A social problem film is a
narrative film that integrates a larger
social conflict into the individual conflict between its characters. In the context of the United States and of
Hollywood, the genre is defined by fictionalized depictions of social crises set in
realistic American domestic or institutionalized settings.
Background
Like many
film genre
A film genre is a Genre, stylistic or thematic category for Film, motion pictures based on similarities either in the narrative , narrative elements, aesthetic approach, or the emotional response to the film.
Drawing heavily from the theories ...
s, the exact definition is often in the eye of the beholder; however, Hollywood did produce and market a number of topical films in the 1930s, and by the 1940s, the term "
social problem" film, or "message" film, was conventional in its usage among the film industry and the public.
Many characteristics that have grown to define the social problem film revolve around the perceived consciousness of the nation about a certain social issue and integrating that issue into a
narrative structure
Story structure or narrative structure is the recognizable or comprehensible way in which a narrative's different elements are unified, including in a particularly chosen order and sometimes specifically referring to the ordering of the plot: ...
. Social problems such as the horrors of war, suffering of the poor, addiction, the rights of women, and the inhumanity of a certain world are often put on display. The problem with defining this type of film as a genre lies within the ability it has to separate itself from films that display similar style, as a lot of films do address social issues. However, the social problem film differentiates itself by focusing on the problems within the historical context of the current time, dealing with the social issue of a certain era as it applies to that era with a style that is much more
didactic
Didacticism is a philosophy that emphasises instructional and informative qualities in literature, art, and design. In art, design, architecture, and landscape, didacticism is a conceptual approach that is driven by the urgent need to explain.
...
than its contemporaries.
Furthermore, the social problem film allows further immersion into a certain issue than other genre films. For instance,
gangster
A gangster (informally gangsta) is a criminal who is a member of a gang. Most gangs are considered to be part of organized crime. Gangsters are also called mobsters, a term derived from ''Organized crime, mob'' and the suffix ''wikt:-ster, -st ...
and
prison
A prison, also known as a jail, gaol, penitentiary, detention center, correction center, correctional facility, or remand center, is a facility where Prisoner, people are Imprisonment, imprisoned under the authority of the State (polity), state ...
films will reflect certain features of a social issue but won't actually fully explore the problem in the way that would qualify it for this genre.
Defining characteristics
Historical context and didactic nature
An important fact of the social problem film is its ability to react and display a social problem that is relevant to the current era it was produced in. It specifically addresses an issue while the issue is still part of the national consciousness, often forming an argument for what the problem actually is through the narrative and character development. Early social problem films often blended ideological feelings of the time into a narrative which translated it into a message for audiences to absorb. This can be evidenced within certain sociological experiments that occurred revolving around the ability for a film to change public perception. A prime example of this is the representation of anti-semitism within the film ''
Gentleman's Agreement'' (1947) and the subsequent sociological study by Russell Middleton that measured perceived anti-semitism before and after seeing the film. Surprisingly the film seemed to positively affect the subjects as the majority of people who participated in the study had markedly less anti-semitic feelings than before they saw the film. Although there are certain factors that need to be considered this study seems to indicate once again the primary didactic nature of the social problem film as well as the tackling of subject matter relevant to the current era of the film and how audiences of the historical period perceived such a message.
This phenomenon of historical context and audience reaction created an interesting balance between the teaching nature of the film and its ability to contain an interesting narrative.
Oftentimes the earlier films of the classical era can be seen as a bit preachy, often appearing less like a fictional feature and more like a public service announcement. This is displayed in the common occurrence of a teaching moment often near the end of the film where a character will literally give a speech often referring to the social message the film is attempting to portray. Examples can be seen through the judges at the end of ''
Wild Boys of the Road'' (1933) and ''
Where Are My Children?'' (1916), both of which provide a lesson in monologue form that almost seems separate from the fictional narrative being presented. This relevance to the problem of the era the film resides in lends a sort of didactic authority to this type of film that others may not have. For instance, ''Where Are My Children?'' had trouble getting through the
National Board of Review to public release due to reviewers believing that audiences were being provided with misleading information regarding birth control. They believed that the film was more educational in nature rather than a fictional narrative addressing a social issue.
