Cinema's Melodramatic Celebrity: Film, Fame, and Personal Worth

Mandy Merck argues that modern fame and film melodrama share a worldview that cannot reconcile personal worth with social esteem, tracing this conundrum back to the philosophy of the seventeenth century and the theatre of the eighteenth. She demonstrates how the melodramatic imagination survives in fiction film, documentary, the artist's film, and social media, illustrating how the cinema constantly restages the moral evaluation of prominent individuals.

Format: Hardback
Length: 280 pages
Publication date: 17 September 2020
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Rewritten text:

Mandy Merck's groundbreaking work challenges the traditional boundaries between celebrity culture and the cinema, contending that modern fame and film melodrama share a common worldview that struggles to establish a meaningful connection between personal worth and social esteem. Tracing the origins of this conundrum back to the philosophy of the seventeenth century and the theatrical practices of the eighteenth, Merck demonstrates how it converged in the melodramatic form of stage performances and intensified in the Hollywood star system.

In our contemporary society, where the demand for judgment and the desire for visual guidance are prevalent, the melodramatic imagination persists, permeating not only fiction films but also documentaries, artist films, and our self-presentation on social media. Merck's examination of a diverse range of classical and contemporary films, spanning from Charlie Chaplin's iconic City Lights (1931) to Laura Poitras's powerful Citizenfour (2014), highlights the ways in which the cinema continually reenacts the moral evaluation of prominent individuals, regardless of their profession—be it acting, art, politics, or activism.

Through her analysis, Merck sheds light on the complex dynamics that shape public perception and societal values. She explores the ways in which celebrities are constructed, marketed, and consumed, raising questions about their real-life impact and the ethical implications of our fascination with them. Merck also delves into the melodramatic nature of film narratives, examining how they manipulate our emotions and provoke us to reflect on the moral dilemmas we face in our daily lives.

By examining the intersection of celebrity culture, melodrama, and the cinema, Merck offers a thought-provoking exploration of the human condition and the power of visual storytelling. Her work challenges us to critically evaluate our relationship with fame and to consider the broader societal implications of our cultural obsession with celebrities.

Weight: 622g
Dimension: 163 x 240 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781911239758