizing the dreams of their ancestors. The paper then shows how after 1929 the elusive American Dream is shown in the classic movie "Of Mice and Men" while the films of the 1940s continued with immigrant themes and the Great Depression such as in "The Grapes of Wrath". The paper looks at the style of the films in the 1950s, the late 1960s and 1970s that witnessed a host of films that explored Italian and Jewish ethnic groups' immigrant roots. The paper shows how in the 1980s and 1990s historical events and immigration were further explored while movies in the 21st century incorporate elements of the drug trade and the Mexican/American border migration issue.

From the Paper:

"Movies offer a snapshot of the past when they contain themes about history, immigration, or society and culture. Some of the movies contain beautiful and haunting images that find a special place in our hearts and minds. Ultimately, filmmakers can bring history to life by creating the look and feel of past eras. When the film industry began to grow, it coincided with a wave of worldwide immigration. As such, these individuals made up a big section of the early film industry's audience. Many films latched onto the theme of immigration to personalize the character's stories in various ways and appeal to the movie going public."

Sample of Sources Used:

TheNewYorkTimes.com
Popmatters.com
Jump Cut<www.ejumpcut.org>
The Internet Movie Database for facts and dates<http://www.imdb.com/>
Past Imperfect: History According to the Movies, A Society of American Historians Book, Mark C. Carnes Editor, Henry Holt and Company, 1995.