"An American in Paris", just like its title, shows Paris in the eyes of Americans. The protagonist of the film, Jerry, is a World War II veteran who stayed in Paris to paint after the war. Thinking of the background of the times at that time, and we all know that after World War II, Europe was in vain, and the United States proposed the Marshall Plan at this time. Through this plan, the Americans gave economic support to Europe and gained a good impression of the Europeans on the United States. Europeans completely regard the United States as the center of the world and the representative of advanced culture. For example, in the movie, the children on the streets of Paris gathered around Jerry to ask for American bubble gum, and actively asked to learn English. This was not only a reflection of the general advocacy of American culture by Europeans at that time, but also a successful output of American consciousness.
Let's talk about the two female images in the movie, one is a beautiful and wealthy rich woman, and the other is Lisa, a dark-skinned and lower-middle-class woman. Why does the hero Jerry like Lisa but not the rich woman? I would like to explain from this perspective, it may be more helpful to understand the film.
The outbreak of World War II put men on the front lines to fight, and the labor force in the rear was thus scarce. But society must still operate as usual, and the frontline still needs continuous support from the rear. What should we do? The times have pushed women out of their homes and pushed them into social jobs. Women started to run companies and started to engage in industrial production. In this way, the status of women increases with their contribution to society. Strong women also appeared. There were no strong women in pre-war movies, but this 1951 film features a strong woman, which is also an artistic expression of women's rising social status.
As for Lisa's dark skin and average appearance, she has won the hero's heart. In fact, it is also her work. The men went to war, the women had to work in the sun, and there was no way to keep their fair skin. Dark skin is the embodiment of the contribution of middle- and lower-class women to the society in that era, and it is also the embodiment of the social aesthetic taste of that era. And Lisa is a middle- and lower-class worker who sells in a cosmetics store. Her dark skin is the embodiment of her hard work, and of course she should win the heart of the male protagonist. This is the most basic value orientation of Hollywood movies.
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