A Study On The Theme And The Styles Of The American Comedy

Since the birth of film, American comedy film has been always enjoyed by the people of the whole world. It reflects the real life in the way of satire and humour in order to make spectators sympathize with the ideas of creators. There is a more important reason that Hollywood is good at using the most popular elements of art to pack films so as to achieve the best artistic effect, so we can see many elements of modernism and postmodernism in American comedy films, especially the films of Charlie Chaplin and Jim Carrey. However, from these films, we all see the living situation of common people at that time. They use all kinds of humourous and even ridiculous way to struggle with their destiny, but behind their action, the social conflict, exists in the daily life. The portrayal of common people shows the pursuit of the commonalty in American comedy film.With regard to American comedy film, the domestic and overseas investigations often focus on the texts of film, but ignore the discussion of theme and styles during the period of one hundred years. Therefore, this thesis will conduct the research into the theme and the styles of American comedy.The part of introduction generalizes the development and significance of American comedy film during the second and third industrial revolution. Through the comparison among the various investigations and debates of academia for American comedy film, the commonalty is showed in this part. And then the subject will be implicated in the creative styles of modernism and postmodernism. While indicating the investigative value and practical significance, the modernist and postmodernist theory may be combined with the social reality in order to search the implication of American comedy film, realistically.Chapter One focuses on the theme of American comedy—the commonalty. Firstly, it has a profound basis of society and thought, including the function of advanced science and technology during the process of industrial revolution, the intension of social conflicts, the development of democracy and socialism, and the pluralistic theory of literature and art. Secondly, the experience of the creators of film has enormous influence on their works. Literary critics always pay attention to the living experiences of Chaplin and Jim Carrey. Finally, through the analysis, the commonalty will show the following four aspects: the solicitude for the destiny of the little, the attention to the seamy side of capitalism, the anatomy of relationship among people in the commercial society, and the reaction against the unequal reality.Chapter Two explains the modernist characteristics of American comedy film in the early time. In this part, with regard to the modernist movement and its influence on the comedy of the time, the emphasis of analysis will be directed at Charlie Chaplin's comedy. Modernism is a kind of rebellion and critique towards the modern society and has extensive influence at that time. American comedy film also employs the useful elements for reference. Modernism advocates individualization and personal freedom. The attention to modernism is effective to understand the early style of American comedy film.Chapter Three introduces the postmodernist characteristics of American comedy film after World WarⅡ. Postmodernism breaks the boundary between art and life, emphasizes the transformation from subjective feeling to objective world, has the hostile attitude for individuality and style, and advocates the art of commonalty so as to apply to the mass media. These notions have profound influence on American comedy film in the contemporary times. The exaggerative and fantastic action in the films of Jim Carrey is the emersion of the style of postmodernism.In conclusion, the thesis summarizes the real implication of American comedy film through the understanding of modernism, postmodernism, and the commonalty. At the same time, it also touches the realistic problem in China, which can draw some lessons from the American comedy in"building a harmonious society"through the"people-oriented"principle. This is also the practical value of the thesis.