Hairspray Adaption Sources

Hairspray Analysis

Social History:

(n.d.). Retrieved September 29, 2015, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hairspray_(musical)

This article talks about Hairspray as it first appeared on stage as a musical. We learn that the musical was adapted by the 1988 original film Hairspray. In 1962 in Baltimore Maryland Tracy Turnblad's dream was to dance on The Corny Collins Show. This was a local TV dance program based on the real-life Buddy Deane Show. When Tracy wins a role on the show, she becomes a celebrity overnight. She launches a campaign to integrate the show. Hairspray is a social commentary on the injustices of parts of American society in the 1960s.

Final Analysis of "Hairspray" (2009, December 4). Retrieved September 29, 2015, from https://ttkag87.wordpress.com/final-analysis-of-hairspray/

This article focuses on the musical of Hairspray and hidden context within. Hairspray is a musical with history, social context, historical context, musical context and meaning. The creators tend to say with this work that it originally was a good movie, but has become a great musical.  The work says that the time in which it was created still dealt with the main issues that it focuses on, but not as much as in the time that it takes place.  It also shows how times had changed between the 1960’s and 2002.

Musical Context and Meaning of Hairspray. (2011, November 15). Retrieved September 29, 2015, from https://mtstapes.wordpress.com/musical-context-and-meaning-of-hairspray/

This article compares how in 1960 kids would follow what they see on TV to how that same idea happens today in 2015. The Nicest Kids in Town is the hottest group in early 1960’s Baltimore.  They perform every day after school on The Corny Collin’s Show, and every kid dreams of singing and dancing with them or being their friends.  They are thought to be poised, proper, and prudent, with exception to Brenda who will be leaving the show for nine months. This same type of thing carried on to 2002, where every teenager glued their eyes to MTV, and waited for their favorite artist to come on and show their new music video.  Like Tracy drooling over Link, thousands of girls melted any time they saw their favorite boy from The Backstreet Boys or N*Sync.  Just like Tracy and Penny tried to dance along to the Mashed Potato, girls were trying to figure out Britney Spears’ dance moves to “Oops, I Did It Again.”  Although musical styles are constantly evolving, artists will always have the same impact on society, and they will always be idolized.  In the 1960’s, it was The Nicest Kids in Town.  In 2002, it was Britney Spears.  Today, it’s Justin Beiber, and once his voice changes, it will be someone else. This can be very dangerous in society, because whether it was intended or not, fans will model themselves after their idols.  If an artist is a stupid racist, their fans will become stupid racists.  If an artist dresses and dances inappropriately, thousands of little girls will follow suit.

Genre:

Hairspray (2007) -vs- Hairspray (1988) | Movie Smackdown®. (n.d.). Retrieved September 29, 2015, from http://www.moviesmackdown.com/2007/08/hairspray-2007.html

This article talks about the differences between the movie that was released in 1988 vs. the movie that was more recently released in 2007. Both films make their points, but from different perspectives. “Hairspray” 1988 creates a credible sense of pre-Beatles Baltimore: The kids do recognizable dance steps to real songs of the period; the scene looks a little rough and so do the characters. The musical has all the production values of a Broadway show: bright colors, even brighter characters, stylized settings, big dance numbers and specially-composed music. It’s frankly odd hearing a blast at segregation set to high-value choreography and snappy lyrics. That’s how “Hairspray” 2007 approaches its themes:  with a calorie-rich serving of exuberance.

HairSpray. (n.d.). Retrieved September 29, 2015, from http://www.fast-rewind.com/hairspray.htm

This article talks about themes throughout the 1988 film of Hairspray.  It is a great film that portrays the early 60's as not so perfect as the younger generations are led to believe. There was racism and prejudice against overweight women like there is today. The makers of this film did a great job with costumes, makeup, and hairstyles which automatically transport you back in time.

Schrader, V. L. (2011). "Good Morning Baltimore": Whiteness, Blackness, and Othering in the 2007 Movie Musical. Ohio Communication Journal, 49127-143.

This article examines racial tensions portrayed in the 2007 movie musical Hairspray. While on the surface, Hairspray may seem like an uplifting movie musical about the desegregation of Baltimore, a deeper analysis of the clothing, dance styles, and hairstyles in the film reveals a false dichotomy between blackness and whiteness and an emphasis on white heroism. Although Hairspray offers catchy songs and flashy costumes, it also offers an anti-racist message delivered through stereotyped imagery.