This paper will try to work and point out parallels and differences between a classical piece of American literature, Henry David Thoreau’s Walden, and contemporary Hollywood blockbuster cinema, represented by Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park. Point of departure and main focus of this paper will be the concept and aspects of the frontier and it’s reoccurrence as a mythological tool throughout American cultural history. After establishing the historical concept of the frontier, I will therefore go ahead and dig for traces of how this is woven into both works, which in conclusion will hopefully show the assumed American cultural connection between the later acclaimed book written some 150 years ago looking deep into the romantic soul of its protagonist and a consumerist movie from the early nineties that was able to use the benefits of a huge marketing machine to attract its viewership and became a worldwide box office hit. The usefulness of such an undertaking may be questionable for followers of classical cultural American studies but I would like to go with Paul Lauter here and filter out the trivial in mass culture to get to the subject’s core of meaning. Essays from his book From Walden Pond to Jurassic Park inspired to look for similarities in those two pieces and maybe find a development of what the concept of the frontier has been transformed into through societal and cultural changes within the last century.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- The Frontier in American Society
- Concept and Myth
- Thoreau and Walden
- Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to analyze the concept of the frontier in American culture by examining both a classical piece of American literature, Walden by Henry David Thoreau, and a contemporary Hollywood blockbuster, Jurassic Park by Steven Spielberg. The paper will focus on the historical concept of the frontier and its reoccurrence as a mythological tool throughout American history. It will then explore how this concept is woven into both Walden and Jurassic Park, ultimately demonstrating the connection between these seemingly disparate works.
- The concept of the frontier in American society and its historical evolution
- The frontier as a mythological tool in American culture
- The frontier in Walden and its relation to Thoreau's philosophy
- The frontier in Jurassic Park and its contemporary significance
- The transformation of the frontier concept through societal and cultural changes
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: The introduction outlines the purpose and scope of the paper, focusing on the concept of the frontier and its significance in American culture. It discusses the parallels and differences between Thoreau's Walden and Spielberg's Jurassic Park, aiming to demonstrate the enduring influence of the frontier myth.
- The Frontier in American Society: This chapter explores the historical concept of the frontier, starting with Frederick Jackson Turner's frontier thesis. It discusses the definition of the frontier as a borderline between wilderness and civilization, highlighting the role of the frontier in shaping American identity and culture.
- Thoreau and Walden: This chapter analyzes Walden through the lens of the frontier, exploring how Thoreau's solitary experience at Walden Pond reflects both the historical frontier and its broader philosophical implications. It discusses the distinction between an outer and inner frontier, arguing that Thoreau's retreat to nature represents a quest for simplicity and self-reliance.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The primary keywords and focus topics of this paper include: American culture, frontier, frontier thesis, wilderness, civilization, mythology, Walden, Henry David Thoreau, Jurassic Park, Steven Spielberg, cultural history, identity construction, popular culture, technological frontier, societal changes.
- Quote paper
- Andreas Schwarz (Author), 2011, The Key Concept of the Frontier Transformed - From "Walden" to "Jurassic Park", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/187499