Focused narrative on characters and institutions
The social problem film often takes a larger social issue during its respective era and displays it in a much more focused way. The problem will be expressed through a narrative often involving a few characters, often a family or an individual that traverses the film world experiencing the perceived social issue. Oftentimes they will interact directly with social institutions meant to display the social problems. The typifying of these institutions is styled based on the overall ideological message of the film, either being portrayed as ineffective or idealized as a proper solution. These can be seen throughout the development of the social problem film and even into contemporary times as the form of the social problem film changed. Examples of this style of narrative are apparent within films such as ''
The Soul of Youth'' (1920) in which the larger problem of delinquent children with no home is portrayed through the ineffectiveness of the orphanage the protagonist resides in juxtaposed with the idealized life of the family of the judge he eventually settles in with. Another instance that deserves to be mentioned comes once again from ''
Wild Boys of the Road'' (1933) in which the film reaches its climax as the protagonists are being dealt with by a judge, bringing the larger social issue into an individualist lens by applying the solution of a nationwide problem to a few individual experiences.
Another important social problem film dealing with institutions is the
alcoholism
Alcoholism is the continued drinking of alcohol despite it causing problems. Some definitions require evidence of dependence and withdrawal. Problematic use of alcohol has been mentioned in the earliest historical records. The World He ...
themed ''
Days of Wine and Roses'' (1962). The film follows the progressive demise of a couple due to their inability to control their drinking, once again devolving a larger societal problem onto a focused set of characters. It does, however, offer a solution in the form of the institution of
Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a global, peer-led Mutual aid, mutual-aid fellowship focused on an abstinence-based recovery model from alcoholism through its spiritually inclined twelve-step program. AA's Twelve Traditions, besides emphasizing anon ...
which serves as an effective way to treat one's self. A sociological study conducted by Elizabeth Hirschman revealed that the film's portrayal was indeed relatable to addicts and alcoholics who after watching the film viewed AA as a viable option to address their problem. This effect on the real population indicates the interaction that social problem films hope to have on their audience in comparison to films meant to purely entertain while skimming the surface of certain issues.
A more contemporary instance of the focused narrative of characters and institutions in the social problem film is the ineffectiveness and cruelty of the military hospital in ''
Coming Home'' (1978), a film about returning vets from Vietnam. The mistreatment and negligent behavior affecting all vets in the hospital is reduced to the experiences of two or three characters.
Real life insertions and location shooting
One aspect that is widely seen within the social problem film is the usage of non-actors to portray either background characters or voices of reason within the narrative as well as the desire to film scenes on location. Both of these factors help lend authenticity and relation to the real world which is essential to the genre. Some notable examples are the inclusion of actual Judge
Ben Lindsey playing himself in the previously mentioned film ''
The Soul of Youth'' (1920). This insertion created an environment the audience knew was based in reality and thus lent a sense of authenticity to the didactic nature this genre possesses. The presence of a figure from the real world directly confronts the idea that the messages displayed in social problem films must be confirmed by real-life counterparts. It lends a sense of integrity reminiscent of journalism or a documentary film.
Location shooting
Location shooting is the shooting of a film or television production in a real-world setting rather than a sound stage or backlot. The location may be interior or exterior.
When filmmaking professionals refer to shooting "on location", they are ...
is a factor that although not limited to the social problem film, has grown to exemplify certain factors within the genre. The idea of shooting outside of a studio and in the real environment again strengthens the films authenticity in the same way non-actors do. A film that utilized this style of shooting in order to gain this sense of realism is the previously mentioned ''
Wild Boys of the Road'' (1933). The film's scenes that are set within the train yard that the children temporarily reside in is shot on location in an actual train yard in
Glendale, California
Glendale is a city located primarily in the Verdugo Mountains region, with a small portion in the San Fernando Valley, of Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is located about north of downtown Los Angeles.
As of 2024, Glendale ha ...
.
Perhaps the most notable instance of the idea of real-life insertions is the opening scene of ''
Border Incident
''Border Incident'' is a 1949 American film noir featuring Ricardo Montalbán, George Murphy, and Howard Da Silva. Directed by Anthony Mann, the MGM production was written by John C. Higgins from a story by John C. Higgins and George Zuckerman. ...
'' (1949), a social problem film about Mexican immigration following the instituting of the
Bracero Program in 1942 meant to alleviate the shortage of farm-hand work in the United States. The film opens with a flyover shot of farmland as an unseen narrator describes the landscape, the lack of labor, and the subsequent creation of the bracero program in response. This is an insertion of a program that actively was occurring during the production of this film. This reality-based narrative combines with the voice over, which mentions borders no less than five times to subtly push an ideology of mutual dependency towards the audience while allowing itself the appearance of being an authentic representation of the situation, showing again the effect real life insertions can have on the social problem films ability to affect its viewers.
