The Gender Review Of Hollywood Songs And Dances After World War II

Since the Jazz singer, the first Hollywood musical film, was born in 1927, musical films have been nearly 70 years old. During this period, Hollywood made many classic movies,together with the perfect production mode,creative stage,diversified narrative theme. After the Second World War, a lot of social changes took place, especially with the impacts of Feminism. Hollywood musical film got through the hard times in the 1970 s and 1980 s and then came alive around the turn of the century. Not only are the themes developed, but also the ideas and the artistic expression is more meaningful than the pre-war movies. It is worth noting that Hollywood musical films have changed obviously in the themes, the figures and the artistic expression. These changes reflect the development of western Feminism as well as the transformation of American culture after the Second World War. Based on the studies of the development of American society and the ideological trend, this thesis analyzes Hollywood musical films in the themes, the figures and the artistic expression from gender perspective. In addition, it discusses the difference before and after the 1990 s as a divide so as to find the reference and inspiration for Chinese films.The introduction mainly discusses the background and the state of the task, also clarifies the reason and the value why choosing Hollywood musical films after the Second World War. Briefly teasing western Feminism, the introduction puts forward the research clue and innovation.Chapter one depends on the development of American society and filmdom to review the process of Hollywood musical films in chronological order. The chapter consists of three sections, development of American society, development of Hollywood filmdom and the history of Hollywood musical films, to pave the way for the ensuring chapters.Chapter two mainly bases on the themes of Hollywood musical films. It discusses the difference before and after the late 1990 s as a divide. The chapter is composed of three sections: from love myth to desire myth, destruction and rebuilding of ‘Nora's leave', classical to modern expression of emotion. We can analyze the change of attitude towards Feminism in Hollywood musical films by these studiesChapter three mainly discusses the change of Hollywood musical films in figures, since there are many changes of figures in the number, race, profession and gender temperament. It consists of four sections: the diversified identity, anti-stereotypic figures, a fusion of gender temperaments, developments of core value in female character. Reviewing the change of figures, we can analyze that how Hollywood musical films create males' and females' images and their relationships.Chapter four focuses on the art expression, which consists of gaze angles, the change of space, the expression of dance, the salute and intertextuality to Hollywood classic musical films. With the four sections, we can find the development of Hollywood musical films before and after the late 1990 s in details. Then we can discuss the admission to Feminism in Hollywood musical films.As a summary, chapter five aims to form a connecting link between the preceding conclusion and the following discussion of value. In the first section, we can make a conclusion that the feminism in Hollywood musical film is gradually perfect. The next two sections mainly discuss what the benefits we can get to Chinese films.