CLASS · BILLY ELLIOT

张榕珊 阳琪 2023.3.1
 01.The definition of class
目录
02.Class in film history

Contents 03.About the movie

04.Class in Billy Elliot

 Part 01
The definition of class
01 The definition of class

one of the groups of income level,

people in a society that type of profession,
are thought of as being at
inherited wealth
the same social or
family lineage,
economic level
social standing.
阶级；阶层
 Part 02
Class in film history
 02 Class in film history

motion pictures = movies / films

Hollywood film industry: soft-pedal its messages about class

Many historical eras and film movements: raise class consciousness

and encourage social change

class with other social concerns: gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity,

immigration
02 Class in film history

• Entertainment for working class

• Thomas Edison: research motion pictures and control all

the major patents of the technology

• Middle-class customers: potential in spending money

• Horatio Alger formula

• Working class people: class solidification

02 Class in film history

• Challenges to the class structure

• Soviet cinema (1920s): strengthen and deepen the
connection between cinema and the workers
• Class conscious and socialist revolution
• Counter-argument to Hollywood’s celebration of
capitalist materialism

• In the Depression: loss of faith in capitalism; criticism

• After the Depression: “realism”; concern about working
class people
• On their way to the audition
at The Royal Ballet school in
London

• “Well, there is no mines in

London.”

• “It was once typical for people to

be born, to live, to work and to die
in the same city, town or village,
which would likely have been
where their parents and
grandparents before them had
lived.” (McCormick, 2007: 51)
• When participating the
audition at The Royal Ballet
school in London

• Mismatch with ballet

• Wealthy applicants from other

places

• Punched one friendly applicant

Conclusion

Son of a miner  Professional ballet dancer

Working class  Middle class

THANK YOU