Shirley Temple: Origins of the Optimistic Image :: Shirley Temple Image Essays

Shirley Temple Origins of the Optimistic ImageShirley Temple. When the name is verbalize an persona of the dimpled confrontd, curly haired, tap dancing four year rare from the 1930s automatically appears in everyones mind. She was the child actress of the depression era, winning all over the hearts and pocket books of m each. Films, dolls and even a drink named after her, her face and name were ones that couldnt be missed. She was Foxs gem and saviour. She was an escape from the hard life. She was a star. The image that she gave off, of love for the needy and pure optimism, must have had an origin. Did it rise from the companionable needs of the public to escape the depression or was it purely constructed by Twentieth Century-Fox? Her image clearly correlates with the mentality of the public at the time, provided Fox must have had a hand. Undoubtedly her image was created through and through a mixture of both elements. To analyze the degree to which Shirley Temples image was f orm through the needs of the time or through manipulation by Fox, one must first look at stars images in general and how they come into being. What do stars represent to the audience? What is the nature of their images? Many bulk might say that stars are merely a return of the Hollywood system needing to make a profit Hollywood manufactures a product and creates the demand for it. A stars image is processed through advertisements and promotions and has little to do with what the audience wants and needs from entertainment. There is a widespread mentality that any Average Joe can become a star with enough resources saddle horse him up. Richard Dyer points out, however, that even movies full of stars fail, and stars can and do fall out of spirt (12). A stars economic worth is not invulnerable to audiences opinions. The audience isnt so easily controlled. As Dyer says, Stars ... are the direct or indirect coefficient of reflection of the needs, drives and dreams of American societ y. (6). The stars image is formed by what the audience chooses to see, and the audience testament choose to see a movie that fills their societal needs, even if unconsciously. once the audience has made its decision, it empowers that star to fulfill these needs. Stars have a intimate position in the definition of social roles and types, and this must have historical consequences in terms of how people believe they can and should behave (Dyer 8).