Abstract This paper analyzes the 1932 film "Blonde Venus" starring Marlene Dietrich and directed by Josef von Sternberg. It discusses the plot of film and its treatment of sexuality. The author mentions the Hollywood Code and censorship issue that impacted the film. The paper also expands on the film's narrative structure.
Abstract This paper compares and contrasts the protagonists of Anita Loos' "Gentleman Prefer Blondes" and Philip Roth's "Portnoy's Complaint" and focuses on sarcasm, Freudian commentary and the question of whether one or both is liberated. It concludes both Lorelei and Alex are liberated sexually and morally by following their own set of values and ethics.
From the Paper "The nets of social convention and social respectability that often threaten to permanently entangle individual expression are the set of mainstream norms rejected by both Lorelei in Loos' Gentleman Prefer Blond .."
Abstract This paper compares two movies "Legally Blonde" and "Disappearing Acts" which on the surface seem to be totally unrelated to each other. One deals with a preppy college student and the other about an African American woman wishing to study music. The writer shows that despite these seemingly different plots, the movies both are about a woman's quest to pursue her heart's desire in life. A brief synopsis of each movie is presented.
From the Paper "All movies, whether a comedy, drama, suspense, mystery or any other genre seeks to invoke some type of reaction from the audience. A comedy can invoke empathy, compassion and suspense just as well as a drama. Usually audiences go into a movie theater not quite knowing what to expect, as clips do not reveal how the movie will ultimately unfold. Legally Blonde and Disappearing Acts are two movies that at first glance, one would think they are completely opposite of one another. Legally Blonde, a comedy is centered around a rich white college student from California, who embodies all of the characteristics of the typical valley sorority girl. Disappearing Acts, on the other hand focuses on an African-American female, living in Brooklyn, New York trying to earn a living by teaching during the day and pursuing her passion for music at night. "
Tags: film, music, passion, college, plot, genre, niche, zora, elle
Abstract This essay shall approach this challenge with reference to two of Hawks' films: Only Angels Have Wings and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Both films will be interpreted according to the critical schematics of Peter Wollen and Jacques Rivette. It will be argued that while Rivette's thematic analysis of the dichotomy of Hawks' films implies a bi-polar opposition between order and chaos, Wollen's focus on the characters as exemplifying the dramatic and the comic allows us to more closely perceive the workings of gender that underlies the comic/dramatic dichotomy in Hawks' work. In this analysis, it will be shown how Hawks' dramas are definitively male, with the masculine gender representing the dominant order, and the feminine a threat to that order. Conversely, it will be seen that in Hawks' comedies order has given way to chaos, and the landscape is dominated by women with males being - in general - figures of impotence and powerlessness.
Abstract This paper introduces the beginning of the Beat Generation and how it was influenced by the author Jack Kerouac as shown in his story: "The Good Blonde".
From the paper:
"Expression of this need for individualism despite a conformity in society, expressed itself in the Beats with free association and jazz inspired language and improvisational literary techniques, in experimentation in drugs, sex, anything that would break free of the good soldier mold."
Tags: Ginsburg, free-, style, norm, jazz, narcotics, hitchhiking, free, love
Abstract This paper examines the book, "A Scandalous History of the Roman Emperors" by Anthony Blond, who seems to have written a history of Rome for the current tabloid age. The paper illustrates the book as both a history of the Emperors and a characterization of the age. The paper describes the picture created by the author of the Roman era, and the stories he tells of the emperors, from Julius Caesar to Nero. This is followed by a discussion of Rome as a city and an empire. The paper claims that although the author of the book states that there is nothing original in his book, the paper shows that the approach he takes to the material is original.
From the Paper "One monument that Blond gives special attention, as did the Romans, is the Colosseum, notable for the money, effort, materials, and time spent on construction. This space was central in Rome, providing an arena for the Games and so far watching the slaughter of men and beasts. The base of its pillars consist of blocks of seventy cubic feet of stone, each weighing five tons. Some 50,000 wagonloads of tavertine were brought to the site."
From the Paper "Hypothesis
"Do blondes have more fun?" This pop culture question verging on the cliche of mantra by Madison Avenue advertising agencies actually does imply a questioning of cultural values within the American society that deserves to be addressed by serious research. Accordingly, working from the above proposition, it will be the hypothesis of this paper that, yes, blondes do have more fun.
DEFINITIONS
Key to understanding the cultural implications of the defining question of this study is the more specific delineation of the word "fun." Again, the pop cultural roots of the issue are evident in the choice of the word itself:
fun, n., 1. lively, gay play or playfulness;..."
Abstract The 2003 movie "Legally Blonde II" (directed by C. Herman-Wurmfeld) tells the story of Elle Woods, a graduate of Harvard Law School who goes to Washington D.C. to work as a legislative aid in order to help push through legislation against animal testing. The paper shows how the movie gives a fairly accurate depiction of the modern political process, although its real flaw is that it overemphasizes the power of the people in the political process.
From the Paper "What the movie realistically captures is the committee atmosphere. Elle knows that she needs the support of Congresswoman Hauser, who is on the Energy and Commerce Committee. Initially, for no reason at all, Congresswoman Hauser is hostile to Elle, which greatly reduces the likelihood that Elle's bill will pass. Without Congresswoman Hauser's support, it was unlikely that the bill would receive the consideration that it needed in committee."
