Awesome Background Analytical Response

Throughout history, theatre and entertainment in general has had a major impact on the lives of Americans, whether they are the audience members chewing on their popcorn fresh out of the kettle, or the beautiful celebrities walking down the red carpet. There are many famous actors and actresses today, but those older and more historic figures are what seem to have the greatest impact on how movies and musicals are now viewed. But the entertainment industry is a business industry, and hopefully, a positive theater experience will lift the spirits of the audience and will bring more success to that production.
Shirley Temple, who now goes by Shirley Temple Black, was a famous young actress during the years of the Great Depression. She was like today’s Hannah Montana, only a lot younger. She was a very talented actress, singer, and dancer. The triple threat! Although that is seen so often nowadays, she had a different appeal to her audience. Part of what made her so successful was the time period that she was living in. During the Depression, many people were not able to find joy in their lives. While talking about the goals of the screenwriters for the Shirley Temple films, the article says, “to entertain Depression-era audiences with the cuteness and precociousness of a child who helps adults solve problems” (Shirley Temple). This illustrates the fact that Temple was to raise the spirits of the population during that time of turmoil. When an adorable 9 year-old girl was performing on the big screen, audiences were able to get away from the feeling of hopelessness that they were living with. In a way, Shirley Temple was a savior to some because her entertainment acted as an escape from the real world, as it still does today.
Almost everyone knows of the famous Ginger Rodgers. Along with Shirley Temple, she was another woman who entertained during the Depression with new dance moves and classic lines, such as “Cigarette me, big boy,” from Top Speed in 1930. Her success first came in the dancing industry, and from there, she moved on to dance in films with her famous partner, Fred Astaire. Together, they were able to open up a path to a different style of dancing that was more focused on how it looked on film. Many of her years in show business were considered to be the Golden Age of Hollywood. Again, this was not only due to the numerous talents that emerged during the ‘30s and ‘40s, but also because of what that entertainment meant at that time. From the Great Depression to WWII, America did not have it easy, and this was this break from reality that helped this country to manage these tough times.
Where would the dancers be without the music?! Not only were there significant figures in the movie industry, but also in the theatre department as well. Richard Rogers, Oscar Hammerstein, and Lorenz Hart; these men were composers and lyricists who wrote the songs to numerous musical productions. Some of these include: Babes in Arms, Oklahoma!, and South Pacific. It first started with Rodgers and Hart, but after Hart’s death in 1943, Rodgers and Hammerstein teamed up to continue their career in songwriting. According to the article about the life of Richard Rogers, they (including Hart) also created more songs that had “Musical numbers more closely tied to plot, and transitional passages that bridged stage actions” (Richard Rodgers). This way, it was not just a bunch of people randomly singing and dancing a song that sounded good. These new songs actually had to do with the plot of the show. After Hammerstein’s death, Rodgers continued composing, but he never had as much success as he did with his partners. This is a very common occurrence in all areas of life, where some people are more successful when they work together.
Not only is the entertainment industry meant to please its audiences, it is also meant to make money. Broadway, one of the most famous names in entertainment, works the same way as any company in America does. They find what the public is willing to pay for and uses that as their way to make a profit. In the article, Broadway: A Theatre Historian's Perspective, it says, “The professional Broadway theatre is a business, and theatre is seen by professionals as a business like any other.” This explains how, for this particular industry, shows are performed to entertain and to make the most money out of each performance. That is why only the shows that seem to have the most potential are selected to be on Broadway. Now, it mainly consists of musicals. Whether it is a new musical or a revival, it has to be a crowd pleaser because it’s a business. There are other shows that are featured on Off-Broadway, or even Off-Off-Broadway. Although there are shows that gain more publicity than others, there are still good shows that are hidden in the rough. Just like a product can be advertised, a show can be advertised as well, but that does not mean that it will be the best for everyone. Again, theatre is a business, and the shows that are deemed most profitable are the ones that are advertised the most, resulting in a greater popularity and a longer shelf life.
The entertainment industry serves many purposes. First and foremost, it entertains. It is meant to draw the audience in with its story and message, and to leave them wanting more. It gives individuals like Shirley Temple and Ginger Rogers a chance to share their talents to please the crowds. On the opposite end of the spectrum, it is a business and it is meant to earn money for its employees and its investors. Hopefully, the entertainment of the audience will always be of prime importance, and the financial success will be the natural by-product.

