Title
Incongruous Entertainment: Camp, Cultural Value, and the MGM Musical,New
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With their lavish costumes and sets, ebullient song and dance numbers, and iconic movie stars, the musicals that mgm produced in the 1940s seem today to epitomize camp. Yet they were originally made to appeal to broad, mainstream audiences. In this lively, nuanced, and provocative reassessment of the mgm musical, Steven Cohan argues that this seeming incongruitybetween the camp value and popular appreciation of these musicalsis not as contradictory as it seems. He demonstrates that the films extravagance and queerness were deliberate elements and keys to their popular success.In addition to examining the spectatorship of the mgm musical, Cohan investigates the genres production and marketing, paying particular attention to the studios employment of a largely gay workforce of artists and craftspeople. He reflects on the role of the female starsincluding Judy Garland, Debbie Reynolds, Esther Williams, and Lena Horneand he explores the complex relationship between Gene Kelleys dancing and his masculine persona. Cohan looks at how, in the decades since the 1950s, the marketing and reception of the mgm musical have negotiated the more publicly recognized camp value attached to the films. He considers the status of Singin in the Rain as perhaps the first film to be widely embraced as camp; the repackaging of the musicals as nostalgia and camp in the Thats Entertainment! series as well as on home video and cable; and the debates about Garlands legendary gay appeal among her fans on the Internet. By establishing camp as central to the genre, Incongruous Entertainment provides a new way of looking at the musical.
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This product may contain chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm.
For more information, please visit www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
- Q: What is the main theme of 'Incongruous Entertainment'? A: 'Incongruous Entertainment' explores the relationship between camp culture and the MGM musicals of the 1940s, arguing that the camp value was a key element in their popular success.
- Q: Who is the author of the book? A: The author of 'Incongruous Entertainment: Camp, Cultural Value, and the MGM Musical' is Steven Cohan.
- Q: What are the key topics discussed in the book? A: The book discusses the production and marketing of MGM musicals, the role of gay artists in their creation, the significance of female stars, and the evolution of the films' reception over time.
- Q: When was 'Incongruous Entertainment' published? A: 'Incongruous Entertainment' was published on October 20, 2005.
- Q: What type of binding does this book have? A: The book is available in paperback binding.
- Q: How many pages does 'Incongruous Entertainment' have? A: 'Incongruous Entertainment' contains a total of 384 pages.
- Q: Is this book suitable for academic study? A: Yes, the book provides a nuanced analysis suitable for academic study, particularly in fields such as cultural studies, film studies, and performing arts.
- Q: What is the condition of the book being sold? A: The book is listed as 'New'.
- Q: Does the book cover the impact of Judy Garland on MGM musicals? A: Yes, the book reflects on the role of Judy Garland and other female stars in shaping the MGM musical genre.
- Q: Can I find insights about the marketing strategies of MGM in this book? A: Yes, the book includes an investigation into the marketing strategies of MGM musicals and their reception over time.