This term paper is concerned with the representation of Santa Claus in U.S. media culture. Various literary texts are examined, and the different representations of the character Santa Claus are presented.
What would a pre-Christmas season be without Santa in movies or in books? Or without seeing a Santa Claus in songs or his face in every store? The character "Santa Claus" is everywhere during winter, and it's hard to imagine Christmas culture without him. Whether in movies, literature, or songs; the story of the fictional character is told everywhere and made believable to children.
Especially in the American culture, Christmas would be nothing without the representation of Santa Claus. But there are many different versions and stories of the big old man with the white beard: Sometimes he has magical abilities, can fly, and fits through a very narrow chimney shaft. In other stories, he has a long list and knows which child was good and which was not. Occasionally, it is a normal person who is turned into Santa Claus by special behaviors and in other cases the historical side of St Nicholas is brought up.
All these different pictured types of Santa Claus have built a huge Christmas culture, both in the media and in commercialization in real life. The target of this term paper is to give an overview of the different representations of Santa in US Media and highlight how they originated.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
1.1 The early developments of Santa Claus in US media
2. Representation of Santa Claus
2.1 Miracle on 34th Street - summary
2.2 Klaus - summary
2.3 Representation in relation to various factors
2.4 Development of the role Santa Claus in the movies in comparison
3. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This term paper examines the cultural representation of Santa Claus within U.S. media, specifically analyzing how the character is portrayed, evolved, and utilized across different filmic depictions to shape public perception and Christmas traditions.
- Evolution of the Santa Claus archetype in American cinema
- Comparative analysis of "Miracle on 34th Street" and "Klaus"
- The intersection of Santa Claus, consumerism, and commercialization
- Psychological and social significance of belief in the Santa figure
- Cross-generational transformation of character traits and magical abilities
Excerpt from the book
1. Introduction
What would a pre-Christmas season be without Santa in movies or in books? Or without seeing a Santa Claus in songs or his face in every store?
The character Santa Claus is everywhere during the winter season and it's hard to imagine Christmas culture without him. Whether in movies, literature or songs, the story of the fictional character is told everywhere and made believable to children. Especially in the American culture Christmas would be nothing without the representation of Santa Claus. But there are many different versions and stories of the big old man with the white beard: Sometimes he has magical abilities, can fly and fits through a very narrow chimney shaft. In other stories he has a long list and knows which child was good and which was not. Occasionally it is a normal person who is turned into Santa Claus by special behaviors and in other cases the historical side of St Nicholas is brought up.
All these different pictured types of Santa Claus have built a huge Christmas culture both in the media and in commercialization in real life. The target of this term paper is to give an overview of the different representations of Santa in US Media and highlight how they originated.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Introduces the ubiquity of the Santa Claus figure in American culture and outlines the paper's goal to explore the origins and diversity of these representations.
1.1 The early developments of Santa Claus in US media: Details the historical emergence of Santa Claus in newspapers, literature, and early film, tracing the solidification of his stereotypical characteristics.
2. Representation of Santa Claus: Explains the criteria for selecting the films "Miracle on 34th Street" and "Klaus" for a comparative analysis of the character's embodiment.
2.1 Miracle on 34th Street - summary: Provides an overview of the 1994 film plot, focusing on Kriss Kringle's role and the legal/social validation of his existence.
2.2 Klaus - summary: Summarizes the origin story depicted in the animated feature "Klaus" and the transformation of the title character into a gift-giving figure.
2.3 Representation in relation to various factors: Investigates the visual and commercial aspects of Santa Claus, analyzing advertisements and the concept of Santa as a marketing tool.
2.4 Development of the role Santa Claus in the movies in comparison: Contrasts the personal development of Kriss Kringle with the character arc of Klaus, highlighting their differing paths to becoming the definitive icon.
3. Conclusion: Summarizes the paper's findings, affirming that despite media innovations, the core cultural belief and functions of Santa Claus remain remarkably consistent.
Keywords
Santa Claus, U.S. media, Miracle on 34th Street, Klaus, Christmas culture, film analysis, commercialization, St. Nicholas, Kriss Kringle, representation, cultural icon, storytelling, narrative, belief, legacy
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper focuses on the representation of Santa Claus in U.S. media culture, specifically analyzing how the character is portrayed in film and how these depictions influence societal belief and Christmas traditions.
Which films are analyzed as primary case studies?
The primary case studies are the classic "Miracle on 34th Street" (1994 version) and the contemporary animated feature "Klaus" (2019).
What is the central research objective?
The goal is to provide a comprehensive overview of the different representations of Santa Claus in American media and to highlight how these versions originated and evolved over time.
What scientific approach does the author use?
The author employs a comparative film and media analysis, looking at specific cultural factors, commercial influences, and narrative structures to evaluate how the character is constructed.
What does the main body cover?
It covers the historical development of Santa in U.S. media, summaries and comparisons of the two selected films, and an exploration of Santa's role in commercialization and advertising.
Which keywords define the scope of this work?
Key terms include Santa Claus, U.S. media, film analysis, Christmas culture, commercialization, and narrative representation.
How is the representation of Santa in "Klaus" different from traditional depictions?
In "Klaus," he is perceived as an ordinary person whose transformation into a mythical gift-giver occurs gradually through his own selfless actions, rather than being treated as a magical given from the start.
What conclusion does the author reach regarding the future of Santa Claus in media?
The author concludes that despite modern reinterpretations and alternative origin stories, Santa Claus remains a stable and essential cultural icon that is not in danger of being lost or forgotten.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Johanna Paul (Autor:in), 2022, Representation of Santa Claus in US-American movies, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1397762
