Steven Spielberg was born in 1946 in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was an armature film maker as he grew up moving several times and spending most of his youth in Arizona. He attended California State University Long Beach before dropping out to pursue his career in entertainment. In 1957, he gained experience as an unaccredited assistant editor in Wagon train the western classic. In 1961, he made an effort directing Battle squad which made a combination of footage of a plane on the ground, and that of World War II. In the late 1960s, he became a director for Universal and with the help of a television film, called duel in 1972; he got the opportunity to become a director. This paper will seek to analyze his life and the impact he had on culture.
Discussion
Steven Spielberg began his career as an amateur recording films as a child using the family camera. He started by recording family events, and then proceeded to film narratives with the camera set at different angles. He then filmed a movie at around twelve years of age using a script and cast of actors. At sixteen, he managed to film a science fiction movie titled firelight which was more than two hours long. In one night of showing the film, it earned $100 more than it had cost to produce (Film makers para 3). Later on, Spielberg produced a twenty four minute movie entitled Amblin which led to Universal signing him up as the youngest director on a long term deal. The movie won many festival awards leading to the signing of a contract of seven years under the television division. It is then that he directed "duel" which was well received and released to the theatres (Film makers para 5).
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Discussion
- How his upbringing led to his impact on culture
- His impact on culture
- Criticism
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to analyze the life of Steven Spielberg and the impact he has had on culture. The paper explores how his upbringing and personal experiences influenced his filmmaking, and examines the cultural impact of his movies.
- Spielberg's early life and his passion for filmmaking.
- The cultural impact of Spielberg's films, exploring themes of war, slavery, racism, family, and the existence of extraterrestrial life.
- The influence of Spielberg's personal experiences, such as anti-Semitism and his Jewish heritage, on his filmmaking.
- Both positive and negative criticism of Spielberg's work.
- The lasting impact of Spielberg's films on society and culture.
Chapter Summaries
The first chapter provides an overview of Spielberg's early life, highlighting his passion for filmmaking from a young age. It traces his journey from amateur filmmaking to his professional career at Universal Studios. The second chapter discusses the impact of Spielberg's upbringing on his work, exploring how his family life, personal experiences, and challenges shaped his perspective and themes in his films.
The third chapter delves into the significant cultural impact of Spielberg's films, focusing on how his work addressed historical issues such as Nazism, racism, and slavery. It also examines the influence of his films on viewers' perceptions of war, family dynamics, and the possibility of extraterrestrial life.
Finally, the chapter addresses both positive and negative criticism of Spielberg's work, acknowledging the emotional impact and social relevance of his films while also considering criticisms regarding their sentimentality and lack of intellectual depth.
Keywords
The key themes and concepts explored in this paper include: Steven Spielberg, filmmaking, cultural impact, childhood influences, war, slavery, racism, family, extraterrestrial life, anti-Semitism, Jewish heritage, criticism, blockbusters, historical issues, social commentary, and the power of film.
- Quote paper
- Richards Macdonald (Author), 2011, Steven Spielberg and his effects on culture, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/213353