Transit and family
Many social problem films contain a theme of transit and the importance of familial relationships. These factors lend further authenticity to the genre as the audience seems to often follow the protagonist as he or she travels a necessary journey to arrive at a viable solution. Internal journeys are often mirrored in literal transportation of the characters. This can be seen in the traveling across the nation in ''
Wild Boys of the Road'' (1933), the trip to the doctor's office in ''
Where Are My Children?'' (1916), and the international migration of farmworkers in ''
Border Incident
''Border Incident'' is a 1949 American film noir featuring Ricardo Montalbán, George Murphy, and Howard Da Silva. Directed by Anthony Mann, the MGM production was written by John C. Higgins from a story by John C. Higgins and George Zuckerman. ...
'' (1949). Similarly, the idea of the family is apparent within this genre, oftentimes the idea of the family is of utmost importance. There is a finality in terms of the protagonist's descent when he or she has lost the trust and support of their family, and thus the social problem is often resolved by a return to these ideals. Although wartime feelings can account for some of this, it is important to note that this theme is maintained throughout the development of the genre. Even in more contemporary social problem films such as ''
Coming Home'' (1978) and ''
The Good Lie'' (2014), there is a sense of familial importance, the former in terms of his "brothers" who he stands by no matter what, and the latter in the form of their tribe members who travel thousands of miles for a new life.
History
Progressive Era
The genre first appeared in the late 1910s and 1920s as an attempt to imbue quality and
realism into cinema, a new medium that was struggling to be taken seriously by the
American middle class.
Historian Kay Sloan has shown how various
reformist
Reformism is a political tendency advocating the reform of an existing system or institution – often a political or religious establishment – as opposed to its abolition and replacement via revolution.
Within the socialist movement, ref ...
groups made social problem shorts and features during the
silent era of film. Generally, these dealt with
prohibition
Prohibition is the act or practice of forbidding something by law; more particularly the term refers to the banning of the manufacture, storage (whether in barrels or in bottles), transportation, sale, possession, and consumption of alcoholic b ...
,
labor relations
Labour relations in practice is a subarea within human resource management, and the main components of it include collective bargaining, application and oversight of collective agreement obligations, and dispute resolution. Academically, employe ...
, and concerns over "
white slavery." The ideologies of these Pre-World War I productions often aligned with concerns over the worker and the interaction that filmmakers had with real-world problems. This was important to the development of the genre as it was the first foray into displaying issues of the common man but was not successful in terms of offering a viable solution. Rather, the
didactic
Didacticism is a philosophy that emphasises instructional and informative qualities in literature, art, and design. In art, design, architecture, and landscape, didacticism is a conceptual approach that is driven by the urgent need to explain.
...
nature of these films indicated an
upper-middle class solution to labor issues; oftentimes it would take the presence of a non-working class negotiator to resolve the issues that laborers in the films dealt with.
The discovery of the effect of and utilization of the '
happy ending' was also implemented during this time. The happy ending left a
cathartic effect on its audience, leaving them satisfied with the social message being provided. This itself is an imperative to the social problem genre due to its demonstration of directors' and filmmakers' desire to affect social change through movies.
As a genre, however, these
Progressive statements did not touch off a long-lasting concern in the film industry, which was solidifying behind
standardized
Standardization (American English) or standardisation (British English) is the process of implementing and developing technical standards based on the consensus of different parties that include firms, users, interest groups, standards organiza ...
product,
oligopoly
An oligopoly () is a market in which pricing control lies in the hands of a few sellers.
As a result of their significant market power, firms in oligopolistic markets can influence prices through manipulating the supply function. Firms in ...
, and the
star system
A star system or stellar system is a small number of stars that orbit each other, bound by gravity, gravitational attraction. It may sometimes be used to refer to a single star. A large group of stars bound by gravitation is generally calle ...
.
1930s
Warner Brothers, under
Darryl F. Zanuck, began making topical films "ripped from the headlines." These "
headliners" generally were cheaply made, gritty in their
realist aesthetic, and foregrounded a
working-class
The working class is a subset of employees who are compensated with wage or salary-based contracts, whose exact membership varies from definition to definition. Members of the working class rely primarily upon earnings from wage labour. Most c ...
milieu and
New Deal
The New Deal was a series of wide-reaching economic, social, and political reforms enacted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the United States between 1933 and 1938, in response to the Great Depression in the United States, Great Depressi ...
political sympathies. The social problem films of this era reflected the general
national consciousness of the New Deal. Many of these films fed into a
populist form of thought meant to instill confidence among the nation in the wake of the
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe global economic downturn from 1929 to 1939. The period was characterized by high rates of unemployment and poverty, drastic reductions in industrial production and international trade, and widespread bank and ...
, supporting the platform of
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt (January 30, 1882April 12, 1945), also known as FDR, was the 32nd president of the United States, serving from 1933 until his death in 1945. He is the longest-serving U.S. president, and the only one to have served ...
