Benchmark #2 Sample #2 Focus Question: How is Clara Bow’s personal life and career as an actress symbolic of the social trends of the 1920’s America?

Barber, Nicholas. "Clara Bow: The Original 'It Girl'" BBC Culture. December 29, 2004. Accessed May 20, 2016 http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20141222-who-was-the-original-it-girl.

Summary Notes Commentary notes/ relation to focus question

● Her career occurred during the silent -The new mass industry of cinema allowed Bow to become a era of movies superstar despite her childhood and the poverty she lived in. In any ● First ‘It Girl” - young woman who other era she would have ended up on the streets or working in a acheives celebrity status due to her factory. social life. ● Born in Brooklyn in 1905 into -Whole ideal of “reinventing” one’s life, becoming famous in movie extreme poverty business captures ideals of promise and opportunity in the 20’s (also ● Lived in tenement slum economic boom at the time). ● Abusive father and mentally unstable mother, sent picture to fame and - Her time as a famous actress represented how she was the ideal beauty contest: won first place “modern woman” who was independent in both her personal and ● In 1925 alone made 15 movies professional life. ● As an actress she was independent and comfortable in her own skin. -Bow was iconic because she truly represented the image of a 1920’s ● Had short dresses and short hair woman and embodied the flapper girl. Because the cinema was so ● Got her nickname of ‘it girl’ from hit accessible for woman she became a role model and made women movie It, a romantic comedy in 1927 views feel liberated and inspired. about a shop assistant (Bow) who is in love with the shop’s wealthy -America’s infatuation with Bow’s personal life represented the start owner. of America’s love for celebrities and everything they do (love ● During the great depression era, lifestyle, endorsements, movies, ect.) Bow’s popularity decreased and her film True to the Navy, 1930 was -Her screen acting appealed to middle class families because she was much less successful compared to very natural and not old fashioned or snobby in her performance in her earlier films silent films. Her facial expressions and body movements were very ● In the 30’s Bow was much less welcoming and relatable. comfortable in sound films and had trouble adapting to the new modern -Ordinary Americans loved her because she was also honest with the film style. press and upfront told reporters about her rough childhood and ● Was not used to talkies mistakes she made (gambling, boyfriends she regretted, etc.). ● Left Hollywood after being over- worked and exhausted. Executives -However, in the Great Depression era, as societal ideals altered, she exploited her and gossip magazines was frowned upon in tabloids and households for being the symbol and tabloids were always writing and of the corrupt entertainment industry. Her bold actions were frowned starting new rumors about her. upon by conservative families and individuals. ● Her brooklyn accent made her sound less appealing in sound films -Modern vs traditional views arose even more in the Great ● Retired in 1933 when she was 28. Depression era. She moved to a cattle ranch in Nevada with her actor husband Rex -Bow said, “I want to be known as a serious actress, and not as an It Bell. Girl.” This did not happen because at the time when the cinema industry was new, viewers were more concerned with Bow’s social and love life than her professional career due to America’s early obsession with celebrities.