exam
Americans In Paris
Group 2
Overarching Themes
Exchange of Cultures through Globalization
Allure of Paris vs the US
Escaping American Norms into French culture
Finding the true Meaning of Love
Film 1 - An American In Paris
Overview:
Summary
Jerry Mulligan is a former American soldier who stays in Paris after the war to become a painter who falls in love with a woman who was already engaged. However, a different woman falls in love with him and she attempts to help him market himself as a painter but he fails to realize it.
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Released on November 11th, 1951.
Based upon a 1928 orchestra composition
Directed by Vincente Minnelli
Awards
6 Different Academy Awards
1 Golden Globe
1 Writers Guild of America Award
Context
Takes place in Paris after World War II and follows the life of a former American soldier who is attempting to make it as a painter.
During this time period France was very accepting of different races and sexualities thus increasing emigration from the US to France.
Many artists left the US for France which led to France becoming a city of art.
Artists often times found inspiration in France for their work.
Jerry Mulligan (Gene Kelly) was struggling to make it as a painter until someone offered to jumpstart his career
Power/Themes
Exchange of Cultures through Globalization
American artists trying Impressionism.
Paris was a city of art.
Allure of Paris vs the US
Paris seemed to be less prejudiced than the US at the time.
Inspiration for artists
Escaping American norms to French culture.
Post-WWII, Jerry wanted something different
Finding the true Meaning of Love
The main character falls in love with someone who is already engaged but still pursues her and is very determined.
Traditional gender roles of the time very strictly adhered to
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvEogZhFOts
Film 2 - Moulin Rouge
Released in 1952
Directed by John Huston
Starring José Ferrer
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Movie opens in Paris at nighttime in the 1890s
Shows the events inside of a burlesque establishment
Multiple characters interact with a seated man sketching what he sees
We learn that this man’s name is Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec
We follow Henri on a brief retelling of his past
Return to the present to find his current troubles with women and alcohol and success with art
His pallette is caked, his brushes are dry, yet the genius of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec is as fresh and alive as the day he layed them down. Here for a brief moment, they shall be restored to his hands, and he and his beloved city and his time shall live again
Paris 1890, movie opens with shots of windmill decorated in lights, it is night time and crowds of people are pouring into an establishment which is adorned with dancers, music, bars and excitement.Climaxing with two of the can-can dancers getting into a brawl.
Context
Paris was in the Belle Époque during the time period of the movie
Period between the founding of the third republic and WW1
Saw the construction of the Eiffel tower, the impressionist movement among other things
Belle Epoque means beautiful era, name was attributed nostalgically post WW1
2 World’s fairs in 1889 and 1900 brought the world’s attention to Paris
The actual Moulin Rouge
Workers, residents of the Place Blanche, artists, the middle classes, businessmen, elegant women, and foreigners passing through Paris rubbed shoulders.
Historical figure
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec was a post-impressionist painter out of Paris during this era
Montmartre
Moulin Rouge was shot in three-strip Technicolor. The Technicolor projection print is created by dye transfer from three primary-color gelatin matrices. This permits great flexibility in controlling the density, contrast, and saturation of the print. Huston asked Technicolor for a subdued palette, rather than the sometimes-gaudy colors "glorious Technicolor" was famous for. Technicolor was reportedly reluctant to do this.
Paris was in the Belle Époque during the time period of the movie
Period between the founding of the third republic and WW1
Saw the construction of the Eifel tower, the impressionist movement among other things
Belle Epoque means beautiful era, name was attributed nostalgically post WW1
Historical figure
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec was a post-impressionist painter out of Paris during this era
Power/Themes
Finding the true meaning of love
Film tells of Henri’s failed journey to discover true love
Allure of Paris
Henri fleas his childhood home of Toulouse where his family holds status because his father rejects him.
Chooses to stay in the company of rejects in the Moulin Rouge and focus on his art
Escapism
Henri escapes the reality of his life of rejection by taking refuge amongst the rejects in the Moulin Rouge
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exrcnq6Uac4
The Can-Can Dance
The style is obviously not high class, and the girls lift the top layer of their skirts which is extremely revealing for the time
Lautrec is seen sketching the dancers
Thd men watching are visibly affected by the dancing
Film 3 - Julie & Julia
Overview
Released August 7, 2009
Directed by Nora Ephron
Awards
Golden Globe Award for Best Actress
Critics’ Choice Movie Award for Best Actress
NEW York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress
Satellite Award for Best Actress in Motion Picture Comedy/Musical
San Francisco Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress
Summary
The indirect relationship between Julie Powell and Julia Childs
Julia Child's’ experience in France vs. Julie Powell’s experience in Queens
How cooking affects both of their lives
Hardships and success through Julie and Julia
Growth through their experiences
Text
A film with a girl cooking constantly while also going to her job, and managing other aspects of her life. Another woman is also constantly seen cooking and writing a book. She begins to cook even more throughout the film and ends up publishing a book.
