The film "King Kong" is one of the most famous films of Pre Code Hollywood. Its success was referred to the variety of topics and narratives that the film includes, combined with an excellent use of sound and special effects. This text lays the focus on the aspect of gender roles in the film.
It will be shown that especially the figure of Ann Darrow embodies different stereotypes and that she can be seen as an example for an independent woman but also as a model for a more traditional image of womanhood. First of all the various contexts shall be presented (Historical context, men and women during the Great Depression and Hollywood during the Great Depression).
After that follows a short analysis of two other important aspects, the Woman´s film and the aspect of race in expedition films. Both of them are strongly interwoven with the question about gender roles in "King Kong". Finally the main characters in "King Kong" are going to be analyzed in view of the gender roles they embody and also how they change.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Historical Context
3. Men and Women during the Great Depression
4. Hollywood during the Great Depression
5. Hollywood and Gender in General- The Woman´s film
6. The Role of Race in Expedition Films
7. The Gender Roles in King Kong
8. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This work examines the representation of gender roles in the 1933 film "King Kong" against the backdrop of the socio-economic crisis of the Great Depression and the artistic freedom of the Pre-Code Hollywood era. It explores how the film mirrors contemporary anxieties and traditionalist values, analyzing whether the narrative functions as a "Woman's film" and how the main characters embody or challenge prevailing gender and racial stereotypes of the time.
- The impact of the Great Depression on American societal values and gender roles.
- The influence of Pre-Code Hollywood's lack of censorship on narrative themes.
- The definition and structural elements of the "Woman's film" genre.
- The intersection of racial discourse and gender stereotypes in expedition films.
- An analytical breakdown of the characters Carl Denham, Jack, Ann Darrow, and Kong.
Excerpt from the Book
The Gender Roles in King Kong
The film King Kong is universally in the American imagination. It is the perfect synthesis of the genres and tropes of Pre-Code Hollywood. The film consists of equal parts expeditionary, horror and romantic movie and was also a special effect showcase, like no film before. The film was released in 1933 at a time when the American society still suffered from the Great Depression. The Success of the film was also a timely reaffirmation of Hollywood as dream factory in virtuoso command of the artistic and technological tools of motion picture making. Before King Kong special effects had only be used as pleasure of the pure spectacle, not to construct an unrealistic and fantastic narrative. The deployment of the sound also helped the fantastic to attain a higher pitch of realism. In giving the puppets, as victim of Kong´s violence a voice, the film stretched the limits of the pre-Code license. RKO benefitted from the MPPDA double standard whereby the more prestigious the studio and the more expensive the film, the wider the latitude by censorship. B-movies on the other side were held to more rigorous standards (Doherty 1999: 292).
As part of the popular culture the film mirrors the cultural and social developments and circumstances of the time. The next paragraph will present the different characters of the film and analyze them under the aspect of the gender images and roles that the film includes.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Outlines the focus on gender roles in the film "King Kong" and introduces the methodology of analyzing the film within the context of the Great Depression and other specific film genres.
Historical Context: Examines the impact of the Great Depression on American society and how the New Deal aimed to reinforce traditional gender roles and breadwinner models.
Men and Women during the Great Depression: Discusses the identity crisis faced by men and the contradictory societal expectations placed upon women during the economic collapse.
Hollywood during the Great Depression: Analyzes how the film industry used sound technology and escapist themes to navigate economic challenges and reflect societal values.
Hollywood and Gender in General- The Woman´s film: Defines the characteristics of the "Woman's film" and differentiates its female-centric narratives from male-oriented adventure or action dramas.
The Role of Race in Expedition Films: Explores how racial conflicts and "otherness" were depicted in 1930s cinema, often using white female characters as symbols of white purity threatened by foreign or black entities.
The Gender Roles in King Kong: Provides a detailed analysis of the main characters, showing how they navigate shifting gender expectations throughout the narrative.
Conclusion: Summarizes how "King Kong" uses its blend of genres and technological innovation to reinforce traditional social structures in response to the insecurities caused by the Great Depression.
Keywords
King Kong, Pre-Code Hollywood, Great Depression, Gender Roles, Woman's Film, Expedition Films, Racial Stereotypes, Ann Darrow, Carl Denham, Escapism, Social Crisis, Film History, American Cinema, Traditionalism, Identity Crisis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this academic work?
The work focuses on analyzing the representation of gender roles within the 1933 film "King Kong" in the context of the American Great Depression.
Which specific film era is analyzed?
The study examines the "Pre-Code Hollywood" era, specifically the years between 1930 and 1934, characterized by minimal censorship.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to explore how the film embodies and mirrors the contemporary societal transformations and the shift toward more traditionalist values during the 1930s.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The author uses a historical-contextual analysis combined with film analysis to examine narrative tropes, character arcs, and the influence of cultural discourse on cinema.
What is covered in the main body of the text?
The main body covers historical developments, the impact of the economic crisis, the "Woman's film" genre, racial discourse in adventure movies, and a character analysis of King Kong's leads.
Which keywords define this study?
Key terms include King Kong, Pre-Code Hollywood, Gender Roles, Great Depression, Woman's Film, and Racial Stereotypes.
How does the film represent the character of Ann Darrow?
Ann is presented as an initially independent "flapper girl" who, through the narrative, is forced back into a traditional female role as a partner to a male hero.
In what way does the film use the character of Kong?
Kong is analyzed as a symbol for both the racial conflict of the era and the "outlived" free sexuality that threatens the traditional social domestic structure.
- Quote paper
- B.A. Fabian Lukas (Author), 2015, Gender roles in "King Kong" (1933). Ann Darrow as an example for independent women or the traditional image of womanhood??, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/321385