Censoring

This article I read had to do with the concerns of ratings of movies and how it should be manipulated in order to keep those who do not want to view it from viewing it. The author is in support of being able to make certain material available and unavailable to certain audiences, to an extent; but at the same time, he feels that if people have a problem with what is being displayed, they should not view it, if they have the choice. Obviously, a ten year-old should not go into an R-rated film, because some of the material may be bad for him to know about. It can be available for certain audiences, but those who will be offended by it should avoid conflict and not see the flick. I totally agree with his ideas because so many people complain about some content in movies as not being appropriate, yet they are the ones who chose to see the movie. Honestly, it's a film, and part of being a film means that there are ideas that will be loved by some, and questioned by others. Like the author, I find this to be one of the fun parts of seeing movies. It fills your mind with a new set of ideas that you can accept or deny, and it is up the audience to decide which side they will choose. Not everyone is going to have the same opinion, and it is very possible that the majority of viewers who see a movie will not have the same viewpoints as the person who wrote it or directed it. The ideas in a movie are almost meant to challenge those of the audience. Obviously, this same idea applies to theatre and television. If some individuals don't want their ideas to be challenged, there's a solution: Don't watch a show that might do exactly that! And if you do, don't complain about it afterwards!

Brice Davis. "Easy on the Ratings." Opposing Viewpoints: The Film Industry. Ed. Roman Espejo. Detroit: Lake Times Press, 2009. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. Deerfield High School. 6 Feb. 2010 .

Don't blame Hollywood...

The final article I read today discussed the views on how sex and sex-related topics were depicted in film. The article I read was arguing that films should not be guilty of portraying unsafe sexual behavior and not showing the consequences. They talked about how the "opposing viewpoint" used several fims that were only to their advantage by displaying scenes that could be hazardous in one's sexual life, whether it is wearing a condom, or staying disease free. The side I read about believed that, not only should the media not be blamed for showing unsafe sex scenes, but there are so many movies they could've used to go against that statement. "Knocked Up", for example, is the perfect movie that is all about the consequences (and benefits, I guess) of not having safe sex. There are others that they mentioned, such as "Philadelphia" and "Forrest Gum", where Jenny dies from AIDS. I have to see that movie again because I never caught that part! Anyways, the other side only chose to view the majority of films which fit their side of the argument. You know what, who cares if there is not a sexual safety lesson being displayed in a film, because honestly, people don't go to the movies to see that crap, they go there to get away from those real life consequences and immerse themselves in a movie where four guys wake up in Vegas and have no idea what the heck happened the night before. That movie (The Hangover, in case you are one of 10 people who didn't see it) is not the least bit educational and it is one of the best comedies I've ever seen. People don't like to go to the movies for a reality check, so why should Hollywood be blamed for not displaying real-life situations. That's what MTV is for, but not really. I'm gonna wind this down because I need to go to be...If people engage in sexual activity at the age of 19 and end up having to support twins, that is their problem that they need to take responsibility for. Those lessons should not be learned from movies, anyways. Use real life situations to learn about the real-life consequences not film, people! Take responsibility for your own actions! Don't rely on people like Seth Rogen and everyone who gets killed in horror movies to give you a lesson in safety. And, scene....


David Goldenberg. "The Film Industry Should Not Be Blamed for At-Risk Behavior." Opposing Viewpoints: The Film Industry. Ed. Roman Espejo. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2009. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. Deerfield High School. 6 Feb. 2010 .

Nude Entertainment

This other interesting article talked about nudity onstage and how the audience reacts to it. It also questions whether or not nudity is really necessary in a show, or if it’s something to make it unique. The truth is, nudity onstage has become more and more frequent, and it does not affect the audiences as much as it used to when it was seen in “Hair”. We live in a different era where certain things are more acceptable than they used to be. Swearing, for example, is much more common than before, and the same goes with m any other types of censorship. Nowadays, nudity onstage (male nudity, to be specific) is even more common in plays such as “Equus” and “The Full Monty”. This is proof that the times, they are are a-changin’ and the idea of censorship is becoming less and less significant in entertainment. In many ways, that’s pretty sweet, but for those conservatives, it’s probably a nightmare! But they can just close their eyes and ears!!!! And scene...

Zoglin, Richard. "Full-Monty Fever: Female nudity? Ho-hum. Now it's the guys who are baring it all in an effort to shock stage audiences.(The Arts/THEATER)(Brief Article)." Time. 160. 14 (Sept 30, 2002): 90. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. Deerfield High School. 6 Feb. 2010 .