, which supposedly would alleviate the unemployment issue facing the United States at that time.
These films also put the obligation of finding work on the individual while displaying the benefits of having a neighborly attitude of helping those in need back to
sustainable living
Sustainable living describes a lifestyle (sociology), lifestyle that attempts to reduce the use of Earth's natural resources by an individual or society. Its practitioners often attempt to reduce their ecological footprint (including their carbo ...
. This is particularly displayed in such films as ''
Wild Boys of the Road'' (1933), in which the protagonist runs away from home with friends in an attempt to find work, only to end up arrested and in need of assistance, which is subsequently granted by a judge. The film's interaction with New Deal ideologies is reflected in the confident tone of the judge as he grants aid to the homeless kids presented to him, the progressive nature of neighborly helpfulness is thrust upon the audience without allowing them to contemplate the fact that it took a
middle-class
The middle class refers to a class of people in the middle of a social hierarchy, often defined by occupation, income, education, or social status. The term has historically been associated with modernity, capitalism and political debate. Commo ...
figure to save the unemployed.
Just as the New Deal gave confidence in the short term but lagged in long-term growth for employment, so did the social problem films of this time depict a sense of optimism even when stuck in the non-progressive narrative of a middle-class savior.
The most notable work of the genre during this time was
Mervy LeRoy's ''
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang'' (1932), whose success led
Warner Brothers and other studios to copy the formula.
Meanwhile, at
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc., Trade name, doing business as Columbia Pictures, is an American film Production company, production and Film distributor, distribution company that is the flagship unit of the Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group ...
,
Frank Capra
Frank Russell Capra (born Francesco Rosario Capra; May 18, 1897 – September 3, 1991) was an Italian-American film director, producer, and screenwriter who was the creative force behind Frank Capra filmography#Films that won Academy Award ...
made his reputation (among the industry and filmgoing public alike; a rarity in that period) by developing his signature blend of social problem film and
screwball comedy
Screwball comedy is a film subgenre of the romantic comedy genre that became popular during the Great Depression, beginning in the early 1930s and thriving until the early 1950s, that satirizes the traditional love story. It has secondary charact ...
. Working with writer
Robert Riskin, he would develop, repeat, and refine this blend in films like ''
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town'' (1936), ''
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington'' (1939), and ''
Meet John Doe'' (1941).
1940s and postwar films
The social problem films of the
postwar period
A post-war or postwar period is the interval immediately following the end of a war. The term usually refers to a varying period of time after World War II, which ended in 1945. A post-war period can become an interwar period or interbellum, w ...
marked a noticeable shift away from economic problems to ones of social and psychological adjustment. This is perhaps due to the idea of returning veterans' ability to become reestablished in civilian society.
The genre in this climate, into the 1950s, was typified by the works of
Samuel Fuller,
Elia Kazan
Elias Kazantzoglou (, ; September 7, 1909 – September 28, 2003), known as Elia Kazan ( ), was a Greek-American film and theatre director, producer, screenwriter and actor, described by ''The New York Times'' as "one of the most honored and inf ...
, and
Douglas Sirk
Douglas Sirk (born Hans Detlef Sierck; 26 April 1897 – 14 January 1987) was a German film director best known for his work in Hollywood (film industry), Hollywood melodramas of the 1950s. However, he also directed comedies, westerns, and war f ...
.
As the thoughts and feelings of the nation progressed from worrying about unemployment to the horrors of war and rehabilitation of those suffering from addiction, so did the social problem film adapt to the national consciousness of its time. One national fear was that these returning veterans would be bitter among their return, changed from the horrors they had seen, while also feeling a lack of proper reciprocation back home. Also factoring in was the idea that the
nuclear family
A nuclear family (also known as an elementary family, atomic family, or conjugal family) is a term for a family group consisting of parents and their children (one or more), typically living in one home residence. It is in contrast to a single ...
had been broken up.
Chronicling three returning veterans adjusting to civilian life, ''
The Best Years of Our Lives
''The Best Years of Our Lives'' (also known as ''Glory for Me'' and ''Home Again'') is a 1946 American drama film directed by William Wyler and starring Myrna Loy, Fredric March, Dana Andrews, Teresa Wright, Virginia Mayo and Harold Ru ...
'' (
William Wyler
William Wyler (; born Willi Wyler (); July 1, 1902 – July 27, 1981) was a German-born American film director and producer. Known for his work in numerous genres over five decades, he received numerous awards and accolades, including three Aca ...
