Normative Desires and Visual Sobriety
Normative Desires and Visual Sobriety
Apogee of the Classical Model
This chapter argues that in the mid-1930s, American cinema perfected a classical form that dominated till the end of the decade. This form arose out of a new convergence between lifestyle and film style: in ideological terms, the period supported normative and traditional images of femininity and masculinity, and its film style privileged unified narratives based on action, dialogue, and continuity editing. The return to traditional values is manifested by a renewed interest in masculinity: in contrast to the earlier period, which is dominated by female stars, the most popular figured in the second half of the 1930s are male stars, along with child and teenage actors. This trend influences the most important genres of the period: screwball comedy, adventure, and biopic.
Keywords: American cinema, classical form, film style, normative femininity, masculinity, screwball comedy, adventure film, biopic
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