At the beginning of the year 2010, movie critic Bob Mondello triumphantly declared “It's going to be another musical decade,” noting the way the previous ten years have prompted a movie musical “resurgence” paving the road for a bright music-filled future.
When looking at the history of musicals over the course of time, this does not always seem to be the case. In spite of the fact that the film musical was an audience favorite during its “Golden Age” era (1927 until the mid-1950s) and celebrating great successes such as 42nd Street (1933) or Singin’ in the Rain (1952), it seems to have deteriorated in quality and reputation. Since recent movie musicals apparently have hit a different, more successful, nerve with audiences, the question is why the genre now sees an uplift in box office numbers. Which elements of recent movie musicals keep audiences glued to the screen? How do they work in tapping into audiences’ emotions, prompting them to participate?
This thesis will be influenced by the methodology of reception study scholar Janet Staiger. Staiger’s 1992 Interpreting Film: Studies in the Historical Reception of American Cinema and Perverse Spectators (2000) reconsider the way audiences make sense of films. With her historical materialist approach taking into account all “traces” of audiences interacting with filmic material, she sets out to find an understanding of why certain films prove to be successful with audiences at certain times (Kemper). She investigates the “modes of address and exhibition,” “establishes the identities and interpretative strategies and tactics brought by spectators to the cinema” and acknowledges cultural groups such as fans who “produce their own conventionalized modes of reception” (23; emphasis in original).
It is the purpose of this thesis, then, to take up the approach of looking at the “contact zone” (Kemper) between films and audiences in order to investigate filmic addresses fostering audience engagement. In doing so, an assortment of recent film musicals that have achieved considerable box office success including Moulin Rouge!, Across the Universe, Hairspray, and Mamma Mia! will be analyzed with regard to particular addresses picked up by audiences, thereby creating the “event” of movie-going. The central question investigated here then asks: Which elements of a particular film are focused on by critical reports and how do these elements shape the movie-going experience, participation, and engagement of viewers?
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- The Film Musical and the Study of Film Audiences: A Theoretical Background
- The Fluctuating Popularity of the Film Musical
- From Spectators to Audiences
- The Use of Pre-Existing Material
- The Jukebox Musical
- Showcasing the Songbooks of Mega Bands in Across the Universe and Mamma Mia!
- Spotting the Song: The Anachronistic Use of Music in Moulin Rouge!
- The Conscious Extravagance of Camp
- The Camp Sensibility
- Camp's Spectacle and Tragedy in Moulin Rouge!
- The Camp Journey towards Self-Affirmation in Hairspray
- Nostalgic Remembrances and Reinventions of the Past
- Nostalgia as a Form of Narrative in Film Musicals
- "Grow Back Down Again!:” Personal and Collective Remembering in Mamma Mia!
- Rewriting History in Hairspray
- The Focus on Female Validation and Empowerment
- Developments in Women's Films
- Revisiting ABBA's Songs: The Power of Friendship and Independence in Mamma Mia!
- Role Reversals and Power Shifts in Across the Universe
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This thesis aims to explore the factors contributing to the recent resurgence of popularity in film musicals, examining the elements that engage audiences and their emotional responses to these films. Through the lens of reception study, specifically the work of Janet Staiger, the analysis will focus on the "modes of address" employed in these musicals, analyzing how they connect with specific audiences and create a sense of shared experience.- The revival of the film musical genre and its appeal to contemporary audiences.
- The use of pre-existing music and its impact on the narrative and audience engagement.
- The role of camp aesthetics in creating a unique and engaging spectacle.
- The exploration of nostalgia and its influence on the narrative and audience reception.
- The depiction of female empowerment and its significance in contemporary film musicals.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: The chapter provides a contextual overview of the film musical genre and its recent resurgence in popularity, highlighting the success of films like Mamma Mia!, Moulin Rouge!, and Hairspray. It introduces the concept of "modes of address" and the methodology of reception study as the framework for analyzing audience engagement.
- The Film Musical and the Study of Film Audiences: A Theoretical Background: This chapter delves into the history of the film musical, discussing its fluctuating popularity and evolution over time. It examines the transition from the concept of spectators to audiences, emphasizing the importance of understanding audience reception and their active role in constructing meaning.
- The Use of Pre-Existing Material: The chapter explores the use of pre-existing musical material in film musicals, focusing on the "jukebox musical" format and its specific examples in Across the Universe and Mamma Mia!. It also analyzes the anachronistic use of music in Moulin Rouge! and its effect on the narrative and audience perception.
- The Conscious Extravagance of Camp: This chapter examines the role of camp aesthetics in film musicals, exploring the concept of camp sensibility and its impact on the spectacle and narrative. It analyzes the camp elements in Moulin Rouge! and Hairspray, exploring their connection to themes of tragedy, self-affirmation, and social commentary.
- Nostalgic Remembrances and Reinventions of the Past: This chapter explores the theme of nostalgia in film musicals, examining its role in shaping the narrative and audience reception. It analyzes the use of nostalgia in Mamma Mia! and Hairspray, exploring the personal and collective memories evoked by these films.
- The Focus on Female Validation and Empowerment: The chapter examines the increasing focus on female empowerment and validation in contemporary film musicals. It analyzes the representation of female characters and their agency in Mamma Mia! and Across the Universe, exploring the themes of friendship, independence, and role reversals.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This thesis explores the "modes of address" employed in contemporary film musicals, examining the factors contributing to their recent resurgence in popularity. Key concepts include reception study, audience engagement, camp aesthetics, nostalgia, female empowerment, and the use of pre-existing music in narrative storytelling. The analysis focuses on films such as Mamma Mia!, Moulin Rouge!, Hairspray, Across the Universe, and Les Misérables.- Quote paper
- Amelie Meyer (Author), 2014, The Musical as Event. Modes of Address in Contemporary Film Musicals, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/537850
