Part of: Jackye's English 2000 Website
In English 2000, one of our projects is to watch a movie and write a paper explaining whether it is or is not successful political discourse. We are given five movie options and of the five, I chose Chicago. Within the paper, we are supposed to relate the movie and its accomplishment of political discourse, to that of ancient Greek theatre. This project is one way we are able to tie in our Political Science 1001 course. First I will explain a few of the logistics about my research and project. Then I will take you through a photo journal of analysis.
LOGISTICS: In this portion I answer the questions...
What did I learn from Chicago?
What does Greek theatre have to do with all of this?
PHOTO JOURNAL: This part is dedicated to my representation of the movie through photos.
Chicago intrigued me from the outside with it's dominant female characters, timeless plot and theme, and upbeat musical rhythm. It’s flashy. It’s powerful. It’s risky. The fact that the movie is a remake of a Broadway musical is a risk in itself. The movie combines show business and the legal system, a junction of two worlds that any era can relate to.
What did I learn from Chicago?
The movie proved to be, not only entertaining, but thought provoking. Billy Flynn, the famous criminal lawyer in the movie, calls the government and justice system's authority into question, referring to the court as a "three ring circus." Life's a play, was my initial reaction, applying the theater theme to every aspect of life. But this really works! Try it -- think about how what you hear and see everyday could be a scene in a Broadway musical--or even ancient Greek theatre. What deleted scenes are you missing? What behind the stage preparation and make-up cover-ups, costumes and line rehearsals are you overlooking? Are we acting in our own every day actions? Are we the audience for everyone else's acting? Is life a stage?
What does Greek theatre have to do with this?
Many ancient Greek tragedians like Euripides, Sophocles, Aeschylus, and Aristophanes focused on grasping a sense of authority. Where does authority come from? Where should it come from? How should society treat this authority? In many instances authority is presented with an alternative. For instance, in Sophocles' Antigone, there is a tug-of-war between the laws of the state and the laws of the gods. Creon, king of Thebes, doesn't believe Polynices deserves a proper burial, for he defied his country. On the other hand, Antigone, Polynices' sister, believes he does. Creon represents the laws of the city and Antigone represents the laws of the gods. Both have moral and ethical arguments, but which authority should be obeyed--the gods or the city?
Chicago also questions authority in its plot -- how can murderesses act their way into innocence in the public and government's eye and thus into freedom? Who gives the media the right to intervene between the legal system and the public? The media presents what they want to present to the public without the public know to what extent their information is edited. The media can easily sway public opinion and this ability calls authority's accuracy into question.
PHOTO JOURNAL
POST-MURDER RUSH
It
is just after this final hurrah as a free performer that Velma Kelly is
apprehended for the murders of her husband and sister. This smiling,
dazzling star, on a post-murder rush, went on to perform in jail.
Lawyer Billy Flynn teaches her the effectiveness of acting and
entertaining in that of manipulating society. Flynn shows Velma, as with
all his clients, that winning the hearts of the public is key to winning
a court case, and this is achieved through entertaining capabilities.
Photo from: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,397493,00.html
DANGEROUS DYNAMIC DUO
After
murdering her boyfriend with whom she cheated on her husband, Roxie
Hart, played by Renee Zellweger, ended up in the big house. With the
help of Billy Flynn, played by Richard Gere, Roxie had the power to
negotiate her way back to freedom and it is with Flynn's direction that
Roxie learns the power of show business. This innocent looking photo
from behind bars exemplifies the unsullied stage-face that hides this
vicious pair.
Photo from: http://www.moviesintofilm.com/chicago.htm
AND THE TRUTH COMES OUT
It
is within the comfort of their own jail cells, in the company of fellow
murderesses, that these villains let it all out. Nothing explains this
photo better than the lyrics of their musical rendition justifying their
murders. If only the public knew they truly were guilty.
Photo from: http://whitters.worldbreak.com/photo3.html
"He had it coming,
He had it coming.
He only had himself to blame.
If you'd have been there,
If you'd have seen it,
You would have done the same."
YOU CAN'T ALWAYS WIN THEM ALL
Roxie
Hart can. Proven through Mr. Flynn's success stories, Roxie learns the
power of numbers. Through deceptions prompted by Flynn, Roxie takes the
stage in attempts to gain and retain a role on center stage. Her
strength as a female scores her name in the papers and across radio air
waves. With a hefty following and fan fare, Roxie is sure to be found
innocent.
Photo from: http://www.hollywoodjesus.com/comments/matthill/htdocs/2004_10_01_archive.html
TROUBLE COMES IN THREES
This
sly threesome is a dangerous combination. Velma begins the movie as
Roxie's idol, and ends up envying Roxie's murderous fame and freedom.
The forged diary entries Velma presents as evidence from the witness
stand, were just ploys from good ole Mr. Flynn. Without the other, none
of these characters would be successful.
Photo from: fansites.hollywood.com/~chicago/wallpapers.html
Post-jail
release, the two voluptuous vixens enter the stage together. This time
around, Velma and Roxie come together in means of winning back the
spotlight. Both lost their fame after their trials. In means of
regaining their publicity, they joined together to entertain as
murderesses. Ticket buyers beware, these talented maidens even played up
their reputations carrying fake guns in their acts.
Photo from: http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/03/18/1047749756929.html
For more information on Chicago: http://www.miramax.com/chicago/
Works cited:
Chicago. Prod. Rob Weinstein, Harvey Weinstein, Craig Zadan, and Marty Richards.
Dir. Rob Marshall. Perf. Renee Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere, John C.
Reilley, Queen Latifah, and Taye Diggs. DVD. Mirimax Films, 2002.