Movie Genres: Social Problem Film (Message, Socially Conscious Film):
Finsterbusch, Kurt and George McKenna (eds) Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Controversial Issues. Guilford, CT: Dushkin, 1984.
Roffman, Peter and Jim Purdy. The Hollywood Social Problem Film. Madness, Despair and Politics, from the Depression to the 1950s. Bloomington, Indiana Univ Press, 1981.
Sloan, Kay. The Loud Silents: Origins of the Social Problem Film. Chicago: Univ of Illinois Press, 1988. 166pp
Issues of the Genre:
Attempts to use the screen as a public forum for issues that needed to explored and investigated.
Tolerance in the 1960s as an article of faith, partly in response to civil rights movement, but also because Amer showbiz had a lot od Jews, blacks, minorities.
Broadway gave them their first sense of celebrity acceptance
The problem becomes outdated (no longer exists, or changes)
The “aging of the problem, issues that become quickly irrelevant
Solemnity but no real imsights
Shattered Glass: shallow film, shot and scripted with solemnity, but no insights into the making of American monster reporter
Problems that are corrected, handled, or eliminated
How to judge this type of film: by accuracy, authenticity, or impact and effect
Use of the genre to encourage social reform
Films that are significant sociologically or politically, but lack artistry
Strong characters and good stories contribute to the durability of the genre (Grapes of Wrath) (Boggs, 1940)
Drugs:
Tackling drugs as a social issue/problem, not as a simple Victorian morality tale of individual decline and redemption (0r death)
Movie Genres: Social Problem Film (Message, Socially Conscious Film) Select Biblio
August 25, 2022
Biblio
Movie Genres: Social Problem Film (Message, Socially Conscious Film):
Finsterbusch, Kurt and George McKenna (eds) Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Controversial Issues. Guilford, CT: Dushkin, 1984.
Roffman, Peter and Jim Purdy. The Hollywood Social Problem Film. Madness, Despair and Politics, from the Depression to the 1950s. Bloomington, Indiana Univ Press, 1981.
Sloan, Kay. The Loud Silents: Origins of the Social Problem Film. Chicago: Univ of Illinois Press, 1988. 166pp
Issues of the Genre:
Attempts to use the screen as a public forum for issues that needed to explored and investigated.
Tolerance in the 1960s as an article of faith, partly in response to civil rights movement, but also because Amer showbiz had a lot od Jews, blacks, minorities.
Broadway gave them their first sense of celebrity acceptance
The problem becomes outdated (no longer exists, or changes)
The “aging of the problem, issues that become quickly irrelevant
Solemnity but no real imsights
Shattered Glass: shallow film, shot and scripted with solemnity, but no insights into the making of American monster reporter
Problems that are corrected, handled, or eliminated
How to judge this type of film: by accuracy, authenticity, or impact and effect
Use of the genre to encourage social reform
Films that are significant sociologically or politically, but lack artistry
Strong characters and good stories contribute to the durability of the genre (Grapes of Wrath) (Boggs, 1940)
Drugs:
Tackling drugs as a social issue/problem, not as a simple Victorian morality tale of individual decline and redemption (0r death)