Conditions Given Voice in 60s MovementsThe rhetoric of the 60s movements had several conditions of the society that it attempted to convert into power for the movement.
American Apartheid. Despite the ending of chattel slavery in 1865, American culture -- particularly in the South -- had reestablished a cultural system based in racial superiority. Discrimination against non-EuroAmericans and even some ethnic EuroAmericans was common social practice established and promoted by discursive practices. Many movements sought to confront this system.
Disparity in Wealth. In 1960, one in five Americans lived in conditions described by the federal government as "poverty." Many movements were egalitarian movements seeking to convert this disparity into support for social change.
Institutional Terror. In the midst of the Cold War, large amounts of resources went into building military power. In his Farewell Address, President Eisenhower had warned in 1960 of a "Military-Industrial Complex" dedicated to absorbing the wealth of the society into a non-productive weapons of war. The conditions of quasi-War also encouraged attention to quasi-military structures within established power structures. Movements attempted to identify this military power and what they called the diversion of resources into destructive ends. They depicted "Amerika" as a militaristic world power, too quick to suppress dissent at home and abroad.
Materialism. The movements of the 1960s were not simply movements uniting the lesser endowed classes of American society. The children of the American middle and even upper classes were eager participants and often the leaders of these movements. They found that the material satisfactions of their wealthy status did not produce satisfaction with their lives. Many movements addressed non-material issues and framed motivation for movements in alternatives to the central place of materialism.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
The 60's
The Sixties, symbolizing the complex of combined cultural and political trends which occurred roughly during the years 1956–1974 in the west, particularly The United States and Britain. Social and political disturbance was not limited to these countries, but included such nations as Japan, Mexico, and others.
The 60s was the decade of great music - the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Dusty Springfield, the Who, Procol Harum - the list could go on and on. The 60s was also a time of great social change; old conventions were challenged and old attitudes faded with the decade. Fittingly the voting age was lowered to eighteen by the end of the 60s. The 60s was also the era of rapid technological progress which culminated in man's first steps on the moon in 1969. Many people watched the event on television; a lucky few watched in colour. The new pop music blared from every teenager’s transistor radio.
The movement away from the conservative fifties continued and eventually resulted in revolutionary ways of thinking and real change in the cultural fabric of American life. No longer content to be images of the generation ahead of them, young people wanted change. The changes affected education, values, lifestyles, laws, and entertainment. Many of the revolutionary ideas which began in the sixties are continuing to evolve today.
The 60s was the decade of great music - the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Dusty Springfield, the Who, Procol Harum - the list could go on and on. The 60s was also a time of great social change; old conventions were challenged and old attitudes faded with the decade. Fittingly the voting age was lowered to eighteen by the end of the 60s. The 60s was also the era of rapid technological progress which culminated in man's first steps on the moon in 1969. Many people watched the event on television; a lucky few watched in colour. The new pop music blared from every teenager’s transistor radio.
The movement away from the conservative fifties continued and eventually resulted in revolutionary ways of thinking and real change in the cultural fabric of American life. No longer content to be images of the generation ahead of them, young people wanted change. The changes affected education, values, lifestyles, laws, and entertainment. Many of the revolutionary ideas which began in the sixties are continuing to evolve today.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Hairspray Reviews
Empire Magazine
Offering plenty of body and a lot of lift, Hairspray gels kitsch styling with show-stopping tunes to mould a memorable musical.
CNN.com
Bright, campy and wonderfully light, Hairspray reminds us that fun comes in all shapes and sizes. It's also one of the few 'event' movies this summer that doesn't outstay its welcome. That's worth singing about, no matter what your name is.
Times
The unexpected pleasure of Hairspray is that it doesn’t beg to differ.
The Guardian
John Waters had uppermost in his mind was the secret of gay identity and gay feelings inside the teenagers of 1960s Baltimore - the time and place of his own early years. None of the characters in this campy film is gay; or, to put it another way, they all are. Hairspray looks like it's sending up the straight, heterosexual world, but it also resembles a big, brightly coloured closet which declines to reveal its contents.
Offering plenty of body and a lot of lift, Hairspray gels kitsch styling with show-stopping tunes to mould a memorable musical.
