Forging Divinity: Warner Bros.' Role in the Creation of the James Dean Icon Public
Willis, Shannon (2009)
Published
Abstract
James Dean is an image known throughout the world. His icon has been a major influence on the construction of youth culture in America and elsewhere and has been a personal inspiration for countless teenagers, writers, directors, artists, etc. But no scholar has attempted to explain the origins of that icon, where it came from, or how it was created. In this thesis, I will seek to answer those very questions. In an investigation of the publicity material and advertisements surrounding James Dean and his films during the 1950s, I conclude that Warner Bros., a heretofore undocumented force in the construction of Dean as a star and icon, seems to have played a major role in the manufacturing of the Dean legend. Chapters One, Two, and Three will trace the rise of Dean's stardom through the late 1950s, analyzing specifically what Warner Bros. did to perpetuate the image of James Dean. And Chapter Five will take a closer look at the specific kind of image Warner's created for Dean and the broader implications that image has for society.
Table of Contents
Introduction 1
Chapter 1. Manufactured: The Making of James Dean 6
Pre- East of Eden Ballyhoo 7
Previews and Buzz 16
Eden Advertising 20
Released and Reviewed 23
Post- Eden Dean 25
Chapter 2. Image of a Dead Man: The Post-Mortem Selling of Dean in 1956 28
Rebel Without a Cause 28
Damage Control 32
Post-Mortem Promotion of James Dean 42
Giant Fodder and Release 46
Chapter 3. Icon: The James Dean Phenomenon with and without Warner Bros. 49
Giant Ads 49
Giant Success 55
Warner Bros. Bows Out 57
The James Dean Story 61
Chapter 4. A God in Blue Jeans: Dissecting the Image of James Dean 66
Actor 66
Rebel 70
Man-Boy 76
Sex Symbol? 80
Conclusion 84
Bibliography 87
Filmography 89
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