Notions of Race, Gender and Culture in Cooper's and Jackson's 'King Kong'

Nonfiction, Entertainment, Drama, Anthologies
Cover of the book Notions of Race, Gender and Culture in Cooper's and Jackson's 'King Kong' by Lena Meyer, GRIN Verlag
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Lena Meyer ISBN: 9783656960218
Publisher: GRIN Verlag Publication: May 13, 2015
Imprint: GRIN Verlag Language: English
Author: Lena Meyer
ISBN: 9783656960218
Publisher: GRIN Verlag
Publication: May 13, 2015
Imprint: GRIN Verlag
Language: English

Essay from the year 2015 in the subject American Studies - Culture and Applied Geography, grade: 1,3, University of Cologne, language: English, abstract: This paper deals with the socio-cultural parameters of representation in movies, focussing on a comparative reading of Cooper's (1933) and Jackson's (2005) 'King Kong'-movies. The academic consideration of movies and their significance regarding the creation and shaping of discourse is a relatively new, yet fruitful approach to socio-cultural studies (c.f. Erb 1998: 13f. a. Benshoff & Griffin 2004: 3). Like other cultural items, movies reflect the norms and realities of the environment they are produced in and, thus, feature statements about what their respective culture of origin considers to be 'normal' - on both overt and covert, or, conscious and unconscious levels (c.f. Vogler 1978: 109). The presentation of these notions in Hollywood films offers 'keen insights into the ways that different groups of American people have been treated (and continue to be treated)' (Benshoff & Griffin 2004: 3). It is therefore important to note that the, albeit fictive, representations of people on screen are also capable of influencing their perception in real life (c.f. ibid.). The analysis of genre movies appears to be especially suited for socio-cultural considerations, as these movies not only provide comparable narrative structures, but also feature recurring tropes (c.f. Stymeist 2009: 395f. a. Benshoff & Griffin 2004: 30f). Furthermore, the extent of their success and endurance mirrors their respective capability of representing and mediating discourse, as well as contextualizing it with regard to current social realities (c.f. ibid.). Taking these parameters into account, it can be argued that the horror genre is particularly promising in this respect, as it usually features a monster which counters social norms concerning notions such as race, class and gender (c.f. ibid.). In that, the monster embodies a society's fears and is sometimes even regarded as a perversion threatening the status quo which, 'in classic Hollywood horror films [...], is conventionally represented by middle-to-upper-class, white, heterosexual couples and patriarchal institutions' (Benshoff & Griffin 2004: 31). Merian Cooper's King Kong (1933, c.f. Internet Movie Database, IMDb) might arguably be the most striking example that comes to mind when evaluating the socio-cultural impact of horror movies, especially when focusing on the representation of race, gender and culture (c.f. Cowlishaw 2006: 1714, Stymeist 2009: 396f. a. Erb 1998: 13-15). [...]

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

Essay from the year 2015 in the subject American Studies - Culture and Applied Geography, grade: 1,3, University of Cologne, language: English, abstract: This paper deals with the socio-cultural parameters of representation in movies, focussing on a comparative reading of Cooper's (1933) and Jackson's (2005) 'King Kong'-movies. The academic consideration of movies and their significance regarding the creation and shaping of discourse is a relatively new, yet fruitful approach to socio-cultural studies (c.f. Erb 1998: 13f. a. Benshoff & Griffin 2004: 3). Like other cultural items, movies reflect the norms and realities of the environment they are produced in and, thus, feature statements about what their respective culture of origin considers to be 'normal' - on both overt and covert, or, conscious and unconscious levels (c.f. Vogler 1978: 109). The presentation of these notions in Hollywood films offers 'keen insights into the ways that different groups of American people have been treated (and continue to be treated)' (Benshoff & Griffin 2004: 3). It is therefore important to note that the, albeit fictive, representations of people on screen are also capable of influencing their perception in real life (c.f. ibid.). The analysis of genre movies appears to be especially suited for socio-cultural considerations, as these movies not only provide comparable narrative structures, but also feature recurring tropes (c.f. Stymeist 2009: 395f. a. Benshoff & Griffin 2004: 30f). Furthermore, the extent of their success and endurance mirrors their respective capability of representing and mediating discourse, as well as contextualizing it with regard to current social realities (c.f. ibid.). Taking these parameters into account, it can be argued that the horror genre is particularly promising in this respect, as it usually features a monster which counters social norms concerning notions such as race, class and gender (c.f. ibid.). In that, the monster embodies a society's fears and is sometimes even regarded as a perversion threatening the status quo which, 'in classic Hollywood horror films [...], is conventionally represented by middle-to-upper-class, white, heterosexual couples and patriarchal institutions' (Benshoff & Griffin 2004: 31). Merian Cooper's King Kong (1933, c.f. Internet Movie Database, IMDb) might arguably be the most striking example that comes to mind when evaluating the socio-cultural impact of horror movies, especially when focusing on the representation of race, gender and culture (c.f. Cowlishaw 2006: 1714, Stymeist 2009: 396f. a. Erb 1998: 13-15). [...]

More books from GRIN Verlag

Cover of the book Kulturanalyse: Vergast. Verseucht. Verstrahlt. by Lena Meyer
Cover of the book Williams Syndrome in Psycholinguistics by Lena Meyer
Cover of the book Leopold Bloom's Sexuality in James Joyce's 'Ulysses' by Lena Meyer
Cover of the book Lernvoraussetzungen - Was sind schlechte Schüler? by Lena Meyer
Cover of the book Pulsmessung im Schulsport (10. Klasse) by Lena Meyer
Cover of the book Unterrichtsstunde im Basketball: Einführung in die Dribbeltechnik by Lena Meyer
Cover of the book Bürgerliche Bildungsreisen im 18. Jahrhundert by Lena Meyer
Cover of the book Cyborgs in Ambient Intelligence. Zukunft mit Umgebungsintelligenz by Lena Meyer
Cover of the book Die Bedeutung von Regeln für Kinder und deren Umsetzung im Schülerhort by Lena Meyer
Cover of the book Finanzmarktregulierung im Zeichen der Globalisierung by Lena Meyer
Cover of the book Efficient Consumer Response by Lena Meyer
Cover of the book Die Grundvorraussetzungen des Shubert-Monopols by Lena Meyer
Cover of the book Die Theorie der Arbeitsmotivation und ihr Bezug zur betrieblichen Praxis by Lena Meyer
Cover of the book Thomas von Aquin und der 'bellum iustum' by Lena Meyer
Cover of the book Apple marketing audit and new service product plan by Lena Meyer
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