Chicago - Fosse

Question 1

How is Fosses use of sexualised and provocative style seen?

Answer 1

• in musical number “all that jazz”, when the main dancer Velma Kelly extends her lyric ‘jazz’ in a soft tone, whilst sliding her hands up her body slowly from her knees
• cell block tango. Spread egal, and split over Male dancers torso
• was a response to a sexually free environment and women’s greater sexual freedom

Question 2

How is Fosses use of taking a satirical approach in his works seen?

Answer 2

• In the musical number “we both reach for the gun”, Billy acts as a puppet master to manipulate and control the actions of the public, and the paparazzi by holding the strings and moving them constantly whilst smiling.
• This gives a ironic and hilarious image for the audience

Question 3

How is Fosses unique and stylised movement style seen?

Answer 3

• the jazz style in the musical number “cell block tango” shows a very highly unique and stylised movement that completely stood out from anything seen before, which is seen where the female dancers use the red material as a prop to portray blood from the men they killed, and used it aggressively which gives it a horrifying although interesting feel to it.

Question 4

How is Fosses development of dance for camera seen?

Answer 4

• in the musical number “we both reach for the gun”, there is one main part where the camera is zoomed into Roxies and Billys face to show the importance of the full amount of control Billy had on her voice, as he spoke for Roxie. This was also important as Billy knew what to say to change the story to make Roxie look innocent, and he did not want Roxie to have any input as she could ruin the story whereby, she stays in prison

Question 5

How is the exploration of darker and glitter themes shown?

Answer 5

• In chicago, the glitter themes are how in the movie, the context fits well with the women as they are built to stand against one another and compete against eachother in different scenes.
• it also shows the women’s empowerment such as in the start where Roxie kills her husband for using her, so she shoots him, and gets away with it in the end of the movie.