Tuesday, April 03, 2018

Mae West: Male Domination

While you’re sleeping, college professors in Hungary are thinking about MAE WEST. Here’s a long, striking research paper you might have missed. This is Part 42.
• • "Mae West. The Dirty Snow White" • •
• • Written by:  Zsófia Anna Tóth
• • defined and dominated by men • •
• • Zsófia Anna Tóth wrote: Moreover, Joanne R. Gilbert declares that “many scholars maintain that historically, comedy has been defined and dominated by men and is, therefore, a ‘male’ or ‘masculine’ genre (Auslander 1993; Barreca 1988; Horowitz 1997)” (41).
• • a risk for women • •
• • Zsófia Anna Tóth wrote: Moreover, similar to Molly Haskell’s earlier statement about female humorists’ losing their femininity and lady status, Regina Barreca claims that “[i]t’s a risk for women to use humor (even good humor) because their ‘femininity’ might be (read: inevitably be) called into question” (1996, 2). Additionally, Barreca argues that humor requires “intelligence, courage, insight, and a sense of irreverence” (1996, 3) — — all traditionally and culturally conceived as masculine qualities. Eileen Gillooly adds a striking, although, very precise observation that can also be well applied to Mae West: “[e]ven Becky Sharp, perhaps the most famous comic heroine of the nineteenth century, is, despite her sex, a decidedly masculine humorist” (18).
• • cultural bias against women • •  . . .   
• • This was Part 42 of a lengthy article. Part 43 will follow tomorrow.   
• • Source: Americana — — E-Journal of American Studies in Hungary; Vol. XI, No. 1, Spring 2015.
• • On Sunday, 3 April 1927 • •
• • On page 184 of his biography of Mae West, Simon Louvish wrote: "But, on 3 April, the jury had to inform Judge Bertini that they could not agree ..."
• • Gee, must have been the proof-reader's day off. April 3rd was a Sunday. The court was not in session on the weekend.
• • Portions of this New York City trial are dramatized in the full-length play "Courting Mae West."
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Born in Bluff, Utah on 27 March 1902, Charles Bryant Lang, Jr., A.S.C. was the American cinematographer who gave a distinct look to "She Done Him Wrong," starring Mae West.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: “People want dirt in plays, so I give ‘em dirt.”
• • Mae West said: “A thrill a day keeps the chill away."
• • Mae West said: "A gold rush is what happens when a line of chorus girls spot a man with a bankroll."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • Several papers covered the "Pleasure Man" trial and its effect on Mae West.
• • "Mae West Fails to Testify" • •
• • The 1930 trial was very different from the "Sex" trial in 1927 in Judge George Donnellan's courtroom when Mae West could count on her mother Tillie's reassuring nods and smiles across the rows of seating. The anticipated acquittal did not come. Instead Judge Donnellan openly lectured the jurors about Mae's serious transgressions before they deliberated. The jury found her guilty and she was sent to the Women's Workhouse.
• • Source: various newspapers; published on Wednesday, 2 April 1930
• • The evolution of 2 Mae West plays that keep her memory alive • • 
• • A discussion with Mae West playwright LindaAnn LoSchiavo — — 
• • http://lideamagazine.com/renaissance-woman-new-york-city-interview-lindaann-loschiavo/
• • The Mae West Blog celebrates its 13th anniversary • •  
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these past thirteen years. Not long ago, we entertained 3,497 visitors. And we reached a milestone recently when we completed 3,800 blog posts. Wow!  
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started thirteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 3931st blog post. Unlike many blogs, which draw upon reprinted content from a newspaper or a magazine and/ or summaries, links, or photos, the mainstay of this blog is its fresh material focused on the life and career of Mae West, herself an American original.

• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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• • Photo:
• • Mae West • filming in 1932

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