StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...

Seeing Stars by Janet Staiger - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
Putting a definition for the word "star" has often been the subject of debates in the last few decades. Many questions come to nourish that debate such as what are the difference between a normal actor and a star What are the common characteristics between all stars Why is such huge, sometimes exaggerated, attention given to stars That dilemma can be justified by the multiplicity of possible interpretation to the conception of stardom…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER96.9% of users find it useful
Seeing Stars by Janet Staiger
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Seeing Stars by Janet Staiger"

Download file to see previous pages

Stars can be considered as a commodity tool as they represent an extremely successful form of investment. They can also be perceived according to the literal meaning of the word "star"; the character played by a given star forms with the real character of the same star a surreal versus real paradox leading inevitably to an association between the in-text and the in-real-life images of the same star. The third main approach of stardom holds a psychological dimension as it regards the spectatorship, the reasons why stars are often objects of desire have been subject to many analysis, some attribute it to charisma, some to "heavenly bodies", .. etc.

For a fuller vision of the evolution of the conception of stars, a flashback on the history of cinema has to be done. Various developments in Europe and the United states led to the invention of moving image technology forming the origin of the movie creation. However, it was only in the 1890's that films were used as an entertainment medium, it was then when this technologic invention transformed into a business. In the nineteenth century, many political and social elements influenced the evolution of film industry.

The art of Cinema tended to transform into a capitalist enterprise indeed. In fact, Janet Staiger, in her definition of the system of movie production, supports a Marxist point of view. She tends to consider the latter system as a sub-system initially controlled by patterns of organization of labor, such as script writers, camera men and women, prop makers in combination with two major factors, technology and capital. In the first decade of the twentieth century, American movie companies withheld the name of film performers fearing that the public recognition would lead these "stars" to ask for higher salaries.

In this dissertation, studying the Motion Picture Patents Company is to be used as a proof of the prominence of the role of stars in the evolution of the movie industry.The Motion Picture Patents Company In 1908, two companies, Edison and Biograph, attempted to monopolize the film industry through the key patents they held in camera and projection technology by forming the Motion Picture Patents Company (MPPC). The company played the role of a "patent tool" that issued licenses for fee to firms.

However, the biggest income source for the MPC didn't have licensing as its main source, it was priory based on the Nickelodeon, their most important exhibition outlet. Technically, what marked the MPPC movies most was the notion of voyeurism, "the look of the peeping tom, able to see without being seen. Early Cinema very frequently represents the female, dissected by the close up into a fetishised object of the male look" (Nelmes, 2003 : 99). The capital event that marked the end of this era is the start of the "star system" (1920), one of Hollywood's established features.

As Janet Staiger clarifies in "Seeing stars", the origin of its creation remains a subject of discussion. Some say that it started in 1910 when Carl Laemmle, the owner of the Independent Motion Picture (IMP) production company, promoted the arrival of a female star, Lawrence, to his company by publicly exposing her name in a newspaper. That came as an opposed reaction to the MMPC which refused to publish stars' number fearing that their public recognitio

...Download file to see next pages Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Seeing Stars by Janet Staiger Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words”, n.d.)
Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/miscellaneous/1523633-seeing-stars-by-janet-staiger
(Seeing Stars by Janet Staiger Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 Words)
https://studentshare.org/miscellaneous/1523633-seeing-stars-by-janet-staiger.
“Seeing Stars by Janet Staiger Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/miscellaneous/1523633-seeing-stars-by-janet-staiger.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Seeing Stars by Janet Staiger

American Beauty

American Beauty is a film which stirs up a range of different reactions.... When I first saw the film I was gripped by its description of a husband and father disintegrating and re-forming himself, alongside the changes and transformations of others - his wife, daughter, neighbours - around him; I found it exciting as well as disturbing....
10 Pages (2500 words) Movie Review

Analysis of Damien Hirsts Artworks

It appears these past few months the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, has been more concerned with high profile exhibits, rather than showing art.... The Ralph Lauren car collection has undeniable mass appeal, and it is clear that this is partially the reason for it being on display.... hellip; The same goes for the "Rockwell and the Red Socks" exhibit that conveniently opened with the beginning of baseball season for the World Series champs....
9 Pages (2250 words) Essay

The Aims of the Arts and Crafts Movement

The essay "The Aims of the Arts and Crafts Movement" through a detailed exploration of specific buildings and architectural projects, discusses the aims of the Arts and Crafts movement.... The influence of the Arts and Crafts movement placed value in art created by hand for limited edition prints....
9 Pages (2250 words) Essay

The Role of a Star

In fact, in “seeing stars”, janet staiger attempts to question the traditional way of perceiving the role of a star.... In fact, janet staiger, in her definition of the system of movie production, supports a Marxist point of view.... staiger's analysis of the origins of the American “star system” reveals the variety of angles through which the word “star” can be defined.... hellip; What are the common characteristics between all-stars?...
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

How Has Photography Been Used To Reflect Upon The Ways In Which Looking Is Socially Structured

Laura Mulvey, in a psychoanalytical argument, believes that the erotic language of film was built within a masculine framework, where satisfaction of… male viewer is paramount, and built on the manipulation of the female form and image; an image that is meant to be interpreted as a castrating threat....
12 Pages (3000 words) Essay

Bagdad Caf Film Analysis

The essay "“Bagdad Café” Film Analysis" introduces Bagdad Café Percy Adlon as a film telling the story of a lady, Jasmin, who in her middle ages finds herself dumped by her husband in the middle of nowhere.... The setting of the film is in the desert plains of America and this plays a key role....
9 Pages (2250 words) Essay

A Reflective Exploration of Lynchs film Inland Empire: the Film Style and Cinematic Message

Written and directed by the famous film director David Lynch, the surrealistic, psychological thriller film Inland Empire (2006) was the most radical film of the year and the film has been appreciated for illustrating Lynch's filmic style and cinematic message.... All through his… Written and directed by the famous film director David Lynch, the surrealistic, psychological thriller film Inland Empire was the most radical film of the year and the film has been appreciated for illustrating Lynch's film style and cinematic message....
7 Pages (1750 words) Research Paper

The Role of Women in the First Season of I Love Lucy

This coursework "The Role of Women in the First Season of I Love Lucy" focuses on one of the most popular situational comedies of all time.... nbsp;The show has been accused of being in favor of patriarchal norms.... The question is what message actually the film depicts the most.... nbsp;… In the total opposition to the societal expectations of gender, Lucille Ball stood, not only as of the dominant force of the show but also, as a very outstanding physical comedian and producer....
10 Pages (2500 words) Coursework
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us