Approaches to Popular Film

107 Pages·1995·10.509 MB·English

by  Joanne Hollows, Mark Jancovich

,
ApproaclLlOpe osp ulIiIaIIrI i sa cleaarn dC OIllI)rehcnsive
surveyt'h"ec r'iUacpaplr oachesi sasnudle Isl hIlatv ed efined , Approaches
•
thes tudoyf p opulnalrm f romt he1 950tso t hep resedma y.
Thec haptedri'sSc umsass sc ultutrhee orayn dp olilical
economayu:t euUrr'e olg'C}l,Ht:'h ee orsyt ar' slhUid8iteOsl:' lcal
top opulfairl m
poetics: tshceroer'yef:ne minisamn:dc ulLural sEtaucdhi es.
clwplceorn sidtehresp oliUicmapll icatoifdo infsf el'Cllt
ClPI)l'OOacnhdte hseh istoriccoanlt eixnwt h,i cthh eeym erged.
Thec ontl'ilamltsoholi 'gSh litghhewt a ysi nw hicchu ltural
distincbteitownese 'np opulcar"i ncmaasn d' alternative'
cinemasst lllctlhUetr hee orideiss cussTcIxlules. e as nd
apI)licaotfei aocnhas p Pl'Oata'Cc ihl lusllu's3itnacg wd i de
l'ano{,f'Cc. �amplcs.
Appmac/Jetos p opu/{flIImr isal li deatlex tbofookrs tudents
comintgo m m theorfyo rt hen l't:>itm e.
The editors
JoannHeo llowissa LecturienMr e diaan dC ultural
.... .,,,,'"_ •
NottingThraemn ULn iversaintdMy a rkJ ancovlicsah L ecturienr
FilmS tudiaetst heU niversoifNt oyt lingham.
Thec ontrfbulors
JoannHeo llowPse,te rH utchingMsa,r kJ ancovlHcehn.r Jye nkins,
Paul McDonald.S tHodedalretLn,i sTaa yloArn.d reWwi llis.
Cow:s.h'o t:
'n1C11l1iJ t; Mew Aiqseu ,uiLuisb rary
Manchester
UniversPirteys s Edilbeyd
9
JoanHnoel loawnsdM arJka ncovich
Inside
PopulaFri lm
Approaches
Geneerdailt oMrarskJ ancoviacnhdE riScc haefer
top opulafri lm
InsiPdotp ulFairl imsa f orufmo r whoan: : workitnogd c\'en!eowpII ' Ia)'s
ofa nalyspionpgu lfialrm .E achbw oriolkoers f fear crsi ticailn troducttioeo xni sting
debat...eh.. si lael seox plornienwga pproachegse.n ertahleb,o okgis\'l �hi stor­
icalilnyf ormaecdc ounotfps o pulfialrm w hiInc h prtehsicasnr te aas a ltogether
morec ompltehxa ins c ommonlsyu ggesteeds tbayb lifislhmte hde ories.
editebdy
DC\'elopmOe\n'ttcshr e p asdte cadhea v\ec dt oa b roaduenrd erstanodfi ng
filmw hicmho \'beesy ontdh et raditoipopnoasli tiboentsw eheing ahn dl owc ul­ loanne Hoaln/dMo awrsk l ancovich
turep,o pulaanrd:l \·ant-gTahreda cn.a lyosfifil sm hasa lsmoo vedb eyonad
concentroantt ihoetn e xtufaolr mosf fi lmsto, i ncluadnea nalyosfib so tthh e
socisailt uatwiiotnhsiw nh icfihl msa rec onsumeda udiencaensdt, h er ela­
tionsbheitpw efielnm a ndo thepro pulfaorr mTsh.be ys eritehse refaodrder esses
issuseusc has t hec ompleixn tcrtesxytsutaelwm hsi clhi nfikl ml,i terature, art
andm usiacs,w elals t hep roductainodcn o nsumptoiffo inl tmh rouag hv aricty
ofh ybrmiedd iai,n cludviindge coa,b laen ds atellite.
Thea uthotrask ien terdisciapplpirnoaarcwyhh eiscb hr intgo getahv earr iety
oft heoretaincdca rli tidceabla ttehsah ta vdee veloipnefi dl m, medicau la­nd
turaslt udiTehse.y n eitheemrb racneo rc ondempno pulfialrm ,b ute xplore
speciffiocr masn dg enrewsi thitnh eC Ofl{exotfts h eiprr oductainodnc on­
sumption.
titliensc lude
Forthcoming
HarrByc nshoMfOfI IS/UiInt h(t( out: ugaadyai nndgI tsbhioarnr foi,l ms
JoannHeo llowThst s laIItft/ hhtt ar'ti;- mappIihfntig tl IIdf /D6 mtn'g,t nrtf
RenneStc habeErv uydalyi fta ndp opufillQmT
EsthSeorn netS txuQlaintydp opulfialmr
BenT ayloFri l(mo mtdy
ManchesUtneirv erPsrietsys
ManchesatnedrN ewY ork
Distribuetxecdl u�iivnet lhyeU SAa ndC anadab yS t. ManiPnr'e!;s s
<At> rri,h,� t.nchcUsn1ir.r"m .),P.r ..1 'l'J5
C
Whilc.o p)"riin., hhe,. 'oIuOJ",", . .h.o I;e. in M.""hc<<<U.n-i'·i �..f'T",.."-, COPI'rii,nh .
indi u.1 bdonp.o, hn. �.''C -.CSlu�.hors, no ..n.u l' f'Oproductd- h..o Iorl )·
Contents
;n .'id,,'(i�.•hp•ho•I u•( •p" res spd1I'I iuion in" 'riloifbothn g;md ...c..� nptdp ub.l.be . ....
