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.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- The early developments of Santa Claus in US media
- Representation of Santa Claus
- Miracle on 34th Street - summary
- Klaus-summary
- Representation in relation to various factors
- Development of the role Santa Claus in the movies in comparison
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This term paper investigates the representation of Santa Claus in U.S. media culture. It explores various literary texts and presents different depictions of the character. The paper aims to provide an overview of these representations and their origins.
- The evolution of Santa Claus in US media
- The different interpretations of Santa Claus in film and literature
- The influence of cultural factors on the representation of Santa Claus
- The impact of Santa Claus on Christmas culture in the United States
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The introduction delves into the early development of Santa Claus in U.S. media, tracing his origins and initial portrayal. It explores how the character evolved from a simple figure in newspapers to a beloved symbol of Christmas, drawing on historical accounts and sources.
The chapter on the representation of Santa Claus examines specific film adaptations. It provides summaries of "Miracle on 34th Street" and "Klaus," analyzing how these movies present different interpretations of the character and how they contribute to the evolving understanding of Santa Claus in popular culture.
The analysis of Santa Claus's representation in relation to various factors examines the influence of cultural, historical, and societal contexts on the character's depiction. This chapter explores how the changing values and perceptions of society impact the way Santa Claus is portrayed in different media.
The chapter on the development of Santa Claus's role in movies explores how the character's portrayal has changed over time. It analyzes the evolution of Santa Claus in film, comparing different adaptations and examining the impact of these changes on the character's image and cultural significance.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The main keywords and focus topics of the text include Santa Claus, Christmas culture, U.S. media, film adaptations, literary representations, cultural influences, historical context, and the evolution of the character.
- Quote paper
- Johanna Paul (Author), 2022, Representation of Santa Claus in US-American movies, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1397762
