| The dissertation analyzes presentation of the natural world, the environment, and environmental issues in American film by way of a select group of representative movies from 1970--2002. Applying the methodology of Ecocriticism, the dissertation examines how American film has responded to and portrayed environmentalism and nature. By combining Ecocriticism with the textual analysis of Reader-Response Theory and Genre Studies, it seeks to discover how the interaction between audience and film both educates audiences and illustrates the state of environmentalism in American culture. The aim is to find a common ground between the films' portrayal of environmentalism and nature with discourses that occur publicly. It also seeks to identify any system of images, conventions, languages, and discourses that provide insight into the messages Americans are receiving. Furthermore, by demonstrating how Hollywood portrays environmentalism, nature, or environmental problems, we are provided a perspective as to how Americans are dealing with "environmental problems," its discourses, assumptions, and stereotypes.; Chapter 1 introduces the problem and reviews the relative literature. Chapter 2 provides a history of American perspectives on nature, environmental thought and environmentalism. Chapter 3 focuses on Green Romanticism and Green Radicalism in the films, Chapter 4 on the presentation of environmentalism, and Chapter 5 on negative portrayals of nature and anti-environmentalism---views that contradict the pro-nature or pro-environment perspectives.; The environmental topics covered include the relationship between humans and nature, pollution, industrial pressure on nature, the existence of limits in nature, and the possible responses to these issues. Specifically, the following questions are among those asked. What is the role of nature or environmentalism in film in terms of plot or setting? How are the environmental problems defined or presented in the selected movies? Do the films offer any solutions? How are the movies' presentations, productions, or present interpretations shaped by history and current events? What message or moral---if any---do the films provide? Finally, just "how green is Hollywood" in its production process and its choice of subject matter?... |