Context
This movie takes place in two time frames
1948-1961 Julia Child moving to Paris-Publishing Mastering The Art of French Cooking
2001-2002 Julie Powell starting the challenge-Finishing the challenge
In France- This is after WW11. Julia child's Husband Paul Child was reassigned to the U.S. Information Service at the American Embassy in Paris
In America- This was after 9-11. Julie was working for the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation's call center
Julia Child famous cook
Julie's Blog, book, and movie
Power/Themes
Exchange of Cultures through Globalization
French cook books and Emigration
Allure of Paris vs the US
Contrast of characters and location
Escaping American Norms into French culture
U.S. Goverment and Julie’s Job
Finding the true meaning of Love
Marriages
Film 4 -Midnight in Paris
Gil and Inez, an engaged American couple, treat themselves to a trip to Paris with Inez's parents. Gil is a bored Hollywood screenwriter who is currently struggling in his attempt to write a novel, one about a man who owns a nostalgia shop. After wandering the streets of Paris, Gil finds himself in the 1920s. Returning every night, he gains his inspiration and falls in love with someone else. Inez also finds herself in love with another man. Despite their cold breakup, the movie ends with the two finding a happier life.
Details
The movie was written and directed by Woody Allen (2011)
93% on rotten tomatoes
Awards:
Oscar for Best Writing, Original Screenplay in 2012
Golden Globe Best Screenplay in 2012
AFI Movie of the Year in 2012
3 Critics Choice Awards in 2012
Grammy for Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media in 2013
Won many others and had many nominations
Text
An artistically lost and indecisive man who is married to an “Americanized” woman, interested in status and materialistic things above anything else.
They take a vacation to an “inspiring” city for the male protagonist.
He gets away from his demanding fiancee by taking a walk, only to find himself traveling through time to after being convinced into getting into a mysterious car.
Meeting various historical figures that inhabited the city in the past, his journey helps him make sense of his own life and the novel he is working on.
Context
“The Lost Generation” - Gil meets with them in the movie!
A group of American writers who came of age during World War I and established their literary reputations in the 1920s.
The generation was “lost” because of its spiritual alienation from a United States after the war. Its members found U.S President Harding’s “back-to-normalcy” policy to be hopelessly provincial, materialistic, and emotionally barren.
Notable Writers: Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, and Scott Fitzgerald.
Power/Themes
Escaping American Norms into French Culture (Escapism)
1920’s Paris was seen as a “Golden Age” for Gil.
Materialism vs Being in the Moment (Inez)
Gil’s own novel is about a man who owns a nostalgia shop which reflects his desperate need to get away from his present reality, as well as his desire for the past
“Nostalgia is denial-denial of the painful present” -Paul
Allure of Paris vs US
Paris in the Rain
“How can anyone come up with any book, painting, symphony, or sculpture that can compete with this city? Every street and every boulevard has its own special art form” -Gil
The great writers and what they created
City of Love
Power Continued
Finding the true Meaning of Love
He’s engaged to Inez but begins to realize that they have very little in common.
His journey to the past helps him realize that what he truly loves is experiencing the moment and being inspired.
In the end, he leaves her for Paris, his “new mistress.”
In Conclusion: Why Paris?
The U.S has always had a good relationship with France
Since the revolutionary war, the U.S has been a close ally of France, making it easier for each culture to be exposed to each other. (Ex. The American Song the French were singing in the Adams HBO series)
Paris represents a new and healing atmosphere for a lot of our characters
After a tragedy, whether it be: WW1, WW2, or 9/11, many of our characters feel lost and unfulfilled with their traditional American lives and seek new meaning.
Paris has less social restrictions
Being a more openly artistic society, Paris gave our characters what they felt was missing in American life: inspiration, love, and a source of artistic meaning.
The allure of a society that placed the importance of personal experience above work, a cultural source of status in America, was very attractive to those that didn’t want to go back being a cog in the machine.
Thank You!
Any Questions?