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This book reveals the hitherto critically disregarded ludic elements in popular American comedy films, building on and expanding the theories developed by Johan Huizinga in his classic study Homo Ludens(1938) and Roger Caillois in Les jeux et les hommes (1958). To address the lack of attention paid to the play principle in film comedy studies, this book focuses exclusively on the elements typical of play that can be found in movies. It introduces two new categories describing play: óneiros and pragma, which allow analysis of how play in comedies is influenced by the relations between the player and non-players. The text is supplemented by the use of the author’s drawings, which, because of their analytical and selective nature, are used as a tool for visual study. The play principle has a long tradition in American humor and the films examined here were chosen for their popularity and wide appeal, often acting as vehicles for Hollywood stars (e.g. Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Steve Martin, Eddie Murphy, Goldie Hawn, Mike Myers, Jackie Chan or Chris Tucker). The actors’ status allowed the filmmakers to construct situations in which the protagonists distanced themselves from the fictional situation. It is argued that the playful detachment from reality, typifying many of the fictional characters portrayed by actors with star status, is characteristic of the play principle in film. Another major consideration is the hotly debated notion of the accomplishment of goals in playful activities, and the book strongly supports the position that in narratives, play can (but does not have to) yield important results. The introduction of the categories of óneiros and pragma in play serves to highlight the complex relation between playfulness and practicality in the films discussed. Building on a comprehensive analysis of the ludic elements in selected popular American comedies, the book makes an important contribution to film studies, providing a unique perspective through its focus on the concept of homo ludens as a comic hero.

Didactics of the arts --- Film --- TV (televisie) --- film --- kunstonderwijs --- creativiteit --- United States --- America --- Art education. --- Motion pictures—United States. --- Creativity and Arts Education. --- American Cinema and TV. --- Art --- Art education --- Education, Art --- Art schools --- Analysis, interpretation, appreciation --- Education

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Examines the use of transvestism and role changing as themes in motion pictures, and shows how these films reflect changing attitudes about men's and women's roles in American society.

Impersonators, Female, in motion pictures --- Impersonators, Male, in motion pictures --- Motion pictures --- Acteurs travestis au cinéma --- Actrices travesties au cinéma --- Cinéma --- History --- Histoire --- Acteurs travestis au cinéma --- Actrices travesties au cinéma --- Cinéma --- Female impersonators in motion pictures --- Male impersonators in motion pictures --- CDL --- 791.43 --- American cinema films, to 1984. --- Special themes: Androgyny

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Motion pictures --- Independent filmmakers --- Cinéma --- Réalisateurs de cinéma indépendants --- Biography --- Biographie --- Cinéma indépendant --- Histoire et critique --- #SBIB:012.AANKOOP --- #SBIB:309H1320 --- film --- twintigste eeuw --- Verenigde Staten --- filmregisseurs --- Cassavetes John --- Brakhage Stan --- Warhol Andy --- film en homoseksualiteit --- Lee Spike --- Van Sant Gus --- Vasquez Joseph B. --- gender studies --- Gray F. Gary --- Haynes Todd --- Kalin Tom --- Troche Rose --- Araki Gregg --- Peirce Kimberley --- Jarmusch Jim --- Linklater Richard --- DiCillo Tom --- Holofcener Nicole --- Hartley Hal --- Solondz Todd --- Tarantino Quentin --- Ferrara Abel --- Altman Robert --- Anderson Paul Thomas --- Kaufman Charlie --- Jonze Spike --- Korine Harmony --- Lynch David --- Sayles John --- McNaughton John --- Franklin Carl --- westerns --- Singer Bryan --- Wachowski Andy --- Wachowski Larry --- Soderbergh Steven --- African American cinema --- afro-amerikaanse film --- 791.43 --- De filmische boodschap: algemene werken (met inbegrip van algemeen filmhistorische werken en filmhistorische werken per land) --- Cinéma --- Réalisateurs de cinéma indépendants --- Vasquez Joseph B --- Histoire et critique.