Hollywood's America

Social And Political Themes In Motion Pictures

Nonfiction, Social & Cultural Studies, Social Science, Sociology
Cover of the book Hollywood's America by Stephen P Powers, Taylor and Francis
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Stephen P Powers ISBN: 9780429973352
Publisher: Taylor and Francis Publication: February 19, 2018
Imprint: Routledge Language: English
Author: Stephen P Powers
ISBN: 9780429973352
Publisher: Taylor and Francis
Publication: February 19, 2018
Imprint: Routledge
Language: English

American motion pictures still dominate the world market with an impact that is difficult to measure. Their role in American culture has been a powerful one since the 1930s and is a hallmark of our culture today. Though much has been written about the film industry, there has been very little systematic attention paid to the ideology of its creative elite. How does the outlook of that elite impact on the portrayals of America that appear on the screen? How do their views interact with the demands of the market and the structure of the industry to determine the product that is seen by mass audiences? Hollywood's America is a marvellously rich and careful discussion of these questions. It combines a meticulous systematic content analysis of fifty years of top-grossing films with a history of the changing structure of the industry. To that mixture it adds an in-depth survey of Hollywood's creative elite, comparing them to other leadership groups. The result is a balanced discussion of unique breadth and depth on a subject of national importance.Placing the film industry in the context of American society as a whole, the authors point out that Hollywood's creative leadership impacts the larger society even as it is influenced by that society. The creators of films cannot remove themselves too far from the values of the audiences that they serve. However, the fact that films are made by a relatively small number of people, who, as the authors demonstrate, tend to share a common outlook, means that, over time, motion pictures have had an undeniable impact on the beliefs, lifestyles, and action of Americans.This study contributes to the debate over the role and influence of those who create and distribute the products of mass culture in the United States.The book also contains a devastating critique of the poststructuralist theories that currently dominate academic film criticism, demonstrating how they fail in their attempt to explain the political significance of motion pictures.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

American motion pictures still dominate the world market with an impact that is difficult to measure. Their role in American culture has been a powerful one since the 1930s and is a hallmark of our culture today. Though much has been written about the film industry, there has been very little systematic attention paid to the ideology of its creative elite. How does the outlook of that elite impact on the portrayals of America that appear on the screen? How do their views interact with the demands of the market and the structure of the industry to determine the product that is seen by mass audiences? Hollywood's America is a marvellously rich and careful discussion of these questions. It combines a meticulous systematic content analysis of fifty years of top-grossing films with a history of the changing structure of the industry. To that mixture it adds an in-depth survey of Hollywood's creative elite, comparing them to other leadership groups. The result is a balanced discussion of unique breadth and depth on a subject of national importance.Placing the film industry in the context of American society as a whole, the authors point out that Hollywood's creative leadership impacts the larger society even as it is influenced by that society. The creators of films cannot remove themselves too far from the values of the audiences that they serve. However, the fact that films are made by a relatively small number of people, who, as the authors demonstrate, tend to share a common outlook, means that, over time, motion pictures have had an undeniable impact on the beliefs, lifestyles, and action of Americans.This study contributes to the debate over the role and influence of those who create and distribute the products of mass culture in the United States.The book also contains a devastating critique of the poststructuralist theories that currently dominate academic film criticism, demonstrating how they fail in their attempt to explain the political significance of motion pictures.

More books from Taylor and Francis

Cover of the book Selling Solar by Stephen P Powers
Cover of the book Al Jazeera and the Global Media Landscape by Stephen P Powers
Cover of the book Foreign Aid and Emerging Powers by Stephen P Powers
Cover of the book Doing the Work of Reference by Stephen P Powers
Cover of the book The Routledge Guide to Music Technology by Stephen P Powers
Cover of the book Basics of Environmental Science by Stephen P Powers
Cover of the book The Making of Modern Iran by Stephen P Powers
Cover of the book The Southern Shores of the Mediterranean and its Networks by Stephen P Powers
Cover of the book German/English Business Correspondence by Stephen P Powers
Cover of the book A Practical Guide to Helping Children and Young People Who Experience Trauma by Stephen P Powers
Cover of the book Research Methods for Sport Management by Stephen P Powers
Cover of the book The Olympic Movement and the Sport of Peacemaking by Stephen P Powers
Cover of the book What Does Your Wife Do? by Stephen P Powers
Cover of the book The Neuropsychology of Sleep and Dreaming by Stephen P Powers
Cover of the book 'Material Delight and the Joy of Living' by Stephen P Powers
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy