In order to find an answer to the question in how far Wall Street is melodramatic and how that helps to process contemporary moral quests, it is necessary to expound the key elements of Williams and Brooks melodrama theories. The theoretical framework will be followed by a short socio-historical context that is necessary to understand the significance of both the research object and the moral vacuum it tries to fill. Afterwards, the plot of Wall Street will be outlined and analyzed with regard how and why it is melodramatic. Since melodrama heavily relies on visual language, the mise-en-scène will be examined to an equal extent as the story. With those two sub-chapters as an extensive context, in the following subchapter the characters and their motivations will be investigated. They will be also analyzed with a special attention regarding their representative nature and how they are historically conditioned. A main theme in this context will be the question of moral identity and a feeling of belonging. The conclusion will provide an answer to the research question to how and why Oliver Stone’s Wall Street can be classified as being melodramatic. As minor section of the conclusion will also provide a short commentary of the cultural impact of the movie and how it was and is perceived
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Melodrama Theory
- Historical context: Reaganomics and neoliberalism
- Analysis of Wall Street
- Wall Street's story and its melodramatic elements
- The characters and their representative function
- Analysis of the Mise-en-scène and the subtext it produces
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to analyze Oliver Stone’s 1987 film, Wall Street, through the lens of melodrama theory to understand how the movie processes the cultural and ideological shifts of the 1980s in the United States. It explores the film's use of the melodramatic mode as a means of navigating the moral uncertainties of an era marked by rampant materialism, consumerism, and neoliberal ideology.
- The influence of Reaganomics and neoliberal ideology on American culture and identity
- The role of melodrama in addressing moral anxieties in a secularized world
- The use of visual language and mise-en-scène to convey subtext and ideological commentary
- The representation of characters and their motivations in relation to historical context and societal anxieties
- The impact of Wall Street on Western pop culture and its enduring relevance
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The introduction sets the stage by outlining the research question, which examines the extent to which Wall Street employs the melodramatic mode in the context of the 1980s. It establishes the theoretical framework, drawing upon the works of Linda Williams and Peter Brooks, who both argue that melodrama functions as a key mode of American cinema, particularly during periods of cultural and moral flux.
The chapter on melodrama theory delves deeper into the theoretical concepts of Williams and Brooks. It highlights the role of melodrama in providing a means of exploring morality and ethics in a secularized world, where traditional religious frameworks have diminished. The discussion emphasizes the use of individual characters to represent virtue and evil, and the reliance on emotional engagement and direct expressions of moral judgment.
The chapter on the socio-historical context examines the rise of Reaganomics and neoliberalism in the 1980s. It describes the cultural and ideological shifts that took place during this period, marked by a shift towards materialism, consumerism, and a focus on economic success as a primary measure of value. The chapter explores the tensions between this emphasis on economic growth and traditional American values, particularly in the context of the Wall Street financial world.
The analysis of Wall Street begins by outlining the movie's plot, which revolves around the ambitious stockbroker Bud Fox and his relationship with the influential corporate raider, Gordon Gekko. The chapter explores the film's melodramatic elements, including the heightened emotions, dramatic confrontations, and the use of visual language to convey subtext and meaning.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The key themes and concepts explored in this paper include: melodrama theory, American cinema, Reaganomics, neoliberalism, Wall Street, Gordon Gekko, Bud Fox, morality, ethics, mise-en-scène, visual language, cultural shifts, 1980s, materialism, consumerism, identity construction, moral anxieties.
- Quote paper
- Leah Lena Sartoris (Author), 2021, Is Greed Good? Wall Street and its use of the melodramatic mode, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1176380
