Astaire by Numbers: Time & the Straight White Male Dancer

Astaire by Numbers is a book that examines every second of Fred Astaire's dancing in the studio era, using quantitative digital humanities and production records to reveal how he used the Hollywood film-making machine to craft a singular career in mass entertainment. It offers new insights into Astaire's masculinity, heterosexuality, and whiteness, and rethinks his towering straight white male figure from the ground up.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 504 pages
Publication date: 12 January 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

Astaire by Numbers delves into the meticulous scrutiny of every dance moment captured on film by Fred Astaire during the studio era. Spanning a remarkable six hours, thirty-four minutes, and fifty seconds, author Todd Decker employs a quantitative digital humanities approach, alongside previously unseen production records, to transport readers onto the sets, rehearsal halls, and editing rooms where Astaire meticulously crafted his iconic film dances. By closely observing these behind-the-scenes elements, Decker unveils the intricate techniques and artistic choices that shaped Astaire's remarkable career in mass entertainment, as a straight white man renowned for his exceptional dancing abilities.

In his analysis, Decker delves into the intricacies of Astaire's work at the shot, cut, and dance step levels. He uncovers the aesthetic and practical decisions that resulted in the creation of Astaire's on-screen dancing persona, shedding light on how he secured his masculinity and heterosexuality while also exploring the nuances of his whiteness, evident in the vast body of his work and the significant impact of his famous full-figure framing of his dancing body.

Astaire by Numbers challenges traditional perceptions of this towering straight white male figure by delving deep into issues of race, gender, and sexuality. Through a comprehensive re-assessment, the book offers a fresh perspective on a twentieth-century icon of American popular culture, providing a holistic understanding of Astaire's enduring legacy.

Weight: 654g
Dimension: 236 x 155 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197643594