29th Annual Student Research Conference
The Dancing Cavalier: A Genre Analysis of Singin' in the Rain
Rose vonHatten
Dr. Mark Smith, Faculty Mentor
"The Dancing Cavalier: A Genre Analysis of Singin' in the Rain" is a qualitative critical study of the film musical Singin' in the Rain. The paper utilizes Grant's film musical genre model to analyze how the film fits within contemporary definitions of film musicals and if its generic elements mesh with or depart from Grant's model. Studied elements include imaginary space, expression of emotion through song/dance, community, social order and the framing of conflict, and engineered sound.
Genre elements were found in the text, such as dubbing of singing, both on- and off-screen, including a plot point about vocal dubbing. This study concluded Singin' in the Rain fits within the genre and audience expectations, but does so in a highly reflexive way. This reflexivity pushes Singin' in the Rain beyond typical film musicals to become a model many other film musicals were arguably based upon.
Keywords: Singin' in the Rain, film musicals, genre, song, dance, vocal dubbing
Topic(s):Communication
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: -1
Location: MG 1096
Time: 9:30