, 1946) was particularly powerful in that it served as a soothing to the anxieties felt by many Americans about the returning of veterans to society. It addressed post-war social problems through its optimistic portrayal of the struggle for normalization, using a protagonist who had lost both hands in the war, notedly played by
Harold Russell
Harold John Avery Russell (January 14, 1914 – January 29, 2002) was an American World War II veteran and actor. After losing his hands during his military service, Russell was cast in the epic drama film ''The Best Years of Our Lives'' (1946 ...
, a non-professional actor who had that same experience. The film also depicts the intense
male bonding that occurs during wartime in a positive way, showing the support each of the men have for each other. It also shows the struggles they face upon returning to their pre-war lives, although in an attempt to alleviate national anxiety the film ultimately resolves itself into a happy ending in which everything is reconciled. While this film follows the general guidelines of a social problem film from the
classic era such as the usage of non-actors, the importance of historical context, a
melodramatic feeling, and the didactic nature of the genre, the identification and solution to the social problem is less of a warning to society and more about increasing positive feelings in a nation reeling from the horrors of war.
Social problem film also addressed other specific issues that plagued the postwar environment in America. For instance,
Billy Wilder
Billy Wilder (; ; born Samuel Wilder; June 22, 1906 – March 27, 2002) was an American filmmaker and screenwriter. His career in Hollywood (film industry), Hollywood spanned five decades, and he is regarded as one of the most brilliant and ver ...
's ''
The Lost Weekend'' (1945) focused on
alcoholism
Alcoholism is the continued drinking of alcohol despite it causing problems. Some definitions require evidence of dependence and withdrawal. Problematic use of alcohol has been mentioned in the earliest historical records. The World He ...
, inaugurating a cycle of films dealing with
drug
A drug is any chemical substance other than a nutrient or an essential dietary ingredient, which, when administered to a living organism, produces a biological effect. Consumption of drugs can be via insufflation (medicine), inhalation, drug i ...
and
alcohol abuse
Alcohol abuse encompasses a spectrum of alcohol-related substance abuse. This spectrum can range from being mild, moderate, or severe. This can look like consumption of more than 2 drinks per day on average for men, or more than 1 drink per ...
; and ''
Gaslight'' (1944), based on an earlier play, dramatized and became the namesake for the
psychologically-abusive technique later known as
gaslighting
Gaslighting is the manipulation of someone into questioning their perception of reality. The term derives from the 1944 film ''Gaslight (1944 film), Gaslight'' and became popular in the mid-2010s.
Some mental health experts have expressed c ...
. Touching on mental health,
''Bedlam'' (1946) caused outrage among Americans,
affecting the already-fragile national attitude of the time.
One social issue that was integrated within United States society was the categorization of minorities together as one group;
African Americans
African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from any of the Black racial groups of Africa ...
,
Asian Americans
Asian Americans are Americans with Asian diaspora, ancestry from the continent of Asia (including naturalized Americans who are Immigration to the United States, immigrants from specific regions in Asia and descendants of those immigrants).
A ...
,
Jews
Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...
, and
homosexuals were all discriminated against without distinction. However, awareness of this problem was considerably raised through the evils of
Nazism
Nazism (), formally named National Socialism (NS; , ), is the far-right totalitarian socio-political ideology and practices associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in Germany. During Hitler's rise to power, it was fre ...
and
the Holocaust
The Holocaust (), known in Hebrew language, Hebrew as the (), was the genocide of History of the Jews in Europe, European Jews during World War II. From 1941 to 1945, Nazi Germany and Collaboration with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy ...
being revealed to the world as a result of this type of hatred.
Antisemitism
Antisemitism or Jew-hatred is hostility to, prejudice towards, or discrimination against Jews. A person who harbours it is called an antisemite. Whether antisemitism is considered a form of racism depends on the school of thought. Antisemi ...
became a worldwide topic of discussion after the suffering endured by the Jewish people, and the social problem film responded by attempts to represent such problem. Some films that tackled anti-Semitism and racism during this time were ''
Pinky'' (1949) and ''
Home of the Brave'' (1949). ''
Gentleman's Agreement'' (1947), in particular, follows a journalist as he decides to pass for Jewish in order to understand their experience. The efforts in ''Gentleman's Agreement'' were criticized by Jewish critics for not really delving into Jewish culture at all as well as not going deep enough into the effect of the Holocaust. The film was also seen as depicting anti-Semitism as a nasty habit rather than discrimination. At a commercial level, however, the film succeeded and was able to affect audiences in a way that reduced prejudicial feelings towards Jews.
1950s and 1960s
While
McCarthyism
McCarthyism is a political practice defined by the political repression and persecution of left-wing individuals and a Fear mongering, campaign spreading fear of communist and Soviet influence on American institutions and of Soviet espionage i ...