part bor
Uni>ersPirns. )·
Pw�foJrduJ "�Jy :'>bnMc.ndoesIhert sl(T
O. Road-.400 1,75f ifthAo\I .Le.3n. . . '11':R.I;K
.nd..' Y �or k, 1001U0S.A
No �"
,, ..J
O"mMJ,,."0;lt"ni'1 ," ,Pres.<,,,. ,. t .n..I e �: • UGSuA� ""
�y5F .i' fh A,on"".... . 0010.t iSA lisotf i tlustrations pagev i
175 r-; Y<lTkN.t 1 Noteosn contributors vii
Iln",.L .t-.C?. 'tll�.IW,-.w-Mli(.'iD�
A <.. .oOJl llcr crorfdo ,rh ib.o o;k. . ,,.; l0o.bf1lroo4 m' heB rili,h Lib",ry IntroductPioopnu:lf airl ma ndc ultudriaslt inctions
JoannHeo flowasn dM arkJ ancovich 1
f.ib,.o?{ CO"Irt!C1" ,.IDxi"l-in-P.hiir.,ion 1 Massc ultutrhee orayn dp olitieccaoln omy
Appl"Oolchn, 0p opulfi.lrm editbeldJ oan,n,nH'eo lal.. .o.. n d:' >LoJr.kn co.'id,.
Joanne Hollows 15
p. om.- -(In,pio:>Idp eu lu film)
lnclubdi<b1l iograrp...hr.i n.cc aal. ndin du. 2 Auteuriasnmd f ilma uthorship
ISUo.;().l- 7190-.u92-1.-I()S-D7N1 90-4.l9(Jp.b.kX, ) HeleSnt oddart 37
1.M Ol"'p"i ctum--l'h;lo2s.oF pihl)cm'r _i ticiIs,Hm o.l l..'• o •
J.. ..n n• . J.nco.iMcarhk.. tilS.e n... 3 Genret heorayn dc riticism
PNI'IH.1A1M. 1 995 PeteHru tchings 59
i91.H.dclO 9�m il 4 Stasrt udies
PauMlc Donald 79
5 Historipcoaelt ics
HenrJye nkins 99
Reprin.w ]996.]997
6 Screetnh eory
MarkJ ancovich 123
7 Fromp sychoanafleymtiinci stmop opulafre minism
LisTaa ylor 151
8 Cultursatlu diaensd p opularfilm
AndyW illis 173
Guidet of urtherre ading 192
Index 197
T)"p<>OCI in ...U r;.;."
b)N'o rt.h.O Irn' ho'o'rpcC>o- L<t"di.n �1I 0l'on
Prin.iend ..i n
byH dl& fl0."i,l.nt .d,. 1I.;
01><10'"
Illustrations Noteosn c ontributors
1 JuliAen drewisn T hSeo unofdM usi19c6,5 JoanHnoel liosw Lase c turerM ediinaa ndC ulturSatlu diest haet
(BFSIt ilPloss,t earnsd D esigns) pag1e5 NottinghTarme nUtn ivresitSyh.ei sc urrcnplrleyp arian bgo oko n
2 Postefro rH itchcocTkh'Bes i r1d9s6,3( credit women's genreMsa ncfhoers tUenri versiPtrye sasn d isa lso
toc ome) 37 researcihnitnog discoofur rosmeasn cienc ontemporpaorpyu lcaurl ­
3 JohnW aynei nT hSee arc1h9e5r6( sSF,SIt ills, ture.
Postearnsd D esigns) 59 I'etHeru tchiisn Laeg cstu rienFr i lma tt he UniveorfsN iotnyh um­
4 Arnol5dc hwarzenegigneT re rmin2:aJ tuodrg ment briaatN ewcastHlee i.st hea uthoorfH ammatlrBl tdy otnhBdtr: i lish
Day1,9 9{1G uilFdi lDmi stribu(t 1i9o9n1. HIJffoFirl (mMa nchesUtneirv ersPirteys s1,9 93a)n di sc urrently
CarolIenet 'l) 79 workinogn t hea esthetoifh cosr ror.
5 Greml2,i1 9n9s0( SFSIt ilPloss,t earnsd MarkJ ancoivs Liaec cthu rienAr m ericaSnt udiaensd D irectooftr h e
design 99 Centrfeo rL iteraarnydC ulturSatlu diaetst heU niversoiftK ye ele.
6 SigournWeeya veri nA lie1n98s6, (crteocd oimte ) 123 He ist he autohfHo rO ff(oBrat sfo1r9d9,2 T),h Ceu ltPuorlaioltj i cs
7 Geena DaivniA s L eagoufTe h eOiwrn 1,9 92 lhNee wC rit(iCcamibsrimdU gnei versPirteys 1s,9 9a3n)d R ational
(credtioct o me) 151 FeaArmse:r iI/coaffnio nrt h1e9 50(M5a nchesUtneir" ersPirteys s,
8 AnthonPye rkiinnsP sych1o9,6 0( 8Sftti lls, Posters forthcoming).
andd esigns) 173 HenJrye nkiisA nssso ciate PrionfL eistseorra tautrM ea ssachusetts
InstitoufTt eec hnoloHgey i.s t he author of pnuubmleircoautsi ons,
TextPuoaaclhT eto/rirss;Fi aonansn,P d a rticCiuplattuorrey
including
What MPaitIsamc NhuitasE ?ay:r S lound
(Routledg1e9,9 2a)n d
Comeadnytd h Vta udrEoxipitlenlrae
(ColumbUinai versPirteys s,
CalssHiocylawilo od
1992), and (weidtiBhtr ourn sloKvaar nacokf)
Comedy
(Routled1g9e9,4 ).
