Johan Henna
Professor Kaster
AMH – 2020
October 9, 2014
Rebel Without A Cause Throughout history, time after time again, men are faced with the dilemma of proving their worthiness to the next man. This issue is something that has gone on for centuries and something that will continue on for every century that man is still alive. Alongside this issue that many, if not all, men are faced with, many woman are faced with the issue of gender roles. The movie “Rebel Without A Cause” came out in 1955, it shows a realistic portrayal of a young, middle class teenager fighting to earn his worth in society and within his group of peers. Throughout the movie it also shows how gender roles were beginning to change, woman may not always be expected to
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At this time America was in a great period of post war prosperity, it was an easy time to live in. World War Two had just previously ended in 1945. This caused the middle class to be richer than ever before. Men were just starting to get their GI Bills to use to go to college, something that would have never been possible to do before without it. Families of veterans were also being allotted VA mortgage rates, making prices of homes much cheaper and attainable. In other words, people were finally able to start purchasing homes, this is how the suburbs became very popular. A lot was changing for the better in the 1950’s. Hugh Hefner launched the first edition of playboy in 1953, Disneyland, the first theme park for both parents and children to enjoy, had opened in 1955, and Elvis Presley became a popular name in Rock and Roll. After 1954 TV became popular, more than ever before. More than half of the American population had a TV in their home. Jackie Robinson led the Dodgers to a victory in the World Series in 1955. Brown vs Board of education took place in 1954, which put an end to the legal separation of races in public schools. Which then lead to little rock nine in 1957 which placed nine African American children in a primarily white school in an attempt to being integrating the schools and the students. The Korean War and Cold War also took place in this decade. The Korean War began in …show more content…
For centuries men have partaken in duels to earn their respect. Disrespecting and belittling a man was considered a high grade of disrespect. “A man may shoot the man who invades his character, as he may shoot him who attempts to break into his own house” Samuel Johnson. This portrays that disrespecting a man’s honor was just as degrading and discourteous as if one were to break into his home. Men are prideful beings and may do just about anything to obtain and keep their pride. This could explain to one why Jim takes such strides to achieve this. It also may explain why he gets so furious when his father can’t and won’t do the
Rebel Without a Cause is an unconventional story with a conventional, classical approach to storytelling. The film follows the seven traits of Classical Hollywood Cinema and is adapted to the hybridization of film noir, which was primarily a style of B movies, and teen drama films, which was newly emerging in the 50s.
... The unemployment rate at the time was the lowest it has ever been because everyone was working towards the war effort, it was considered patriotic. The minimum wage was 43 cents per hour, and people didn’t even complain because they knew where the money was going and they just wanted the war to be over. The national debt was 43 billion, very ironic.
In the movie Rebel Without a Cause, the characters portray many characteristics of a teenager living in the Atomic Age post World War II as well as modern day society; with little guidance it appears the youth of America feels lost and alone. This movie was released in 1955 and was recorded in California. This was the last film that James Dean ever starred in; which was a devastating blow to such a blossoming young man’s career and superstardom.
Discriminating gender roles throughout the movie leaves one to believe if they are supposed to act a certain way. This film gives women and men roles that don’t exist anymore, during the 60s women were known to care for the family and take care of the house, basically working at home. However, a male was supposed to fight for his family, doing all the hard work so his wife didn’t have too. In today’s world, everyone does what makes them happy. You can’t tell a woman to stay at home, that makes them feel useless. Furthermore, males still play the roles of hard workers, they are powerful compared to a woman. However, in today’s world a male knows it isn’t right to boss a woman around, where in the 60s, it happened, today women have rights to do what they want not what they are
The American home front during World War II is recalled warmly in popular memory and cultural myth as a time of unprecedented national unity, years in which Americans stuck together in common cause. World War II brought many new ideas and changes to American life. Even though World War II brought no physical destruction to the United States mainland, it did affect American society. Every aspect of American life was altered by U.S. involvement in the war including demographics, the labor force, economics and cultural trends. During the Great Depression, the American birth rate had fallen to an all-time low due to delayed marriages and parenthood.
because it demonstrates that the whole film is going to be about women’s roles in the
Brassy fanfares, sweet flute melodies, and intense strings. These are the types of music that are used in the film “Rebel Without a Cause”. This film was released in 1955. James Dean, Natalie Wood, and Sal Mineo star as the lead characters of Jim Stark, Judy, and John "Plato" Crawford. The orchestra music for “Rebel Without a Cause” serves three functions: it reflects the emotions of the teens, it acts as element of the mise-en-scène, and it causes the audience to feel a particular emotion.
During the aftermath of World War I great change was happening to America’s society. Of the nations that were involved in the worldwide conflict from 1914 to 1918 no other nation experienced prosperity socially, politically, and economically as quickly as did the United States of America. The middle-class American suddenly became the most important component to the growth of the American economy. As the purchase of luxuries, the automobile in particular, became more available to middle-class, opportunity in the housing and labor industries expanded.
The most important events of this film all revolve around the female characters. While there are some male charac...
In one of the scenes, Jim is caught between trying to prove his masculinity or staying home and being the good son that his parents have yearned for. He struggles emotionally and physically, mainly because his parents do not live up to society’s expectations of
Teenage films are often thought of films focused on issues such as teen angst, conflict with parents, coming of age, and most notably rebellion. Nicholas Ray’s Rebel Without a Cause(1955) is one of the first films that could be classified as such. In today’s times, many films that fall into this genre follow the same structure as Rebel without a Cause in that perceptions and activities of youth defy what is considered to be a seemingly more stable adult life. Prior to Rebel Without a Cause, there wasn’t a film that challenged the ideas of masculinity in society and the struggles that teenagers endured in that era, so it is no surprise that the film is considered to be the poster child of youth rebellion in the 1950’s. Ray brings to light a
Rebel without a Cause is a powerful performance that demonstrates the struggles of an all-American, middle-class family. James Dean, Natalie Wood, and San Mineo are remarkable actors that play significant roles of adolescent characters in the film. This tale is based on teenagers that have troubled lives due to the ignorance of their parents. The main message the film portrays is that children’s behaviour is influences by their parents and their parenting skills. There are several themes in this film, however the predominant theme is that conflict within the family can encourage disaffected youth.
movies are about men’s lives, and the few movies about women’s lives, at their core, still
...ereotypes and patriarchal norms (Annie baking, Helen being a rich step-mom, the wedding itself), it also undermines patriarchy at the same time. At one point or another throughout the film all of the female characters go against the common conception and portrayal of women being proper and passive. They can be raunchy, drink, use vulgar language, and show they aren’t that different from men.
They were held to lower standards and believed to be nothing but an object for men. The women were treated very poorly and were treated differently than the men. In many ways the women were shown to be little compared to the men. Since they didn 't have anything important in society the actions that were towards them were as if they 're peasants Woman had no possibility of ever been treated differently since they were ever going to have a better role in society. This movie portrayed how women weren’t held to higher standards but men