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American Cinema

The Star

Greta Garbo, Cary Grant, Dustin Hoffman — these among many others are names synonymous with Hollywood. Early on, Hollywood saw that recognizable talent could minimize the financial risks of film production. Critics, film scholars, and studio publicists view the stars from many angles: as marketing tools, cultural icons, and products of the industry. Joan Crawford headlines as a case study of the cultural phenomenon of stardom.

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Additional Resources: The Annenberg Space for Photography's Education Resource Guide

The Annenberg Space for Photography presents a new Education Resource Guide (ERG) for its exhibition Vanity Fair: Hollywood Calling. This guide uses “The Star” from the American Cinema series as a video to connect students with the magic, dazzle, and grit of the entertainment industry. Greta Garbo, Cary Grant, Dustin Hoffman — names that are synonymous with Hollywood. Early on, Hollywood saw that recognizable talent could minimize the financial risks of film production. Critics, film scholars, and studio publicists view the stars from many angles: as marketing tools, cultural icons, and products of the industry. This Education Resource Guide engages students with questions for discussion and activities for homework.

The Annenberg Space for Photography’s ERGs provide hours of curricula and assignments related to visual language and literacy, and for students to take home or conduct online. Please find links to past ERGs on their website.

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