PauMclD onaldis a Senior LectuMreedri aP eirnf ormaantcU en i­
versiCtoyl legSea,lo frdH.i sc urrernets earicsoh n masculinaintdy
method acti1n9g5 0Hison l lywood.
HeleSnt oddairst Lae cturienrL iterataunrde Filmt hieDn e part­
mento fE nglisKhe,e lUen iversSihteyi .s c urrently woonrt khien g
representoaftc iaornn ivaanldsc ircusweist hilni teraatnudrfi el m.
Sheh asa lspou blishoentd h ec ontemporGaortyh ic.
LisTaa yloirs Lae cturerC ulitnu rSatlu diaetsW olvcrhampUtnoin-
versiSthye.i sc urrendtoliyn rge searocnhg endearn dc onsumerism. ForD uncan
AndyW ilrluintssh e HigEhdeurc atiPorno grammineM ediSat udies
atW irraMle tropolCiotlalne ge.
Introduction
JoanHnoel laonwsMd a rJka ncovich
Populfairl amn d
cultudriaslt inctions
Thisb ooka imtso i ntrodtuhceme a ina pproacthoet sh ea nalyosfifi sl m
andt op rovisdteu denwtist chl eaarn da ccessaicbcloeu notfts h em ain
theoretdiecbaalt Ienst _h ep roceistse ,xa mintehsew aysi nw hich these
approacahreess h apebdy t heicro nstrucotfit ohne's p opul-atrh'a its ,
thew aysi nw hicdhi stincbteitownespe onp ulfialrm a nda lternafitlimv e
forms underpin tthheeiorr etbpiaocssaiilct ions.
Eachc haptseirt uattheeps a rticauplparro aucnhd edri scusswiiotnh in
theh istorical deovfea lpopprmoeanctth oefi sl m,a ndr elatietpssa rtic­
ulaarp proatcoho thesrt agoefsd evelopmHeonwte.v eirt,i si mportant
tob eairn m indt hatth esaep proacahreens e ithaesdr i scrneotrae s h is­
toricafixleldy ast hiosr ganizamtaiyoi nm plyA.p proachmeasys urvive
lonagf tetrh ehya veb eena ttackoered v ens upersebdyel da tedre vel­
opmentFsor. exam plep,r actitioofna eurtse utrh eordyi dn ots imply
abandotnh iasp proawciht thh ea dvenotfg enrcer iticsitsamsr,t udies,
ors cretehne orIyn.d eemda,n ya utetuhre oriwsetrsev iolenotplpyo sed
tot heslea tdeerv elopments.
Furthermotrheeb, o oka lssoe ektsoi llusthroawtt eh esea pproaches
intersoenceat n otheWrh.i loen et heormya yr ejeccetr tafiena tuorfe s
anothaeprp roaicthm, a ya lsloe ave cearstsauimnp tiuonnqsu estioned
ands or eproduacsep ecotfts h ep revious apIpnro otahcechra. s epsa,r ­
ticuclrairt miacysd rawu pona v arieotfdy i fferaepnptr oacahnedss eek
tor esoht-hee idri fferesnoct ehsat th ecya nb eu sedin c onjuncwtiiotnh
onea notheHro.w eveirt,s houlbde p ointoeudt t hagti l-tehnem ajor
disagreembeenttwse edni fferaepnptr oacthheisis sa verdyi fficualntd
complepxr ocess.
AsR aymonWdi lliahmassi llustroanteoe fdt ,h ep roblewmist th he
word' populiastr h'a itth asa cquirtewdod ifferaenndot f,t ecno nfused,
meaningTsh.eo ldessetn soeft het ermp opulraerf ertroet dh awth ich
waso f' thpee oploer'b elongteodt hemb,u ti th asa lsaoc quirtehde
meaninogf t hawth icihs ' wideflayv ouroerd' 'w ellli kedT'h.e'fi rst
Joanne Hollows Jaannd( oMvairckh Introduction 3
2
meaninigm pliaed si stincotroi popno sitbieotnw eseene lioofns so ciety Therefoarlet houHgahl il sc ritiocfta hle i deat hapte oplaer ep assive
-'thpeo pulaarn'd' theel itIen't ,h iwsa y,t hidse finitoifo' np opular' objecwthso a rcc ontrollferdo mo utsibdyeo therhse,s trestsheasat l l
dependusp ont hee xisteonfcs eo methiwnhgi,c bhy i mplicatiis'o nno,t cultufroarlm asr ed efinewdi thiconn ditioonfps o wer.
populaTrh'e. s econmde anincgo rrespotnodw sh atS tuarHta llh as Hallal sion troduac tehsi rdde finitoifot nh ep opula'rt,h e descrip­
call'etdh "em arkeotr"c ommercdieafiln itoifot nh e terImtr' e,f1e rs to tivew'h,i chhe fi ndse qualulnys atisfaIcntt ohridyse. fi niti'otnhp,eo p­
whethoerrn ots omethiinscg o nsumeodra cceptbeyld a rge numobfe rs ulari'ss impleyq uatweidt h' altlh et hingtsh a"tt hep eopldeo" a nd
peoplHeo.w ever, themseea ntiwnaogr scq uitdei fferFeonrte .x ample, haved one'H!a llo'bsj ecttioot nh idse finitiison no ts impltyh aitt i s
thefi lmH udsHoanw wkh,ic wha sa d isasattet rh eb ox-officweo,u lbde tautologbiuctaa lls,to h aitt s implpyr ovidaes l isotr i nvenloHrey .