CNN.com
Bright, campy and wonderfully light, Hairspray reminds us that fun comes in all shapes and sizes. It's also one of the few 'event' movies this summer that doesn't outstay its welcome. That's worth singing about, no matter what your name is.
Times
The unexpected pleasure of Hairspray is that it doesn’t beg to differ.
The Guardian
John Waters had uppermost in his mind was the secret of gay identity and gay feelings inside the teenagers of 1960s Baltimore - the time and place of his own early years. None of the characters in this campy film is gay; or, to put it another way, they all are. Hairspray looks like it's sending up the straight, heterosexual world, but it also resembles a big, brightly coloured closet which declines to reveal its contents.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Saturday, September 6, 2008
MIGRAIN
MEDIA LANGUAGE
A dull casual beginning of everyday life in the town of Baltimore.
A male voice over could suggest male domination or possibly a lack of male dominant roles which then could suggest that the film is female dominated.
Tracy in casual school wear, the everyday girl.When in the classroom Tracy seems to be the only on wearing white, so standing out which could make the audience believe that Tracy is the outsider. Although shes big and stands out but the colour of her shirt could emphasis her determination.
"People who are different there time is coming"
Penny looks in Tracy's fathers shop shocked, this could possibly be what she's seeing in the future or shocked to see her best friend try to become who she believes she can be.
Bright colours and up beat music begins after the title Shake Things Up. This shows to the audience the change that happening within the musical but velma is so sure that nothing can ever changed.
The close up of Tracy's eye could present the excitment and determination for things to change and become better
INSTITUTION
New Line Home Entertainment distributes New Line Cinema theatrical on DVD. The company also distributes feature films and non-theatrical programs produced by New Line H-E and New Line Television.
Established 40 years ago. NLC is the most successful, independent film company in the WORLD.
"Its mission is to produce innovative, popular and profitable entertainment in the best creative environment".
In 2005 New Line teamed up with HBO ( which include films such as Elizabeth 1, Life Support and Recount) to form Picturehouse, a new theatrical distribution company to release independant films.
For New Line's 40th anniversary it released 3 major tent-pole franchises. In July John Travolta and Michelle Pfrieffer starred in Hairspray. The major motion picuture was an adaptation of New Line's Tong Award-winning musical orginally directed by John Waters.
GENRE
The genre of the musical Hairspray is a teen musical full of performing arts.An adaptation and Remake.
REPRESENTATION
Edna who is a very big lady played by Travolta believes that she is unable to be accepted by her neighbours due to the fact that her appearence is different and for this she is cautous for Tracy to become a 'star' as she is so sure that people wont take lightly to her for her size. Also through the film Edna has insecurity problems and it takes Tracy to persuade her that the 60's is a new era with a different plot, meaning that people who are different have a chance in the new world.
Which is in contrast to Velma who is a very glamorous, ellegant lady who was once named Miss Baltimore Crabs. She lives through her daughters youth and believes that Amber should live in her mothers shoes and become Miss Hairspray. Velma is represented as a woman with very high standards and doesnt believe in chnave and forbids people who are different to star on the show such as Tracy who is larger than life and looks down on those who are black.
"Save that for the camera"
Velma believes in popularity and fame which gives the impression to the audience that every blonde slim female who's single with a daughter believes on in fame and popularity.
Also Velma is not affraid to point out her daughters inperfections pointing out "shiny" suggesting that her skin doesn't look as clear.
Sarcasm to is one of Velma's trats insulting Tracy when she is named the new dancer stating that Tracy had "redifined the standards".
Tracy a larger than life character is represented as the typical big person that has trouble being accepted due to her size. With a big heart and big dreams she believes that she like everyone else deserves a chance. Velma again looks down upon Tracy for her size and for her likeness of seaweed who is a black dancer who appears on the show on "negro day".
Amber who follows her mothers footsteps believes shes better than Tracy and looks down at her but because she finds her as a threat for taking Miss Hairspray.
A dull casual beginning of everyday life in the town of Baltimore.
A male voice over could suggest male domination or possibly a lack of male dominant roles which then could suggest that the film is female dominated.