Funding the Arts

One of the articles I read discussed the funding of federal arts and how it should continue in America. Obviously, I am in support of this article and I agreed with and related to many of the reasons they gave for it. It starts out by showing how the arts help in the understanding of different cultures, histories and people around the world. This is very true, because when people see plays like “The Color Purple” and “Les Mis”, they are able to get a better understanding of what those different people went through at that time.
Another point they brought up dealt with how the arts are good for the economy. One of the main things it does is it gives jobs to millions of people around the country, which is very important during this economic pickle we find ourselves in. It also attracts money from tourists, stimulates business developments, and more importantly, it helps younger kids to improve their ways of life by teaching them essential life skills. Some of these lessons involve kids learning how to express themselves in a healthy way and to not be afraid of doing so. It also gives them the abilities to reason and solve problems that occur in real life. I can easily relate to this idea because I have experienced the effect of it firsthand. Through theatre, I have been able to show more confidence in situations like public speaking and interviews, which comes as a struggle for many people. The popular fear of public speaking is up there with the fear of death.
It’s also important that these arts are funded because some of them are non-profit organizations, and they need those funds to remain in business and benefit those that they employ and entertain.
Personally, I believe that the arts are one of the MOST important recipients of government funds because they make a clear impact on so many lives. And, scene...


American Arts Alliance. "Federal Funding of the Arts Should Not End." Current Controversies: Free Speech. Ed. Scott Barbour. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2000. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. Deerfield High School. 6 Feb. 2010 .

Craaazy Sunday

So, I read this short story called "Crazy Sunday" by F. Scott Fitzgerald. When I was reading it, I was wondering if this was a good story to analyze because it seemed to focus more on the relationships of the characters rather than show business itself. When I finally finished and thought back upon this story with my thororough analyzation skills, I realized that the reason that this had to do with show business is because of how it affected the character's lives. The main character is named Joel Coles, and he is a new screenwriter in Hollywood. Like many newbies in this business, he is struggling to impress the right people. On one Sunday,Miles Calman, a director he admires, invites him over. There, he is reunited with Miles' wife, Stella, whom he knew as a struggling actress in New York. Cole later learns that Miles has been cheating on her, and despite his attraction to Stella, he does not want to get on the bad side of someone who could him find more success. She is attracted to him as well, but also does not want to do the same thing to her husband that he did to her. Joel and Stella hang out together more often, until they finally get drunk and have sex. Coincidentally, Joel later gets a phone call that says Miles was killed in a plane crash. Although Stella wants Joel to comfort her, he leaves because he knows that she will never really love him, so there is no point.
See what I mean? This story has so much to do with the relationships of characters, but when I finally thought of the setting, I realized how much of an influence that had on those relationships. Obviously, when someone's in Hollywood, or New York, they are usually willing to do (or not do) a lot in order to find fame. This seemed to be the case for Joel, who resisted his lust for Stella not only to free his conscience, but also to make sure he did not ruin his chances with Miles, who could help him find success and happiness. He is trading love in for these two goals of his, and when Miles dies, he may have also left because he did not see a point in being this close to her if it would not benefit his career.
Similar to Joel, Stella also seemed to depend on Miles for happiness. Although she may have loved him, she also loved the life that he gave her, meaning she could have loved him for his success, rather than who he was. Her history as a struggling actress definitely has an influence in how she may perceive happiness in her future. If she married a famous director, theen she will obviously be happy with what she always wanted, right? WRONG! This story shows that even those who are the most successful and the wealthiest can have problems like anybody else. Fame and money does not bring happiness, and this story (as well as many true stories today) perfectly shows that. The life of a movie star or Broadway actress can be tough, especially with relationships! You may think Brad Pitt and and Angelina Jolie would be happy with huge mansions in France and children from every continent, but evidence has illustrated their unhappiness. It does not matter how many movies one makes or stars in; they cannot rely on their fame and money in order to gain happiness. A celebrity has to find happiness like everybody else. And that starts withing themselves...But admit it, it does seem like being rich and famous would help someone to feel at least a little bit better about themselves! And, scene...

The Short Stories, by F. Scott Fitzgerald
p.713-728

My Progress

So far, this has been very interesting. I have learned a lot about actors, actresses, composers, etc. Since this is one of my passions, it does not seem to be as much of a research project as it is looking up things that I am ointerested in. The only difficult aspect is that there are so many directions that I can take this, and I am not sure which one I want to do. I was thinking about digging more into major evolvements in theatre and different ways that theatre has changed through the years. I was also thinking about looking into significan milestones in the theatre industry, as well as cinema. I enjoy researching this topic and it really does make it easier since I am so attatched to it