classiafispe odp ulianrt hefi rsste nsbeu,tn oti nt hes econIdtm. a yn ot claitmhsa sti mpllyi stfionrgm asn dp ractiicgenso rheosw ' three aaln a­
hal'bce enc onsumebdy l arge numobfpe erosp lbeu,ti lw oulsdt iblel lytidci stinctiboent'w ee'nt hpee oplaen'd t hosweh o are' notth e
definebdy i tdsi fferefnrcoeme liftoer mosf c ulture. peoplem'a dies.I 'n deeodn eo ft hem ajoprr oblewmist thh idse finition
Indeeidti, s w ithitnhi sse nsoef' thpeo pulatrh'a' tf oclukl turaerse' ist hatth e' meanionfga cultufroarlma ndi tpsl acoerp ositiinot nh e
not
defineadsf ormosf p opulcaurl tuTrhee.ym ayb et hec ultuorfae s mall, cultufireallid s inscriibnesdi idtefs o rmN.o ri si tpso sitfiixoend
locaclo mmunitbyu,tt heya res tidlelf inbeyd t heirre lattioo' nt he oncea ndf ore ver.A's1 H allp utsi t':T heca tegori[epso pulaanrd
commonp eoplrea't,h tehra na ne conomipco,l itiocrca ull tuerlailt e. non-popluarr]e main, tthhoeui gnhv entocrhiaensg e."
Howevewri,t ht hee mergenocfem odermna ssm edisau cha sc inema, Hallp'osi nitst hamto stt heoroifet sh ep opulparre setnhted istinc­
crithiacvse f requenctolnyf ustehde stew om eaninogfs' thpeo pular'. tiobne twepeonp ulaanrd n on-popufloarrm ass a ' conditoifso pne'c ific
Thep robleimst hawth ilfeo lcku ltuarreeus s ualsleye ans f ormwsi thin textasn da ctivirtaitehste,hr ana st hep roduocftt hew aysi nw hich
whicchu ltuwraesb othp roducaendd c onsumebdy' thpee opl-ea'n d textasn da ctiviatrieae psp ropribayt,eo dr b ecomaes sociawtietdh ,
weret herefsoereean s ' authen-tmiacs'sm edifao rmasr eu sualplryo ­ specisfiocc igarlo upIsn.t hiwsa yf,o erx amplmea,n ya pproacthofie lms
ducebdy l argcea pitailnidsuts trfioers sa lteo t hec ommonp eoplAes. impltyh apto pulfialrm sca n bed istinguiscehretda icbnhy a racteristic
featuwrheisc phr oduccee rracihna racteerffiescttiSscu. c ha pproaches
ar esuflotmr,a ny criclointcesm porpaorpyu lcaurl ture tcoba ems ee en
ase ith(eIrs )o methiwnhgi cihs n ot re'aoltflh yep eoplbee'c auistei s faitlo r ecogntihzae't t hpeo pulairss' i mplpya rotf t hep rocebsys
whicthe xtasr ec lassiAfise ad r.e sualtn,yp artictuelxaitrs n oti nher­
imposeudp ont hemb yo thearnsd i st,h erefdoereem,e 'di nauthentic'
enllpyo puloarre liitnec haracbtuetrm ,a yw elmlo veb etwetehne t wo
(sefeo,r e xamplceh,a ptoenre )o,r( 2s)o methiwnhgi cihs s eeans a kin
as histcoornidciatlic ohnasn gAes.H all claims:
too ld' folfko'r mtsh aits u ndersttooob de b othp roducaendd c on­
sumedb y' thpee oplfeo'r' thpee ople'.J Thiyse arr'asd iscaylm bol or wsillbolepn ne utraliisnelndOe xyte ar's
StuaHratl hla st akeins suwei tbhO lohf t hesdee finitioof'n tsh peo p­ fashitohney; e aarf teirtw, i lbleI heobjoefpc rto foucnudl tunroaslt algia.
ularT'h.e fi rsht,ec laimpsr,e sen'ttshp ee oplaes'' cultudroaple wsh'o Todayr'esb eflo lksienngdeusrp ,t omorroownt, h ec oveorfT hlO bsrr­
are' pureplays si\a' peo's,i thieor ne fersa s' ad eepluyn sociapleirs­t IItr colomuargaz ineI.t
specti(vee\'',te'hn o ugihti so ne whiitoscc ho mmona mongs ocialainsdt s
Halle'xsa mpldeess critbheep rocebsysw hicrha dic'aplo,p ulfaorr'm s
lefctr itiincg se neraTlh)e. secdoenfidn ithieoa nl sdoe scriabs'e hsi ghly
arci ncorporianttetodh ec ultuorfde o minaanntd e ligtreo upbsu,ti ti s
dubiouisn' faars i t' negletchteas b soluetsesleyn triealla tioofcn usl ­
alstoh ec asteh atth eo pposihtaep pens;a ftohrampt r eviously defined
tural pso-o owfed ro minatainodns ubordina-twihoinc ihs a ni ntrinsic
ase liwtiel llo siet csu ltural asntdba eti unsc,o rporatetdh ec iunlttou re
featuorfce u lturrealla tiAosnh se'g .o eosn t oa rgue: of' popular' or subordFionrae txea mgprlwoehu,ip lsPe.a varotti's
NmuD1Io rma
I wantt oa sseornt t hec ontTartyh atth eries 11 0 wholea,U lhentic, mighhta voen cbee ecnl assiafisee ldi tieth, a sb eeinn cor­
autonom'oupso puclualrt uwrhei'l.: lhi eosu tsitdheefi elodf f orcoeft he poratiendt toh e' populbaerc'a uosfei tass sociawtiitofhno so tbFaollr.