Abstract This paper discusses the psychological impact of film as conveyed through its visual, nonverbal elements, arguing that visual choices are more important to the story than dialogue. The paper cites details from the films "Sunset Blvd", "Working Girl", "Blonde Venus" and "Richard III".
From the Paper To suggest that nonverbal aspects of film communicate psychological and sociological realities may seem like the most commonplace and self-evident tautology. Even so, the power of images to dominate the narrative and psychological sense of film and indeed to convey more of the narrative truth of a motion picture than its dialogue can be overlooked particularly if the onscreen talent speaking the dialogue has star power. It seems perfectly natural for a film spectator to wait for every next moment that something comes out of the mouth..."
Abstract This paper compares the different female characters portrayed in three movies and looks at how each character goes against what is expected of women in society. The three movies, "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes", "All That Heaven Allows" and "Far From Heaven" show women acting against the conventions of society, looks at examples of female bonding in the film and discusses the French film "Choas" in terms of female bonding.
From the Paper "The female protagonist in "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" is quite different from those in "All That Heaven Allows" and "Far From Heaven", yet all three exemplify unruly women who go against the norms of their respective societies, especially the expected or proscribed behavior of women. The three women in these films choose to redefine their traditional roles and, in so doing, they break female stereotypes. The musical comedy, "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes", features Marilyn Monroe as the traditional, beautiful, sexy but dumb blonde, Lorelei Lee. Contrary to her innocent looks..."
Abstract This paper discusses how Brancusi is one of the defining figures of twentieth-century sculpture, and one of its most seminal artists. The paper looks at how the sculpture "Blond Negresse", created within 1926 to 1933, is one example of how his revolutionary carvings introduced abstraction and primitivism to modern sculpture. It also examines Brancusi's complex relationship with the tradition of artistic classicism that shaped him and which considered sculpture with highest form of artistic expression.
From the Paper "Taking a look at Brancusi's first steps as a sculptor confirm that he took his classical heritage very seriously, that he in no way undertook it simply as an academic exercise that had been imposed upon him. Brancusi's intense re-workings of Hellenistic sculpture are evident in his first Parisian works: Sleeping Child (1906-7), Torment (1907), The Kiss(1907-8), Sleep (1908), and Torso (1909-10). Many models from the past have been proposed for these works, as well as contacts with the work of his contemporary Rodin. "Sidney Geist, for example, suggested that Torso may possibly have been inspired by a similar element in a painting by Cezanne, a feasible hypothesis since Brancusi's attitude to classicism is very similar to Cezanne's. "
Abstract This paper examines the literary production and biography of the American writer Dorothy Parker. It includes excerpts from many of her best-known works, a stylistic analysis, as well as an examination of her conventions and importance to the body of 20th Century American literature.
From the Paper "Parker achieved initial popularity shortly after World War I with her light verse and short stories. Although her writing certainly does not seem acrimonious or unladylike to contemporary readers, it was most decidedly received as such by many critics during her heyday. Her cynical narratives and poesy advanced a kind of a general nationwide agitation, a focal point for social conventions that were coming under scrutiny and ridicule by the "lost generation" of which Parker was a part. The primary reason for this cacophonous reception was the fact that Parker unapologetically sought to expand a woman's equal rights to include sexual relationships; she held that if infidelity was included among these sexual "rights" for men, then women should be free to exercise the same prerogative."
Abstract This paper looks at the way in which the media serves as a messenger of socio-cultural pressures and the ambivalence of gender based role changes.
From the paper:
"Today, women in the media offer us completely ambivalent images of perfection. We have warrior-babes like Xena, the Princess-Warrior, a popular t.v. series whose heroine is gorgeous, scantily clad, and who sets out to right society's wrongs without the help of men. We have another riff on the warrior-babe with the mega pop-star Britney Spears, who has the fit, sculpted body of an Amazon, but the sexy, baby blondness of a modern-day Marilyn Monroe?a woman who flaunts her body and sexuality on the stage and in commercials, yet maintains that she is still a virgin."
Abstract This essay uses a number of well researched case studies to explore individuals who pose or represent themselves as characters other than themselves. It also discusses how those around them are wilingl to believe often ridiculous claims if it is beneficial to them. The case studies include carefully calculated deceptions, self-delusional fantasies and blatantly criminal representations driven by damaged self esteem.
From the Paper:
"The comedian Robin Williams once said, ?I?ve investigated reality, and there's really nothing to it.? While this is just another glib comment in that wild comic's repertoire, the remark certainly applies to three items used in comparison in this essay. For the cord that ties Garfinkel's Story of Agnes, Carrere's downright bizarre account of the true story of Jean-Claude Romand, Baudrillard's views on hyper-reality, and the personal ad placed by the blue-eyed blonde, all focus not just on the issue of deception itself, but on the self-perception of the individual, society's perception of the individual, and how (and to what extent) some people base their sense of reality on a fa?ade in order to placate their own egos and/or society itself."
Abstract This paper discusses how certain movies and television shows today that portray trials adequately and correctly to the public viewers but there are some details that are incorrect. The author discusses the correct way of selecting a jury, examining witnesses and introducing evidence into a trial, and looks at particular films which may affect the general public's opinion of a trial by jury, such as "My Cousin Vinny" and "The Rainmaker".
From the Paper:
"Movies and television display correct as well as incorrect details about the process of a trial by jury. The public's perception can be easily influenced by watching movies and television that present incorrect details of trials. By learning the actual and correct process of a trial by jury, the public will become more informed of the errors presented in television and movies."