, in the form of the
House Un-American Activities Committee
The House Committee on Un-American Activities (HCUA), popularly the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), was an investigative United States Congressional committee, committee of the United States House of Representatives, created in 19 ...
, dampened some of Hollywood's enthusiasm for left-leaning critiques of American society, the genre continued nonetheless over the next two decades.
Robert Wise's science-fiction film ''
The Day the Earth Stood Still'' (1951) urged international cooperation in matters of violence and world security in an environment of
Cold War
The Cold War was a period of global Geopolitics, geopolitical rivalry between the United States (US) and the Soviet Union (USSR) and their respective allies, the capitalist Western Bloc and communist Eastern Bloc, which lasted from 1947 unt ...
mistrust and
nuclear paranoia: the "message" is literally delivered to the Earth by a civilized extraterrestrial.
Stanley Kramer's various exposés of racism—''
The Defiant Ones'' (1958), ''
Pressure Point'' (1962), and ''
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner'' (1967)—became synonymous with the genre. Moreover, "juvenile delinquency films" combined the censorious tone of social problem films with
exploitation film
An exploitation film is a film that seeks commercial success by capitalizing on current trends, niche genres, or sensational content. Exploitation films often feature themes such as suggestive or explicit sex, sensational violence, drug use, nudi ...
and
melodrama
A melodrama is a Drama, dramatic work in which plot, typically sensationalized for a strong emotional appeal, takes precedence over detailed characterization. Melodrama is "an exaggerated version of drama". Melodramas typically concentrate on ...
.
A series of journalistic pieces on the ineffectiveness of mental health facilities also lead to an increase in public awareness about the social problem of
mental health care. The national attitude of the time was already in a fragile state due to the public revelation of Nazi horrors.
This, combined with the untrusting environment and Cold-War tensions, was reflected in a bevy of films about mental health, the ineffectiveness of treatment, and the way that affected individuals can be helped.
The social problem genre reflected issues of mental health and addiction particularly well through films like ''
Bigger Than Life'' (1956), which was consequently based on an article titled "Ten Feet Tall" published in ''
The New Yorker
''The New Yorker'' is an American magazine featuring journalism, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons, and poetry. It was founded on February 21, 1925, by Harold Ross and his wife Jane Grant, a reporter for ''The New York T ...
''. The film follows a protagonist in a healthy, happy familial relationship who is forced to take
cortisone
Cortisone is a pregnene (21-carbon) steroid hormone. It is a naturally-occurring corticosteroid metabolite that is also used as a pharmaceutical prodrug. Cortisol is converted by the action of the enzyme corticosteroid 11-beta-dehydrogenase ...
for a rare disease, ultimately abusing the medication which then results in mental health issues. The hospital and doctors in the film are shown as incompetent and unwilling to believe anything the patient tells them, even supplying him with more cortisone when he shows
drug-seeking behavior.
''Bigger Than Life'' also shows a marked shift from the social problem films of
classic Hollywood that was caused by a myriad of factors. In 1948, the
Paramount Decrees were instituted after a landmark
antitrust case by the United States against the major studios of the time. What followed was a restriction on many forms of distribution, marketing, and time between film runs. This resulted in a shifting of power from the major studios of the time, who thusly needed to find a new way to market their films. The creation of
Cinemascope
CinemaScope is an anamorphic format, anamorphic lens series used, from 1953 to 1967, and less often later, for shooting widescreen films that, crucially, could be screened in theatres using existing equipment, albeit with a lens adapter.
Its cr ...
, which widened the
aspect ratio
The aspect ratio of a geometry, geometric shape is the ratio of its sizes in different dimensions. For example, the aspect ratio of a rectangle is the ratio of its longer side to its shorter side—the ratio of width to height, when the rectangl ...
allowing for
widescreen
Widescreen images are displayed within a set of aspect ratio (image), aspect ratios (relationship of image width to height) used in film, television and computer screens. In film, a widescreen film is any film image with a width-to-height aspect ...
viewing, and was seen as the beginning of the end of the classical era of Hollywood. Having access to these new technologies that the social problem film, too, would adapt, ''Bigger Than Life'' exhibited less
didactic
Didacticism is a philosophy that emphasises instructional and informative qualities in literature, art, and design. In art, design, architecture, and landscape, didacticism is a conceptual approach that is driven by the urgent need to explain.
...
speech, instead allowing more interpretation from the audience as to what the social problem was.
1970s
A big theme among films of the 1970s was the
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War (1 November 1955 – 30 April 1975) was an armed conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia fought between North Vietnam (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) and South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam) and their allies. North Vietnam w ...
