Summary

This piece was found on the eighth floor of the VC Building. The artwork is a film still, meaning it is a picture taken from a motion production. This specific film still is from the 1956 film, "Giant", featuring James Dean. Dean is centered and takes up most of the film still, catching the attention of the viewer first. Since this film still is in black and white, it becomes even more obvious to focus on the Dean. "Giant" did become one of the most iconic films in James Dean’s career. The film explores themes of family and societal struggles in Texas during the 1920s. James Dean plays the main role as a ranch hand who later becomes an oil tycoon. The painting also shows James Dean sitting in a car and there is a mansion in the background. This is most likely to show the luxury of Jett Rink, the role Dean played. This film still is interesting because "Giant" became the last film in James Dean’s life. Before the release of the film in 1956, Dean died in a car accident at the age of 24. The film contributed to Dean’s status as a cultural icon and a symbol of youthful rebellion.

The film still most likely implies that this movie was a commemoration of Dean. Besides being the main role in the film, his death did influence the film. Being his last film, it boosted the publicity for the film. Many Americans wanted to watch the film in because they wanted to see his last performance. This evoked pathos in those who saw this film afterward. The film still relates to how movies were produced in the 1900s. Starting with silent films to film stock to modern film, the 20th century was the time when great advancement for film took place. Major studios for films rose, including the Warner Brothers, who produced "Giant". The intended audience of the piece is most likely Americans from the 1950s-60s, who were fans of Dean. People now who like old films could also be the audience. I am not a part of the target audience, but I was drawn to this piece because I remember seeing this photo before, never knowing what it was about. When I first saw this piece, I thought the man in the center was very cool. After knowing it was from a movie, I thought this main character must have a lot of wealth because of how he sat in the car and with the mansion in the back. Finally, I think the film still overall is more to commemorate James Dean’s death, being a major icon in film history.