The Master Thesis is divided into five chapters: The first is dedicated to the theoretical concepts and Aristoteles´ motives that form tragedy. Also, William Shakespeare´s classic Romeo and Juliet is going to be mentioned briefly. Thus, it is the foundation for the narration of West Side Story and its relation. The second chapter focuses on the concept of the American Dream and the theoretical background of migration to the US and the aspiration of living a new prosper life in the US. Also, the juvenile crime conflicts that occurred in the late 50s and early 60s in the US, moreover, the racial problems that captivated society in that specific period. Besides, a major aspect is going to be the historiography of the Puerto Rican immigration to the US and how much it influenced West Side Story, which is why, there will also be an intensive illustration of the topic of migration and representation of minorities in media and how the movies work with stereotyping, based on the three film examples.
From its modern influenced and ballet-like choreography to its unique score and its subject themes of gang-fights, immigration and love, the story of West Side Story seems to have been very progressive for audiences at the time and the topic of teenage-gang fights and culture clashes was particularly accurate. West Side Story, inspired by Romeo and Juliet, is about pre-dominantly two teenage-protagonists, Maria and Tony, who are being lost in the Jungle in the mecca of America, New York City, the metropolis of modernity. Both are pushed into their misery through the hate of race. To this very day, not only the story but the film has become one of the biggest Film Musical Dramas in the history of movies. According to Barrios, on Broadway, West Side Story scored a significant hit and became even more immortal on screen. It was a movie different from anything that had come before. When West Side Story opened on Broadway in 1957, it caused a massive sensation and became the attraction in the world of musical theatre. Many Americans had seen Shakespeare adapted for the Broadway stage before, according to Andrea Most, West Side Story was a musical based on one of Shakespeare ́s tragedies that has drew the conventions of both musical comedy and of Shakespearean tragedy, it tested boundaries of both genres, ultimately inhabiting a hybrid form ideally suited to express the tensions and social concerns of 1950s American liberal culture.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Theoretical Concepts of Forms of Tragedy, Aristotle, Shakespeare and Musical
2.1 Definition: Tragedy
2.1.1 Aristotle’s´ Poetics
2.2 Shakespeare´s Romeo and Juliet
2.3 Definition: Musical
3. The Concept of the American Dream, Ethnic Problems and Migration to the U.S. in the 1950/60s
3.1 A Brief Concept of the American Dream
3.2 The Great Migration as a Foundation
3.3 Puerto Rican Migration to the U.S.
3.3.1 Theatrical Liberalism
3.4 The Reflection of Post-War U.S.-Society through the Movie Landscape around the 1960s
4. West Side Story (1961)
4.1 Motives and Themes within the Story
4.1.1 Tony and Maria´s First Meeting
4.1.2 Juvenile Gang Issues
4.1.3 Representation of the Social Issues and Gang Violence
4.1.4 White Privilege and Puerto Rican Representation
4.1.5 The Symbolism of Death Within West Side Story
4.1.6 The Usage of Theatrical Liberalism and Self-Freedom
5. Modern-Age Film Musicals
5.1 La La Land (2016)
5.1.1 Sebastian and Mias´ Pursuit of Happiness
5.2 Soundtrack (2019)
5.2.1 Sam and Nellie
5.2.2 Interracial Love Issues
5.2.3 The Dream of a Balanced Life
6. Similarities and Differences of Social Issues, Black and Hispanic Representation and the American Dream Effect within West Side Story, La La Land, Soundtrack
6.1 The Depiction of Individualism and the Modern Tragedy
6.1.1 The Romeo and Juliet Idea
6.2 Black and Hispanic Representation within West Side, Story, Soundtrack and La La Land
6.2.1 Black and Hispanic Representation in West Side Story
6.2.2 Black Representation in La La Land
6.2.3 Black Representation in Soundtrack
6.3 Musicals as A Medium for American Reality
7. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This thesis examines how Film Musical Dramas reflect social issues by analyzing the tragic elements and the pursuit of the American Dream in West Side Story (1961), La La Land (2016), and the TV-series Soundtrack (2019).
- The tragic nature of modern film musicals compared to classical definitions.
- The influence of the American Dream on protagonist aspirations and struggles.
- Representation of racial and ethnic minorities (Hispanic and Black individuals).
- The role of musical sequences in expressing identity and social tension.
