Oral Presentation- Part 2 - Historical and Socio-colutural- Million Dollar Baby

II. Historical and Institutional Factors-

1. What are the institutional factors that may be important?

1. as a production of a specific producer (i.e. Walt Disney), institution (Disney Studios), specific economic factors (Studio Film), or a political background? (U.S. politics 1959)

This film was distributed by Warner Bros. This film was shot down by many studios before Warner Bros. took the job. 


What is the film’s historical significance? 
     1. as a document of its time?
This film is set in modern day time. The historical significance as a document of its time would be that this movie is about the female "Rocky".  This movie can relate to the historical importance of who Rocky was and how hard he worked to become who is known for today. 
     2. as a part of history of film?
This film can relate to any other film that deals with a character wanting to embrace their strength and having a mentor to help them with this. This kind of conflict is often portrayed in films like the Karate Kid and etc. These movies are apart of the history of film because they both deal with strength and knowing what physical and mental strength you are capable of containing and controlling. 

III.  Socio-cultural context

What is the film’s socio-cultural context?

1. as a work from a specific country?

The film was produced in the United States

     2. As a work from a specific culture?

    3. As a work representing a specific part of its society?

This film takes place in a run-down town in Los Angeles. The film is influenced by our normal culture, where men are characterized as being "stronger" than women. But in this film, it is the women that shows off her strength. The film is also influenced by a part of society that has less. In this film, the main character, Maggie, comes from a family that isn't very supportive of what she does and just laughs at the whole situation. A lot of families don't seem to care as much about their children as they use to, which is demonstrated in this film. The run-down society that Maggie lives in is poor which can be seen in a lot of cities now a days because of the economic crisis. This movie can relate to the poor conditions that our society falls under in certain situations, while the culture ranges from who you are and what you believe in. But this film pushes the female main character to be stronger then the rest after she is down graded and not given a chance in the beginning of the movie. 

     4. As a work made for a specific audience?

The specific audience this film was made for is young adults (16) and older. The audience it targets are people who are in need of redemption. The movie can definitely reach out to females who feel that they are judged as being weak. This movie can reach out to the females who are looking for a way to show their strength and their ability to be accountable for themselves. 

      5. As a work made for a specific reason?

Clint Eastwood created this movie for a couple reason. One reason was to show the importance of unlikely friendships and how they come and go and sometimes you need to hold on to them. Clint Eastwood has had many relationships in the past and it took him awhile to settle on just one. I believe that he wants to express the message of never go without loving, because sometimes opportunities only come once in a life time. And in this movie, Maggie keeps fighting for what she thinks is right and keeps working hard to show the trainer that she can be a good boxer. Another reason this movie was created was to show how women are strong and to not hold back on anything that is put right in front of you.

works cited: http://www.allmovie.com/work/305809

works cited: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Million_Dollar_Baby