representation in the general

Question 1

Keaton choosing his actresses

Answer 1

• keaton’s leading ladies were weak (as comedians) chosen mainly for their proportions, placed in scenes to be moulded, or otherwise of limited or diminished value
• non distracting photogenic symmetry

Question 2

how were women represented in film in the 1920s?

Answer 2

• Victorian models - rarely active participants in the narrative other than victims or prizes
• childlike behaviour - naturally cute and defenceless who need men and husbands
• girlfriends often kidnapped forcing men to save them - adds emotional stake

Question 3

is there black representation in ‘the general’?

Answer 3

• two black characters carrying a box and wearing dirty clothing
• music still happy
• no emphasis - the norm for everyone
• racism is not challenged or subverted
• keaton purposefully placed characters like that

Question 4

how is the south represented in ‘the general’?

Answer 4

• citizens who respect johnny are slave owners
• south shown as good - they wanted to keep slavery
• made in south to sell in cinemas as Buster wanted the majority opinion of america to like it

Question 5

how is the confederacy represented in ‘the general’?

Answer 5

• Johnny waves a confederate flag when he knows that it symbolises racism
• lots of americans saw the confederacy as the underdog of the civil war, so perhaps keaton was trying to display this sympathy and knew the audience would predominantly be white, and they would not like to see the confederates as the villains - knowing his audience