relatioofnc su hurpaolw era ndd ominati[oTnh.ip so sifigorne]a tly thirse asoHna,l alr gues that popular ncoutbl ets uereen sshiomuplldy
underestitmhaept oewse orf c ultuirmapll antation.' ase ithtehre m eansby w hich domignraonutpi sm posteh eiird eaosn
4 JoannHeo lloawnsd M arkJ ancovich Introduction 5
subordignraotuep osr,t hew ayi nw hicshu bordignraotuep rse sidsotm ­ Thism odeo fp erceptiispo rne occupwiietdfh o rmo vefru nctiEovne.n
ination. Ihnesd teefiande,ts h ep opulaasra sitoef s truggal pel,a ce them ostm undanoeb jecctasnb ep erceiavsea de sthe-tfiocre xample,
wherceo nnicb[cst wttdno minaanntd s ubordingartoeu pasr ep layed someonwei tht he' purgea zem'i ghptr efaenrA leskseit tlwehi,c ihs
outa ndd istincbtei..toe.. ne.sn t hec ultuorfet sh esger oupasr ec ontinu­ \'alufeordi tfso rmal feattotu hrefe usn,c tioennaelr,g y-safyeiantgu res
allcyo nstruacntder de constructed. ofa ne lectkreitct lSei.m ilaar ldyi,s card'eodu,t -dateddr'e soisln ad
Thew orko ft heF rencsho cioloPgiiesrtBr oeu rdieouf,f ear psa rti­ charisthyo pm ayb eu setd oc reaatnea estheetITt'Cti cb ya na rstt udent
cularulsye fwualy o fu nderstanhdoiwnd gi stincbteitownespe onp ular whob uys aintdw earsi ti na night-dub.
ande liftoen nosf c uhuraer ep roduceFdo.r"B ourditehue,r aer ecf fec­ Howeverf,o rB ourdietuh,i mso deo fp erceptiison no ti nnocent.
tivetlhyr emea inca tegorioefts a stlee:g iti(moarte el itmei)d;d lebrow; Insteiatdf, u ndamentdaelpleyn dusp ont hep rocebsysw hicthh ep er­
andp opulIaITr h.e seh,e a rgueasr,es tronlgilnyk teodc lafsosr mations. sonsi np ossessoifot nh ep ureg azed istingtuhiesmhs elfvreosm t he
Indeehde,c laitmhsa ctl aisssn otd efinseidm plbyy t hef ormosf e co­ commonp eoplTeh.e p urgea zies i nherenat rleyf usoafpl o pultaars tes
nomicc apitwahli cohn ep ossesses bbuytt haefl osrom osf ' cultural whicahr ed ismisassen da turnaali,v aen ds implhee:n cteh ec ommon
capitTahle's.ef ormosf c ultucraapli taarlem adeu po fb othc ompe­ distincbteitowne etnh es clf-cvitdreannts,p araenndet a sy pleasures
alTerbeyd populacru lturacn,d t hec omplex, diaffincdua lctt ive
tencaensd d ispositoiros npse,c iffiocr mosf k nowledagnedp articular
procesassesso ciwaitettdhh ea ppreciaotfli eogni ticmualtteu re.
predispositions.
Howevefro,Br o urditehue,a ssociabteitowne peonp ultaars atned t he
Bourdiaerug uetsh abte caudsief ferseenctt ioofns so ciehtayv ed if­
'naivaen'd' naturdaole'ns o tm eant haitti sns'otc iaplrloyd ucendo,r
ferecnotm petenacnedsd isposittihoimnses a,n tsh adti fferseenctt ions
thaitti sn eutrJauls.at s t hep ureg azics f undamentbaalsleuydp oni ts
ofs ociewtiyl 'lp erceicvlea,s sainfdym emorizdei ffereInITt hliys' .
refusoafpl o pultaars tseo,p opultaars tiesb aseodn a refusoaftl h at
meantsh adti ffergernotu pcso nsumceu ltural ifndo irfmfse rweany­ts
refusTahlu.s ,t hew orking classest'o l ehgoisttiimlaittey anfdo rms,
fore xamplBeo,u rdicelua imtsh atth ea bilittory e cognliezgei timate
the'irre luctaanndrc eef ustaoel n'g agwei tthh em' sprinnogtjs u sftr om
cultufroarlm rse lioens s pecidfiics positTihoenrse.f oirnet ,h ev isual
al acokf f amiliabruitft ryo ma deep-roodteemda nfdo rpa rticip.a'6t ion'
artsf,o re xamplweh,e reo nep ersowni lsle ea pictuorfes omething,
ForB ourdiseuub,o rdignraotuep rse cogntihzaelt e gitifmoartmeas r e
anothseere as p ictubryes omeon(eI ta'R se mbrandatn)d;y eta nother
'as orotfa ggrcssi[oonra ]f frotnott 'h eiwra yo flife.c"olnnl nstt he
seeasn e xamploefa particaurltma orv emen(tI tI'msp ressioTnhies t).
demanfdo rp articipwaittihopinno pultaars tBeo,u rdicelua itmh1s0a t th e
samei sa lstor uien t hea reao ffi lmw heroen ep ersowni lsle ea filmo f
purgea zdee penudpso nd istanTcheu.sh ea rgutehsa wth ati sn ormally
ap articguelnarr(e aw estern); ansoeteahs fie lrm w itah p articsutlaarr
seeans t hes implien abiloifst uyb ordingartoeu ptsoa pprecilaetgei ti­
(BurLta ncastaenrd)y ;e ta nothseeesr a filmb ya particduilraerc tor
matec ultuirsei, n f acatt,l eaasstm ucha, r efusoaftl h actu lture.
UohnS turges)."
