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Footloose. Kathleen Mack Joshua Laucius Marquise Goods Kerri Russo. Characters. “ Ren ” : Kevin Bacon “Willard” : Christopher Penn “Ariel” : Lori Singer “Reverend Shaw Moore” : John Lithgow Director : Herbert Ross. Synopsis.
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Footloose Kathleen Mack Joshua Laucius Marquise Goods Kerri Russo
Characters • “Ren” : Kevin Bacon • “Willard” : Christopher Penn • “Ariel” : Lori Singer • “Reverend Shaw Moore” : John Lithgow • Director : Herbert Ross
Synopsis Classic tale of teen rebellion with dance choreography. A teenager named Ren and his family move from Chicago, which is a big city, into a small town in the West and immediately can notice the difference. As Ren tries to fit in, he can’t believe that dancing and rock music is illegal. With the prom being around the corner Ren and his classmates want to go against this law and party. Ren is the only one with enough courage to step up and say something to the townspeople.
The 1980s In America: Film 1984 Temper of an age = temporal dimension
Political Social Dance clubs and hip hop Popular fashion Oversized tops Stretch pants Leg warmers Big hair Shoulder pads • Ronald Reagan • 1981-1989 • “Just Say No” • Restrictions on youth
Movements in Music • The MTV Video Music Awards started • Band Aid – “Do They Know It’s Christmas” • Raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia • Michael Jackson – Thriller sells over 37 million • Music huge part of people’s lives in America and worldwide
Movements against music • PMRC (Parents' Music Resource Coalition), • Tipper Gore, wife of then-Tennessee Senator Albert Gore • Susan Baker, wife of Treasury Secretary James Baker • Oregon and South Carolina Senator wives • Campaign to 'educate' parents about rock music • Tripper Gore daughter came home with “Purple Rain” • Sexually explicit lyrics
Elmore City, Oklahoma • -Dancing was outlawed in this mostly Caucasian Community in 1900. • - The townspeople who came to this decision viewed the display of public dance immoral and provocative. • - Dance was finally legalized in 1980 and to this day some people that reside in the town believe it should be outlawed.
Dance in cinema is a part of American’s everyday lives through expressions of rebellion, celebration, and expression of self
Connection to Film • Rebellion against authority • Ban on rock n roll • Ban on Dance • Celebration • Prom • Clubs, fun, social life • Expression of self • Emotional dancing • Love, anger, happiness
Dance and Narrative • Integrated Musical • Dance displays character’s emotions • Warehouse scene • How characters interact • Dance club • Ren teaching Willard
Convincing the Council • Ren: dance is “our way of celebrating life, that’s the way its always been, it’s the way it should be now” • Dance since “olden times” • Kings leaping and dancing for their Lord
Suspension of Disbelief • Realistic – actually happened • Elmore City 1978 • Real high school events • Prom • Hanging out at diner • Some dance moves hard to believe • High school students?
Role of Ecstasy • Escape from pressures • At home • In school • At church • Dance = total release
Dropping Out • Youth rebelling against previous generations, falling out of normal society • Ariel • Preacher’s daughter turned bad girl
Othering • A way humans define themselves made up of what they are not • Ren at new school • From the “big city”
Dance • Street dancing and jiving • Emoitional • Hitting car, slamming door, throwing bottle • Rebellion • Cigarettes, beer, abandoned warehouse • Lively and aggressive • Running, jumping, flips • Clips of authority • Preacher, teacher, cops
Buddy Film • Relationship between Ren and Willard • Ren looks like better dancer • Romance between Ren and Ariel • Ren looks more masculine • Feminine dance style?
Conclusion • Dance is a strong factor for change • Kids succeed in rebellion through dance • Dance is a good form of rebellion • Even though people try to fight dance, it is a part of everyone’s life