; films such as ''
The Deer Hunter'' (1978) and ''
Apocalypse Now
''Apocalypse Now'' is a 1979 American psychological epic war film produced and directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The screenplay, co-written by Coppola, John Milius, and Michael Herr, is loosely inspired by the 1899 novella '' Heart of Darkn ...
'' (1979) focused on exposing the extreme conditions, both mentally and physically, that soldiers face during deployment.
The social problem film, on the other hand, came back to its common theme of returning veterans, exemplified by the critically acclaimed ''
Coming Home'' (1978), which followed a woman whose husband was away on tour as she volunteers at the veteran hospital and befriends a crippled soldier. The way in which the film interacts with narrative and with its audience, however, demonstrated a shift in form that reflected attitudes of the time. The period through the 1960s and 1970s was when
second-wave feminism
Second-wave feminism was a period of feminist activity that began in the early 1960s and lasted roughly two decades, ending with the feminist sex wars in the early 1980s and being replaced by third-wave feminism in the early 1990s. It occurred ...
became apparent, raising awareness about inequalities regarding many social issues, though it mainly focused on
white upper-class feminism. This national consciousness of feminist ideals, combined with a wartime environment that was largely a failure, as well as the inability to fully care for veterans, is expressed through ''Coming Home''
's narrative and characters while also maintaining certain factors of the classic social problem film. The
feminization of the Vietnam experience can be seen through the protagonist Luke, who is able to allow Sally to transcend her role as a stereotypical military wife, while also feminizing himself as he progresses into his move back to society. The more passive and stereotypically feminine he becomes, the more he is allowed to leave the horrors of Vietnam behind. This type of characterization differs greatly from the characters seen in earlier returning veteran social problem films, which often portrayed the veteran as ultra-masculine and his wife as a traditional
homemaker
Homemaking is mainly an American English, American and Canadian English, Canadian term for the management of a home, otherwise known as housework, housekeeping, housewifery or household management. It is the act of overseeing the organizational ...
.
Furthermore, the narrative of ''Coming Home'' depicts a marked difference from earlier social problem films. Rather than pushing a
didactic
Didacticism is a philosophy that emphasises instructional and informative qualities in literature, art, and design. In art, design, architecture, and landscape, didacticism is a conceptual approach that is driven by the urgent need to explain.
...
theme on the audience, the story goes back and forth between didacticism and following more of a
soap-opera romance formula. (As result, it is sometimes difficult to discern what the film wants us to focus on.) However, the film does maintain certain characteristics of the social problem film, such as a focused narrative, ending on a didactic speech, and usage of non-actors to portray the veterans at the hospital.
Contemporary social problem films
As the United States transitioned into the
contemporary era, the social issues that encompassed the country have adapted to focus on different aspects of the problems, especially in the case of
immigration
Immigration is the international movement of people to a destination country of which they are not usual residents or where they do not possess nationality in order to settle as Permanent residency, permanent residents. Commuting, Commuter ...
and the
veteran
A veteran () is a person who has significant experience (and is usually adept and esteemed) and expertise in an job, occupation or Craft, field.
A military veteran is a person who is no longer serving in the military, armed forces.
A topic o ...
experience, both of which feature heavily in the classic social problem film. For instance, the theme of ''
Border Incident
''Border Incident'' is a 1949 American film noir featuring Ricardo Montalbán, George Murphy, and Howard Da Silva. Directed by Anthony Mann, the MGM production was written by John C. Higgins from a story by John C. Higgins and George Zuckerman. ...
'' (1949) was the immigration of
migrant farmworkers from Mexico. The returning-veteran social problem films ''
Best Years Of Our Lives'' (1946) and
''Coming Home'' (1978) focused on the treatment as well as the rehabilitation of veterans.
In the contemporary United States, an immigration social issue that has been relevant for years is the idea of refugee
asylum, whereas the returning-veteran storylines now often focus on the addiction to war and the inability to function normally without it.
Sudanese refugees, in particular, are of focus as their country is plagued in civil war, yet asylum in the United States had been blocked due to terrorist fears. A contemporary social problem film that addresses this issue is ''
The Good Lie'' (2014), which follows the life of a group of Sudanese children as they escape their village to a refugee camp and come to America as adults. The beginning of the film does a decent job of representing the struggle over 25,000 children faced while trekking across Africa enduring the elements, animals, and soldiers trying to kill them as it follows the protagonists as they make the journey themselves, losing some along the way. It utilizes classic techniques such as location shooting at the refugee camp and the usage of real refugees as background characters. However, the film has much more in common with the form of social problem films such as ''Coming Home''. It not only stars a famous actress,
Reese Witherspoon
Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon (born March 22, 1976) is an American actress and producer. She is the recipient of List of awards and nominations received by Reese Witherspoon, various accolades, including an Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy Aw ...