IndeeBdo,u rdiaerug uetsh atth e purei sd irecrtellya tteotd h e
Thea biltiotr yec ognize legitimdaetpee ncodunslw thuartBeo urdieu
economsiict uatoifto hne b ourgeoias sgazeii et,u atwihoinc ihs u navailable
call'st haee sthedtiiscp osiotri'o tnh'pe u reg azew'h icihs b aseodn a
tos ubordincaltaes saensd g roupHsi.s c laiims t haitt sr efusoafl
rejectoif'o tnh peo pular aesotr'h peotpiuclt'aa rs tLei'k.He a llh,ec laims
'simpolre' 'n atuprlale'a surtehsep riosd ucta ' odfi stancen efcreosm­
that these afrecpa rtiumraerswi alyyso fc lassifoybijnegcr tast htehra n
sitTyh'e.a biltiott yh inakb oufto rmo vefru nct-iofno re xamplaeti, t s
inherefneta turoefst heo bjectthse mselvTehse.r efoarseB ,o urdieu
mostb asitco,e atf ootdh aits s tylirsaht htehra nfi lli-nogr t oe ngage
arguiensh isc haracteriozfta hteai eosnt hedtiics posiotrpi uorne g aze: inp ractiwcietsnh o f unctional pcuormpeoosus teo ,f' ane xperieonfc e
Ift hew orko fa rits i ndeeadsP, a nofsskayy tsh,a t w'hdiecmha ntdobs e thew orld ffrreoemdu rgencayn dt hrougthh ep ractiocfae c tivities
experieanecsetdh etiacnadli lfay n'yo, b jencatt,u roaral r tificciaanbl e, whicahr ca ne ndi nt hemselsvuecsah,s s cholaesxteircc iosrte hse c on­
perecievda esthetihcoawlc layno, n ee scatphee c onclustihoaintti st he templatoifwo onr kosf a rt'."
aesthienttiecn t[iootfnh ev iewewrh]i c'hm aketsh'ew orko fa r.t .,.t h at Howevears,s houlbdec leahre,a lso sttrheasitsti e sds e fineidnr eac­
iti st hea estheptoiicno tfv ietwh actr eattehsea esthctic object.)" tioang aintshtet astoefso thecrl assIetis s.a modeo fp erceptwihoinc h
JoannHeo lloawnsd M arkJ ancovich Introduction 7
6
asseritts's s uperioorveitrth yo sweh o,b ecautshe ecya nnoats setrhte theA mericaaund ienBcUeIi. n B ritatihneg enraensdn arratoifvA emesr ­
samec ontemfpotr . .g.r atuitlouuxsu rayn dc onspicuous consumption, icapno pulcaurl tuarcet eadsa k inodf w edgef,o rcionpge nt,h roucgohn ­
rraasntd a wilddi ssonatnhcece l,a ss-bcooumnpdl aceonftc hye G reat
remaidno minatbeydo rdinary inatnedur regsetnsc ieHso'w.e"v ewrh,a t
TraditoifoB nr itiCsuhl ture."
ism ostw orryianbgo ut tdhiesstei nCilsit ohnasta ,sB ourdiielul ustrates,
theayr en oto nltyh em ost 'classiaflyslio ncgi'da ilfo ffe rebnuctea sl,s o Iti st herefeosrsee nttihaawlt e a cknowletdhgede i fferweanytsi nw hich
have 'ptrhiev iloefga ep pearing tthoem obsetn aturllall '. populacru lturhea s beena rticulawtietdh idni fferehinstt orical
Howeveirt,s houlbde e mphasiztehda tf,o Bro urdictuh,e sdei stinc­ momentsb,u ti ti sa lseos senttihaawlte r ecogncioznefl icatnsdc ontra­
tionasr en eithcelra imasb outth ec haracotfes rp ecitfiecx tnso,r a hout dictiownist hiann ys pecimfoimce ntb etweedni fferfeonntn osf p opu­
thea ctuaaclt iviotfsi peesc icfiocn sumeTrhse.y a rew aysi nw hich cul­ lar culturthei.rs e Faosroi nff, o nro o thetrh,e riesa n eedto r e-evaluate
turadli stinctairoepn rso ducaendd m aintaisnoea ds t or eprodutchee populcaurl tuirnge e neraanld,p opulfialrm i np aritculaanrd,t hew ays
dominaonrtd eIrt.i sn ott hapto pulaaurd iendcoen so tt hinwkh ent hey inw hicthh eshea veb eend iscuswsietd hianc ademaipcp roaches.
consumtee xtnso,r t hatth esyi mplrye jefcotr mailn novatbiuotnt ,h at As shoulbdec leaBro,u rdiseeue asc ademiinct ellecatscu eanltsr taol
theyr ejetchte t ermsof t hep ureg azeT.h eyr equitrhea tt hey are thep roductainodnr eprodtiounco ft hesceu lturdails tinctIinodnese.d
engagebdy thei ntelleacntduf aolr mafle aturreast,h tehra nd istanced. hec laims tthheatyte ndt ol egitimtahtepe u reg azea ndr endepro pu­
They requirteh etsfheea att uhraevsea purpose. latra stielsl egitiAmsaA tned.r eRwo ss has argued:
Thee ndr esuolftt hew aysi nw hich culdtiusrtailn ctoipoenrsa te, is
Thei ntellecttruaailni'insnd gi scriminiasat nii onnd ispenrseasboluer ce
thaotp positnags taerseh omogeniazset dh eayr er ejecoterdd e fended. ins ucahp roceFsosrt. h iissw herteh ei ntellecatcucarle'dpsio tweedor f
Int hew orko fi ntellecstuucahal sfis l mt heorinsottso ,n layr et hep oli­ discriminationt hreep oiwneftroo rs cuebso rdicnvaetnae s i tp resents
ticusn derpinnciunlgt udriaslti nctioofntser ne pressbuetda ,l stoh e' pop­ itseinlt fh ef ormo fa no bjecticvrei tioqfuta es te."
