Singin In The Rain Essay

Rock ‘n’ roll and 20th Century Culture      According to Philip Ennis, rock ‘n’ roll emerged from the convergence of social transformations which resulted from World War II (Ryan 927). Despite its pop culture origins, rock music is arguably one of the strongest cultural factors to develop in this century. Artists such as Lennon, McCartney and Dylan defined the emotions of a generation and, in the last decade, it as even been acknowledged by members of the establishment which it hoped to change as a major influence in the country. In order to understand how rock went from a sign of rebellion to a cultural icon, it is necessary to understand where it came from.      According to Albert

This paper was prepared for Introduction to Film History, Module 1 Homework Assignment, taught by Professor Stephanie Sandifer.

Sunset Boulevard directed by Billy Wilder in 1950 is based on how Norma Desmond, a huge Hollywood star, deals with her fall from fame. The film explores the fantasy world in which Norma is living in and the complex relationship between her and small time writer Joe Gillis, which leads to his death. Sunset Boulevard is seen as lifting the ‘face’ of the Hollywood Studio System to reveal the truth behind the organisation. During the time the film was released in the 1950s and 60s, audiences started to see the demise of Hollywood as cinema going began to decline and the fierce competition of television almost proved too much for the well established system. Throughout this essay I will discuss how Sunset Boulevard represents the Hollywood

New and exciting technologies have always played a huge role in the culture of American people. When the motion picture came out it was no surprise that both consumers and producers were more than happy to get in on the action. Back in the 1920’s film was still pretty new and was only in black and white with no sound, but the films were always accompanied by orchestral pieces to help set the mood. The art of movie-making has come a long way since then with the addition of not only color and audio, but new techniques and new ideas. Both The Kid and Iron Jawed Angels are very popular films about the early 1900’s. Although they share some common thoughts, but because they were made in two completely different time periods their focuses are

3) Discuss the growth of the various types of popular music in films from the late 1940s through the early 1970s. Please mention specific films, styles, and composers when you can. (20 points)

“JAZZ” is a documentary by Ken Burns released 2001 that focuses on the creation and development of jazz, America’s “greatest cultural achievement.” The first episodes entitled, “Gumbo, Beginnings to 1917” and “The Gift (1917-1924), explain the early growth of jazz as it originates in New Orleans and its expands to Chicago and New York during the Jazz Age. In assessing the first two episodes of Ken Burns' 2001 documentary, "JAZZ," this essay will explore the history of jazz, the music's racial implications, and it's impact on society. In doing so, attention will also be given to the structure of the documentary, and the effectiveness of documentary film in retelling the past.

Pop Art is defined as art based on modern popular culture and the mass media, especially as a critical or ironic comment on traditional fine art values. “To Americans, Pop Art was an artistic manifestation which reflected their own culture.” (Elmaleh 1) Many artists or writers will take normal, everyday things in nature, and will turn them into brighter things. This was considered to be a new movement because it was right after the war, so it was a darker time period. Throughout the text, Joe Hill tried to convey many things with his short story about Art using his own culture and what he knew, but I think the most obvious message that he tried to convey is emotion.

A woman stands before you, her faced is framed by white gardenias and her body is traced by the shimmer of her white dress in the spotlight. She begins to sing in a voice that is unlike anything you’ve ever heard. You are listening to “the best innovative and thoughtful interpreter of blues and jazz standards,” (Alexander). She is named Billie Holiday, and she is one of the most famous jazz singers in your time. Her life filled with personal trials, fame, racism, and loss shaped her into the influential Jazz icon that she is known as today.

Billie Holiday, whose real name is Eleanora Gough, was born in Philadelphia Pennsylvania in 1915. She grew up mostly in Baltimore and always loved jazz. Billie was born to very young parents. Her mother was thirteen when she was born and her father just fifteen. (www.numberonestars.com, 2010)

Billie Holiday was an iconic singer in the jazz scene. She was a woman who lived her life the way she wanted to, and did not take anyone’s opinion on how to live it. She made a lot of money from her work, and she spent it all in the ways that pleased her. She was a free soul, one that had been badly hurt at the beginning of her life. The hurt she experienced makes many appearances in her music, and inspires some of her greatest music.

We discussed in class how a movie made about eras past has twenty-twenty hindsight about what constitutes popular music, whereas if this film were made in the 1970s it might make some poor musical decisions. Anytime the radio is playing or non-diegetic music is used it is a piece of music that is still popular today. It is possible for a movie to successfully guess what piece of music will transcend generations, as was the case in the movie Blackboard Jungle, but the music might have been used to create a much different effect.

Frank Sinatra was born the first and only child and started singing when he watched Bing Crosby and became inspired. He accomplished many things and had many great songs and albums. He received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and headlined the 1965 Newport Jazz Festival with Count Basie's Orchestra. Born on December 12, 1915, Frank Sinatra was the only child of Natalie Della Garaventa and Anthony Martin Sinatra.

Grace Kelly’s life was like a fairy tale because she was a very famous actress that found her prince charming like literary because she married the prince of Monaco. Grace Kelly was an Oscar- winning actress and the first actress to marry a prince that she met during the Cannes Film Festival in May 1955. Grace Kelly got married to Prince Rainier III of Monaco in April 18, 1956. Grace Kelly’s wedding was one of the most memorable event in Grace Kelly’s life. Kelly and Prince Rainier were required to marry in both a civil ceremony on April 18. The next day they made a religious wedding at the Cathedral in Monaco in front of 600 guests. The ceremony was held in the Palace Throne Room and only lasted 15 minutes. There were many reporters and fans

What do you think is the purpose for the film, Singin’ in the Rain? Why? How does the filmmaker create this purpose within the film? – The purpose of the film is to get people interested in films again because at the time, television was the dominate media source.

Grace Kelley to Blake Lively: Hollywood Role Model Queens Think about style, elegance, and the role model for women in the 1950s. Not only was Grace Kelly a famous movie star with flawless looks and style, but she was also a philanthropist, a mother and a princess. Now, this is a rather impressive list of qualities that seems as if it were a fairy tale, a wish list that a child may put together on their eighth birthday party, and wish for as they blew out the candle. The only thing is that this was a reality for Grace Kelly in the 1950s until she passed away in the 1980s, this is also true for Blake Lively aside from the fact that she is not actually married to a prince. Blake Lively picked up where Grace Kelly left off, making Blake the new queen of poise and grace.