Tracy in casual school wear, the everyday girl.When in the classroom Tracy seems to be the only on wearing white, so standing out which could make the audience believe that Tracy is the outsider. Although shes big and stands out but the colour of her shirt could emphasis her determination.
"People who are different there time is coming"
Penny looks in Tracy's fathers shop shocked, this could possibly be what she's seeing in the future or shocked to see her best friend try to become who she believes she can be.
Bright colours and up beat music begins after the title Shake Things Up. This shows to the audience the change that happening within the musical but velma is so sure that nothing can ever changed.
The close up of Tracy's eye could present the excitment and determination for things to change and become better
INSTITUTION
New Line Home Entertainment distributes New Line Cinema theatrical on DVD. The company also distributes feature films and non-theatrical programs produced by New Line H-E and New Line Television.
Established 40 years ago. NLC is the most successful, independent film company in the WORLD.
"Its mission is to produce innovative, popular and profitable entertainment in the best creative environment".
In 2005 New Line teamed up with HBO ( which include films such as Elizabeth 1, Life Support and Recount) to form Picturehouse, a new theatrical distribution company to release independant films.
For New Line's 40th anniversary it released 3 major tent-pole franchises. In July John Travolta and Michelle Pfrieffer starred in Hairspray. The major motion picuture was an adaptation of New Line's Tong Award-winning musical orginally directed by John Waters.
GENRE
The genre of the musical Hairspray is a teen musical full of performing arts.An adaptation and Remake.
REPRESENTATION
Edna who is a very big lady played by Travolta believes that she is unable to be accepted by her neighbours due to the fact that her appearence is different and for this she is cautous for Tracy to become a 'star' as she is so sure that people wont take lightly to her for her size. Also through the film Edna has insecurity problems and it takes Tracy to persuade her that the 60's is a new era with a different plot, meaning that people who are different have a chance in the new world.
Which is in contrast to Velma who is a very glamorous, ellegant lady who was once named Miss Baltimore Crabs. She lives through her daughters youth and believes that Amber should live in her mothers shoes and become Miss Hairspray. Velma is represented as a woman with very high standards and doesnt believe in chnave and forbids people who are different to star on the show such as Tracy who is larger than life and looks down on those who are black.
"Save that for the camera"
Velma believes in popularity and fame which gives the impression to the audience that every blonde slim female who's single with a daughter believes on in fame and popularity.
Also Velma is not affraid to point out her daughters inperfections pointing out "shiny" suggesting that her skin doesn't look as clear.
Sarcasm to is one of Velma's trats insulting Tracy when she is named the new dancer stating that Tracy had "redifined the standards".
Tracy a larger than life character is represented as the typical big person that has trouble being accepted due to her size. With a big heart and big dreams she believes that she like everyone else deserves a chance. Velma again looks down upon Tracy for her size and for her likeness of seaweed who is a black dancer who appears on the show on "negro day".
Amber who follows her mothers footsteps believes shes better than Tracy and looks down at her but because she finds her as a threat for taking Miss Hairspray.
Audience
Many musicals are more popular for young girls that range from the ages of 10-18. Zac Efron is a popular actor who has appeared in High School Musical which is also a very popular musical. Efron has a very large female fan base which could possibly have an impact on Hairspray's viewings. As well as this Amanda Byrnes who had her own TV show called The Amanda Byrnes Show which starred on Nickelodeon which is a popular Tv channel to all ages. This could also have emphasis on the people who view Hairspray.
IDEOLOGY
That in the 1960's (62) adults where very much concerned with tradition and values and didnt believe in change. Such as Edna who has been inprisoned in the house for she believes she will not be accepted due to her size. Velma is a strong independent single female character that only believes in that presentation is key, giving the idea that only glamorous single women can be seen on TV or be accepted.
In the 60's there was only one view point in that white people were in the higher ranks of which black people werent. Hairspray gives the idea that the teenager Tracy who is different (in size) gives people a chance to prove themselves and show that everyone should be accepted.
The stories message is about teenagers cutting through tradition and showing the audience that people shouldn't be looked down upon just because of their appearence which even to this day is a current problem.
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