ularb'e comeasn undifferenmtoinaotleidtN ho.t o nlya rcd ifferences
ForB ourditehui,ss i tuiaotni sn ots implay ' reflecotfit ohnei' n terests
betweecno ntemporpaorpyu lfialrm sr epressbeudts, o i sa nys ensoef
oft heb ourgeocilsas nso,r i si ts implays sociawtietdhl iberoarcl o n­
changeisnp opulfaorr mosv etri meo ri nd ifferennatt ioncaoln texts.
servatcivrei tiIcnsd.e edm,u ch ofB ourdiefiue'rsc ecsrti ticiasrmes
Indeetdh eq uestiooftn h er elationbsehtiwpe enna tioniadle ntaintdy
directaegda inssutp poserdaldyi caanldl eft-wiinntge llectuals.
populacru ltuirsec rucifaolra numbero fr easonOsn.e oft hem ost
ForB ourdiietu ,t ihsep roblemastiitcu atoifot nh eb ourgeois intel­
strikiisnt gh ew ayi nw hicthh ep opuliasro ftedne fineads f oreiwgint h
lectuwahli chp roductehsi psa rticudleafre noceft hep ureg aze. He
nationcaoln texFtosr.e xamplwei,t hiBnr itatihne,p opulhaars o ften
claimtsh awth ilien tellecatruesa tlisml elm berosf t hed ominant class
beena ssociawtieldAh m ericaan dw itAhm ericanizaTthiiospn o.s"ii otn
(thbeo urgeoitshieeey) x,i satsa dominatseedc tioofnt hactl asTsh.e y
isu sualcloyn strucatreodu nad c onceptoifot nh en ationianlw hich
ared ependeunpto nt hossee ctioonfs t heb ourgeoiwshiiec ha re
Btitishinsea ssss ociawtietdhl egitimcautlet uFruer.t hermoarsce h,a p­
involviendt her ealomf e conompirco ductiTohni.sg iversi steo a
ter one demontshte'r tahtreesoa,ft m 'a ssc ultuirnet heU SA during
struggbleet weetnh ec ultubroaulr geoainsdit eh ee conombiocu rgeoisie
the1 9S0wsa sa ssociawtietdht het hreoaftt otalitariinaE nuirsomp e.
inw hicthh ef ormeart tempttosi ncretahseev aluoef c ultuarcatli vities
Indeeidn,b otBh ritiasnhdA mericcaonn texts,o faf e faorrsei tghnr eat
ino pposittioto hnee conomaicct iviotfti heels a ttIetri .sf ort hirse ason,
tol egitimcautlet uarree o ften litnokt ehedt hreaotft he' foreigners'
Bourdicelua ims, ctuhlattu rianlte llecntoutao lnsl yt endt oc laiamn
with-inf ore xamplteh,ew orkincgla sasn dA fa-r-Amerincsa.u
autonomfyo rcu ltuarcatli viitniw ehsi cthh eayr ed istanfcredo me ca-­
Iti sa lstoh ec asteh ata,sa r esuslpte,c ipfiocp ultaerx tcsa nh avev ery
nomiacn dp racticcrailt eriaa,l stobe untdt oa dopat p oliictarlh etoric
differmeenatn ingwsi thidni fferneantti oncaoln texAtss C.o raK aplan
whicho pposetsh ed ominanetc onomaincd m ateriianlt ereosftt sh eir
observes:
ownc lasTsh.e resiusal nti ronsiict uatiinwo hn icbho urgeoiinst ellec­
Ina sixtAimeesr iclaenfc to nstellwaetsitoenra,nn sdt hrilwleerress e en tualosf tecnl aitmo b ea nti-ubrogeoiinst heipro litics.
asg enericaaswl ellyal s i deologirciaglhlty-w Ainndgs .o t hewye rfeo r Howevera,s shoulbde cleawrh,i lteh esien tellecctluaailms an
8 JoannHeo lloawnsd M arkJ ancovich Introduction 9
anti-bourpgoeloiitsit chses, p ecific choafrt ahcitosep rp ositeifofne c­ thcp roductoifog nr eaatr to re vena theoretdiecfaelnlsyie bnltei ty.
tiverleyp rodutcheesl egitimoafct yh ep ureg aze, saonm da intains Furthermotrheim,so vemendti dn otr epresae dnetf enocfep opular
sociaanldc ultudriaslt inctions. film- indeetdh,e scer itsitcisal clc epttehdeb asiacs sumptioofmn ass s
cultutrhce orTyh.e refotrheew, o rko fa uteuwrass n ots eetno e xem­
Thef ollowcihnagp tewrislt lh erefeoxraem ine wathyesi nwhidcihf fer­ pliproy pulfialrm i ng enerbault,w asp rivilebgeecda uosfet hew aysi t
entt heorhiaevse r eprodudciesdt incbteitownese tnh ep ureg azean d subvcrtaenddc hallentghecsd y steTmh.e auteuwra sn oto fp opular
popultaars tdee,s pitthee iaTp pareanntd,o ftevni olenctolnyt estdeidf,­ film,b uta gamits.t
ferencTehse.b ooka lscoh arat sg eneral movienma epnptr oacthoe s Then excth apte'rG,e nrTeh eorayn dC riticisshmo'w,hs o wm any
filmf roma p reoccupawtiitoahnu thors(hbirpo addleyfi nedt)h,r ouag h crittiocosik s suwei tha uteuriIsnms.t eoafdp riviletghiein ngd ividual
concentrautpioontn h et exatn dt extualtioat nyi ,n vestigoafta iuodni ­ author, ctrhietsisech si fttehde ierm phastiost het extusatlr uctures
ences. withiwnh ichfi lm-makewrosr keda,n ds tresstehdem eaninagn d
Int hefi rscth apte'rl\l,a sCsu ltuTrhee orayn dP olitiEccaoln omy', significiannhceer einntt h esreo rmsH.o wevePre,t eHru tchinagrsg ues
JoannHeo llowesx amin[ehse w aysi nw hichm assc ultutrhee ory thatth imso deo fc riticniostom n lsyp entto ol ontgr yitnogt racdko wn
analystehde i ndustrcioanld itiino nwsh ichp opulacri nemwaa s thce lusidveefi,n infge aturoerd se ep-strucwthuircehds i stinguished
produceadn,di tcsl aitmh atth esceo nditions rien's tuhlBetu eidl t-In genrrerso mo nea nothbeurt,w asfi nalulnya blteoa nswetrh iqsu estion,
ReactioInn' t.h ep rocesssh,ei llustrhaotwe msa ssc ultutrhee ory atl eaisntp artb,e cauistte e ndetdoi gnotrhee i mportaonfct eh ea udi­
revolvaerdo unad d istincbteitowne epno pulaanrd a vant-garde film.e nceT.h isw orkw asm uchl escsl eairni tcso nceptoifot nh ep opular.
