When Mamma Mia! opened in theaters in the summer of 2008, many reviewers were less than enthusiastic about the film adaptation of the popular stage musical. While the storyline of 20-year old Sophie living on a Greek island with her single parent mother and embarking on a quest to find her father was declared to be flat and incoherent, the cinematic realization of the stage version has similarly been regarded as unsatisfactory. In spite of critics’ dismay, however, Mamma Mia! achieved great box office success.
The discrepancy between reviewers’ predictions and the actual perception of audiences raises the question of the origin of Mamma Mia!’s popularity. Ashley Elaine York categorizes Mamma Mia!, amongst others, as a “new breed of women’s giants […] best be described as `women’s blockbusters´ and touted as the newest conglomerate trend”. While this relatively broad definition of the woman’s blockbuster and its keys for success is applied by York to different genres and will also be considered, this paper mainly sets out to look at several of its aspects from the point of view of musical studies. Particular emphasis will be put on the use of the well-known ABBA music and its function within the movie and for audience’s reception and involvement as the categorization of the film as a so called jukebox musical will be discussed. Thus, the following questions will be investigated in the course of this paper: Can Mamma Mia! be classified as a jukebox musical, deriving its success from its nostalgic representation of the much loved ABBA music, or does it go beyond this classification to reinterpret the songs in an innovative fashion?
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Mamma Mia! as a Jukebox Musical
- The Jukebox Musical
- ABBA's success story
- Mamma Mia! as a jukebox musical
- Beyond the jukebox? ABBA songs reinterpreted
- Adding comedic elements
- Enhancing the role of women
- Conclusion
- Works Cited
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper examines the popularity of the film adaptation of the musical Mamma Mia!, despite negative critical reception. It investigates whether the film's success stems from its nostalgic use of ABBA's music as a jukebox musical or from innovative reinterpretations of the songs. The analysis focuses on audience reception and emotional involvement, considering the film within the context of "women's blockbusters."
- The definition and characteristics of the jukebox musical.
- ABBA's musical success and its cultural impact.
- The role of nostalgia in audience reception of Mamma Mia!
- Innovative reinterpretations of ABBA songs in the film.
- The depiction of women and their journeys in the film's narrative.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the central paradox of Mamma Mia!'s immense box office success despite overwhelmingly negative critical reviews. It highlights the discrepancy between critics who panned the film's thin plot and incoherent storyline and audiences who embraced it. The chapter introduces Ashley Elaine York's concept of the "women's blockbuster," a genre characterized by high-concept plots with broad appeal, themes of female empowerment, and significant franchising potential. Mamma Mia! fits this model due to its easily translatable plot, the use of popular actors, and the exploitation of the ABBA brand. The chapter lays the groundwork for the following analysis by focusing on the musical aspects of the film and posing the central question of whether Mamma Mia!'s success lies in its nostalgic use of ABBA's music or innovative reinterpretations of the songs.
Mamma Mia! as a Jukebox Musical: This section delves into the nature of the jukebox musical as a subgenre of film musicals, characterized by the prioritization of pre-existing popular songs over a complex plot. It explores the critical reception of jukebox musicals, often viewed as commercially driven and lacking in narrative depth. The chapter then analyzes how Mamma Mia! fits within this framework, emphasizing the role of audience familiarity with ABBA's music in creating nostalgia and emotional involvement. The audience’s pre-existing relationship with the music fosters a sense of collective memory and participatory experience, transcending the role of mere onlookers. This participatory aspect is central to the film's success, moving beyond a simple amplification of the songs' original contexts.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Mamma Mia!, jukebox musical, ABBA, nostalgia, women's blockbuster, audience reception, film adaptation, musical analysis, popular music, female empowerment, comedic elements, song reinterpretation.
Mamma Mia! Film Analysis: Frequently Asked Questions
What is this document about?
This document provides a comprehensive preview of a paper analyzing the success of the Mamma Mia! film adaptation. It examines the film's popularity despite negative critical reviews, focusing on the role of ABBA's music, audience reception, and the film's place within the "women's blockbuster" genre.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The key themes include the definition and characteristics of jukebox musicals; ABBA's musical success and cultural impact; the role of nostalgia in audience reception of Mamma Mia!; innovative reinterpretations of ABBA songs in the film; and the depiction of women and their journeys in the film's narrative. The paper also investigates whether the film's success stems from its use of ABBA's music or innovative reinterpretations of the songs.
What is the central question addressed in the paper?
The central question is whether Mamma Mia!'s success lies in its nostalgic use of ABBA's music or in innovative reinterpretations of the songs within the film's narrative.
What is the structure of the paper?
The paper is structured as follows: Introduction, Mamma Mia! as a Jukebox Musical (including sections on jukebox musicals, ABBA's success, and Mamma Mia! as a jukebox musical; and a further section on reinterpretations of ABBA songs and comedic elements), Beyond the Jukebox? ABBA songs reinterpreted (including sections on adding comedic elements and enhancing the role of women), Conclusion, and Works Cited.
What are the chapter summaries?
The introduction highlights the paradox of Mamma Mia!'s success despite negative reviews and introduces the concept of the "women's blockbuster." The chapter on Mamma Mia! as a jukebox musical explores the genre and analyzes how the film uses ABBA's music to create nostalgia and emotional involvement. Further chapters delve into the reinterpretation of ABBA songs and the portrayal of women within the narrative. The conclusion summarizes the findings.
What are the keywords associated with this analysis?
The keywords include: Mamma Mia!, jukebox musical, ABBA, nostalgia, women's blockbuster, audience reception, film adaptation, musical analysis, popular music, female empowerment, comedic elements, song reinterpretation.
What is a "women's blockbuster," as mentioned in the document?
The document refers to Ashley Elaine York's concept of the "women's blockbuster," a genre characterized by high-concept plots with broad appeal, themes of female empowerment, and significant franchising potential. Mamma Mia! is considered to fit this model due to its easily translatable plot, popular actors, and the exploitation of the ABBA brand.
How does the paper analyze the use of ABBA's music in the film?
The paper analyzes how the pre-existing familiarity with ABBA's music fosters nostalgia and emotional involvement in the audience, creating a participatory experience that transcends mere observation.
- Quote paper
- Master of Arts Amelie Meyer (Author), 2012, Nostalgia and Innovation in the songs of "Mamma Mia!", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/537883