- Interracial love as a transformative and challenging narrative force.
Excerpt from the Book
4.1.2 Juvenile Gang Issues
Herrera refers to the Jets and Sharks as “juvenile” and he mentions the Puerto Ricans, who are being portrayed in the film as if they were carrying their load of problems with them to America as the embodiment of the bad people (cf. Herrera 2012, 235) as they are being represented. Following this representation, about the subject of two rival groups, it is clear that this tragedy is being influenced by a blood feud between two rival gangs jockeying for dominance in an impoverished Manhattan neighborhood of the 1950s (cf. Ibid. 235). By the same token, the youth criminality in the mid-1950s was just on the rise and as Herrera refers to them as “juvenile delinquents”, they were increasingly understood to be individual and unique in their own way, mostly white kids gone astray, while gangs were ethnically or racially identified groups of kids defending and violating ethno-racial boundaries (cf. Ibid. 235). Moreover, Arthur Miller (2010) argues that the gang violence did not just come from poor circumstances, but above all the excessive indulgence and boredom brought the barrel to overflowing.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Presents the scope of the thesis, focusing on the evolution of Film Musical Dramas and the significance of West Side Story as a fundamental reference point.
2. Theoretical Concepts of Forms of Tragedy, Aristotle, Shakespeare and Musical: Defines the theoretical foundations of tragedy, focusing on Aristotle's Poetics and the Shakespearean influence on modern tragic narratives.
3. The Concept of the American Dream, Ethnic Problems and Migration to the U.S. in the 1950/60s: Explores the socio-historical background of immigration, the American Dream, and the rise of theatrical liberalism in the U.S.
4. West Side Story (1961): Analyzes motives, themes, gang violence, and representation within the foundational film West Side Story.
5. Modern-Age Film Musicals: Discusses La La Land and Soundtrack, focusing on personal pursuit of happiness and contemporary social challenges.
6. Similarities and Differences of Social Issues, Black and Hispanic Representation and the American Dream Effect within West Side Story, La La Land, Soundtrack: Compares the selected works regarding character representation, individual struggle, and the depiction of American reality.
7. Conclusion: Summarizes findings on how Film Musical Dramas utilize tragic elements to reflect and address complex social issues across decades.
Keywords
West Side Story, La La Land, Soundtrack, Film Musical Drama, American Dream, Tragedy, Juvenile Delinquency, Puerto Rican Migration, Racial Representation, Theatrical Liberalism, Individualism, Social Issues, Interracial Love, Ethnic Stereotypes, Media Representation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this Master Thesis?
The thesis explores how Film Musical Dramas serve as a reflection of societal issues, specifically analyzing the intersection of the American Dream, tragic narrative structures, and racial representation in the chosen media.
Which films and shows are analyzed in the work?
The analysis focuses on the classic film West Side Story (1961) and contrasts it with the modern musical La La Land (2016) and the Netflix musical series Soundtrack (2019).
What is the primary research question?
The central question is: How do Film Musical Dramas reflect social issues through the basic aspects of a tragedy?
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The research uses a comparative analysis of cinematic narratives, incorporating sociological concepts, literary theory regarding tragedy, and historical contexts of immigration in the United States.
What topics are discussed in the main part?
The main part covers the historical context of the American Dream, the representation of Puerto Rican and Black minorities, the use of dance as a narrative tool, and the portrayal of modern youth and gang issues.
Which keywords define this thesis?
Key terms include West Side Story, American Dream, tragedy, social issues, migration, ethnic representation, and musical theater as a medium for reality.
How does the author define the function of "Theatrical Liberalism" in these musicals?
The author defines it as a worldview that enabled immigrants, particularly Jewish-Americans, to negotiate their identity and express self-fashioning within the American public sphere through entertainment.
What conclusion does the author draw regarding the representation of Black characters?
The author argues that while these works touch upon racial themes, they often rely on stereotypes or marginalize Black characters, maintaining white dominance even when utilizing musical influences from Black culture.
How is the concept of death interpreted in these musical dramas?
Death is analyzed as both an unavoidable tragic consequence and a narrative device that reflects the limitations of the protagonists' struggles against societal constraints.
- Quote paper
- Manar-Marc Soukar (Author), 2021, The Basics of Tragedy. How Film Musical Dramas reflect social issues, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1066430