Them assc ultucrrei tcilcasi mtehda pto pular Hollywood sfiol ms weSroem ec ritdiicdsa rguteh acte rtapionp ulgaern rewse reo fs uchr ich­
castyo c onsumtch atth erye quirneode ffoorntt hep arotf t hea udi­ nestsh atth e.wy ereo na p arw itghr eaatr tb,u ta si nm anyo thetrh eo­
enceI.n c ontratsott h ec onformaintdyp assivwihtiyc mha ssc ulture riesi,tw asm orec ommont os eet hep opularre presenatsea dn
critbieclsi evtehdaH to llywofioldm sp roduciendt heiaru dientchee,y ideologiccoanlsleyr varteiavlem .
arguetdh atth ec omplexoifta yv ant-gaarrdtfe o rceidt esn lightened Inc haptreoru r',S taSrt udiePsa'u,Ml c Donaledx amintehsev arious
audientcoet hinrko ri tsealnrd s oq uestieoxni stsioncgi raell ations. differaepnptr oacthoet sh ea nalyosfis st arasn ds tairm ageTsh.e se
Finalslhyem, o veosn t od iscumsosr er ecewnotr ko nt hep olitical econa­pproachheed se scriabsse esm iottihceas n;a lyosfiisn tertextpusayl­ity;
omyo rc ultunroet,a btlhye woorfNk i cholGaasr nhamT.h isw orki,t choanalyasnidas u;d ienscteu diTehse.fi rsttw oa rem ainlcyo ncerned
isc laimecdo,n tinmuacsss c ultutrhee oryi'nst erienst th ei ndustrial witthh ea nalyosfit se xtbsu,tt hes econtdw om ainlcyo ncetrnh ew ays
conditioofnc su ltuprraold uctibountr, e fusteosp riviltehgeae v ant­ inw hicvhi eweirdse ntwiiftyhs t arFsi.n alMlcyD,o nalddi scustshees
gardaes a formw hicihs s omehofrwe edf romt hesceo nditiTohniss. worko rP ierBroeu rdiaenud a pplies thieta natloy osfis st arisno rder
sectiaolnse ox amintehsen ews tructuorfce usl tuprraold uction associt­oa rguteh aitti sn ecesstaorc yo mprehehnodw t hed istribouftc iuoln­
atewdi t'hp ost-Foradnidst mh'e' NewH ollywood'. turacla pitlaela ddsi fferaeundti entcoei sd entwiiftydh i ffersetnatr s.
Int hes econcdh apte'rA,u teurainsdmF ilmA uthorsThhiepo ry', Inc haptfievre , 'HistoricHaeln rPJyoe entkiiccnsos'n ,s idtehreks i nd
HeleSnt oddadrits custsheesw ayi nw hichc ertacirni ttiocosik s sue ofw orke xemplibfiyeD da viBdo rdwealnldK ristTihno mpsoWnh.i le
withm assc ultutrhee orIyn.p articualuatre,ut rh eorirsetjse cttheed allowisnogm e spfaocrte h e auteuarp,p rtohaiscseh to su tt od etatihle
claitmh aitn dustrpiraold uC[piroonv idneodr oomf ort hei ndividual normsw hichg overn the stylistiocf fi lcmoa nnsdtt rhuecrteifoonr e
expresswihoinc wha ss upposeedslsye nttiota hlep roductoifoa nr tI.n strestsheasat n yi nnovatciaonno nlyb ed efineidn t ermosf t hese
responasuet,e urpiosmi ntteoda numbeorf fi lm-makearlsol,f w hom normsn,o ta sa ni nstaonfcp eu res elf-expreHsoswieovne.hr ,ea rgues
wered irectwohros , thiedye ntiafisefi dg urewsh oh ad beaebnl teo thadte spiittets e ndentcoyp rivil'edgeef ami..l.i a..raaits ia onan r't istic
expreas rsi ccho mpleaxn dp ersonvails iwohni lmea kinfigl msw ithin practiac ceo,n cecprti ticibzyeB do urdiaesua legitimaotfti hoepn u re
theH ollywosotdu disoy steHmo.w evera,sS toddaproti ntosu ti,t i s gazet,h iasp proaocphe nusp i mportiasnstu feosrt hes tudoyf p opular
necesstaorq yu estiwohne thacnri ndividauuatlh oirse itheesrs enttioa l filpma,r ticutlharroluyig thws i llingtnoae cscse ppotp ulnaorr mass p art