Podcast
Questions and Answers
What does the concept of social types in film mainly represent?
What does the concept of social types in film mainly represent?
Which social type is primarily associated with traditional hero characters in films?
Which social type is primarily associated with traditional hero characters in films?
In cultural studies, the term 'anomie' refers to what condition of a social type?
In cultural studies, the term 'anomie' refers to what condition of a social type?
What role does typecasting play in the perception of stars according to Klapp?
What role does typecasting play in the perception of stars according to Klapp?
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Which of the following is considered an alternative social type in films?
Which of the following is considered an alternative social type in films?
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Which discipline is NOT associated with Cultural Studies?
Which discipline is NOT associated with Cultural Studies?
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Which of the following is an example of a cultural text?
Which of the following is an example of a cultural text?
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In semiotics, what does the 'Signifier' refer to?
In semiotics, what does the 'Signifier' refer to?
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How can cultural studies be described as ethical?
How can cultural studies be described as ethical?
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Which of the following is NOT considered a cultural artifact?
Which of the following is NOT considered a cultural artifact?
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What does the white color signify in many Eastern cultures?
What does the white color signify in many Eastern cultures?
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Which type of cultural studies is focused on understanding without alteration?
Which type of cultural studies is focused on understanding without alteration?
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What distinguishes an anomic rebel from an alienated rebel?
What distinguishes an anomic rebel from an alienated rebel?
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Which of the following best describes the 'Superfemale' and 'Superwoman' typologies?
Which of the following best describes the 'Superfemale' and 'Superwoman' typologies?
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In which films is Bette Davis portrayed as an Independent Woman?
In which films is Bette Davis portrayed as an Independent Woman?
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What is a common consequence for characters defined as Superfemale or Superwoman?
What is a common consequence for characters defined as Superfemale or Superwoman?
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How does Dyer describe the relationship between star types and star images?
How does Dyer describe the relationship between star types and star images?
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What role does publicity play in shaping a star's image, according to Dyer?
What role does publicity play in shaping a star's image, according to Dyer?
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Which of the following genres is NOT mentioned as a typical vehicle for portraying a star's character types?
Which of the following genres is NOT mentioned as a typical vehicle for portraying a star's character types?
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What characteristic is common to many stars portraying independent women, as noted by Dyer?
What characteristic is common to many stars portraying independent women, as noted by Dyer?
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Study Notes
Cultural Studies
- Cultural studies is an interdisciplinary field focused on the role of social institutions in shaping culture.
- Examples of social institutions include governments, families, educational systems, legal systems, and businesses.
- Cultural studies draws on various disciplines such as literary studies, sociology, psychology, history, economics, and politics.
- It originated in Great Britain during the 1960s.
What is Culture?
- Culture encompasses customs, arts, social institutions, and accomplishments of a particular nation, people, or social group.
- Culture includes attitudes, beliefs, language, customs, rituals, behaviour, and food, among other elements.
Culture by Region
- American culture is diverse.
- Various cultural regions are identified across the United States.
Cultural Texts
- A fundamental premise of cultural studies is that the world comprises cultural texts that are open to interpretation.
- Examples of cultural texts include literary documents (books, articles, poems), artistic documents (film, television, photography), cultural artifacts (clothing styles, hairstyles, slogans), and events (concerts, protests, riots).
Semiotics
- Semiotics is the study of signs and sign-using behavior.
- Semiotics plays a significant role in cultural studies.
- A sign system is defined by the link between a signifier and a signified.
- The signifier is the physical form of a sign (e.g., a word, an image, an action).
- The signified is the concept or mental image associated with the signifier (e.g., the concept of a tree when seeing an image of a tree).
- Different cultures assign different meanings to the same signifiers.
Semiotics Example
- The apple is a signifier.
- The apple can signify various things, such as health, temptation, or technology.
Other Signifiers
- Signifiers in different cultures hold diverse meanings.
- Colors, clothing, and accessories are examples of signifiers.
- The significance of signifiers varies depending on the culture.
Signifiers and Storytelling
- Signifiers are essential in storytelling, influencing how we interpret stories.
- Examples of signifiers can include images, music, props, or actions in video/film.
- Signifiers of a scene/ film can provide clues about the main character(s).
Signifiers and Storytelling (continued)
- Signifiers in opening credits of films can reveal key details about characters.
- The nature and personality of characters are conveyed via their signifiers.
- Signifiers can evolve and change over time; a signifier's meaning can change in different contexts.
Stars, by Richard Dyer
- Richard Dyer, an English film studies professor, discussed the significance of movie stars.
- Dyer's work contrasts with Auteur Theory, which emphasizes the role of directors in film.
- Dyer's work attributes some responsibility for a film's success to the actors portraying characters, as opposed to simply the director.
Movie Star Origins
- The "movie star" concept emerged in the 1800s with advancements like mass-produced newspapers, photography, and a public interest in performers.
- Early films didn't showcase performers' names, but a trend emerged in the 1910s.
- Florence Lawrence was a notable early movie star.
The Movie "Industry"
- Movie production in the US in the late 1910s increasingly operated along mass-production lines.
- Individual film companies competed with each other, often promoting their performers to stand out.
- Actors were contracted to specific studios, further solidifying the significance of movie stars.
Stars as Type
- Actors were often typecast, being associated with specific character types, leading to more roles for them in movies.
- This led to more revenue for movie studios.
- Typecasting made the actor's roles easier to predict, improving marketing strategies.
Stars as Type (continued)
- Studios strategically created images for actors, drawing on inherent qualities to create a specific persona.
- An actor's image could become associated with a certain character type (e.g., Cary Grant as a sophisticated gentleman).
Stars and Social Type
- The concept of a "Social Type" involves an idealized model of expected behavior or conduct for individuals.
- Sociologist Orrin Klapp studied prominent social types, including heroes, villains, and idealized beauty standards.
- Film characters, often embodying these social types, became associated with particular stars.
Stars and Social Type (continued)
- Movie stars, through typecasting, often represent certain social types in film.
- Film characters become identified with their stars because repetition.
- Dyer argues the representations of social types in film are often based on the dominant group's values and perceptions of social norms (e.g., white, middle-class, male).
Social Type – The Hero
- Stars portray heroes/villains, etc., in films, through repetition/reinforcement across films.
- Identifying heroes and villains in a film helps viewers connect with the story.
Alternative Social Types
- Social types that outwardly defy dominant cultural values are discussed.
- Examples/ types given include the Rebel and the Independent Woman.
Alternative Social Type - The Rebel/ The Rebel Hero
- The figure of the rebel, often young characters, is explored as someone outside prevailing traditions.
- Some rebel characters appear anomic, and/or alienated from mainstream society due to personality, social position, or other cultural factors and circumstances.
Alternative Social Type - The Independent Woman
- Two main types of independent women: Superfemale and Superwoman.
- Superfemale women are strong and ambitious, but without outlets within typical female roles/spheres. Superwoman adopts male practices for greater social and economic power.
- These roles challenge the traditional female image/norms.
- These types of portrayals challenged traditional gender roles in movies and the portrayal of the independent woman.
Stars as Images
- Stars' image creation is influenced by numerous media sources like promotional materials, film portrayal, and reviews.
- Styles and characteristics associated with the star or character can shape the star's persona and portrayals in films.
Bette Davis as Type and Image
- Bette Davis was often portrayed as a Superfemale independent woman in her films.
- Specific films showcase this type, including examples like Front Page Woman and Dangerous.
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