, but ultimately utilizes engagement with the narrative much more than trying to preach to its audience. As the protagonist group arrives in America, the film experiences a shift from displaying the plight of these refugees to a culture clash of sorts as they struggle to adapt to American customs and realize the ineffectiveness of the bureaucratic systems meant to help them. Like ''Coming Home'', the audience is not being put in a space where the film is meant to be purely educational, rather they are encouraged to discern the social problem from the drama being displayed. This is shown in the frustration of some reviewers who claim the plot seems manufactured and does not focus enough on certain social issues. This particular aspect of the changing form of the social problem film is largely due to audiences desire to be entertained as well as satiated with a well-formulated story to engage in.
Another instance in which this becomes palpable is in the changing representation of returning veterans. The effects of wartime on American society are fluid depending on the situation and national feelings of the time. This is evident as post-WWII films often focused on a return to home for the veterans, encouraging family life and spousal support, as well as the revealing of the capability of humans to commit evil, resulting in forays into addressing these issues. Then during Vietnam, the
feminist movement
The feminist movement, also known as the women's movement, refers to a series of social movements and political campaigns for Radical politics, radical and Liberalism, liberal reforms on women's issues created by inequality between men and wom ...
combined with national feelings of regret created both
hyper-masculine films depicting the horror of battle but also the returning veterans plight and a more
formulaic approach to narrative instead of a
didactic
Didacticism is a philosophy that emphasises instructional and informative qualities in literature, art, and design. In art, design, architecture, and landscape, didacticism is a conceptual approach that is driven by the urgent need to explain.
...
one.
The current era, then, is focused on international conflict within the middle east which has created a division in terms of ideology in the US. The social problem film has adapted to encompass these feelings through films such as ''
Green Zone
The Green Zone () is the most common name for the International Zone of Baghdad. It is a area in the Karkh, Karkh district of central Baghdad, Iraq. It is the chief government precinct and the seat of the Iraqi government.
History
Pre-200 ...
'' (2010), which addresses the idea of false motivations for entering the
war against Iraq.
More pertinent to the social problem film genre, however, is the idea of returning veterans; whereas the treatment of veterans has been displayed on screen, the contemporary social problem goes beyond that scope, and rather into the psyches of the soldiers themselves and the systems that perpetuate their situation. This is done through the depiction of war as an addiction, another type of social problem—a way that films of the 20th century did not consider.
This is the case in ''
The Hurt Locker'' (2009), which depicts an
Explosive Ordnance Disposal team in Iraq. Although it did shoot on location in
Jordan
Jordan, officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, is a country in the Southern Levant region of West Asia. Jordan is bordered by Syria to the north, Iraq to the east, Saudi Arabia to the south, and Israel and the occupied Palestinian ter ...
, utilize non-actors, and focus on a small group of people, the film is much more in line with recent social problem films in that it focuses on
characterization
Characterization or characterisation is the representation of characters (persons, creatures, or other beings) in narrative and dramatic works. The term character development is sometimes used as a synonym. This representation may include dire ...
,
storytelling
Storytelling is the social and cultural activity of sharing narrative, stories, sometimes with improvisation, theatre, theatrics or embellishment. Every culture has its own narratives, which are shared as a means of entertainment, education, cul ...
, and filming stylization to portray its social issue more than straightforward preaching. The film is both cinematic and visceral, interweaving aspects of the war in documentary-like style juxtaposed with the usage of sound and technological advances to create an intense, encapsulating narrative. Again, the viewer is meant to see the protagonist's mundane home life compared to his experience on tour, where he seems more at home. The film begins on a quote that equates war to a drug, and ends on the protagonist's 'days on tour' counter resetting to 0, indicating both the hardship faced by military personnel and how it shapes them into being more like machines built for a purpose rather than purely motivated soldiers.
These scenes show a palpable shift from telling the audience how to feel via ending monologue, to displaying the problem and letting audiences interpret it for themselves.
Television and social media
With the development of new technologies such as television, it was inevitable that programming about social issues would become apparent. From documentaries for social justice to public broadcasting about local issues, the television is able to be accessed in ways movies can't. Certain programming such as ''
The Biggest Loser
''The Biggest Loser'' is a reality television format which started with the American TV show ''The Biggest Loser (American TV series), The Biggest Loser'' in 2004. The show centers on overweight and Obesity, obese contestants attempting to lose ...
'' address a specific social problem such as obesity in a setting which is presented as reality. However, in reality, the whole thing is pretty much scripted. Contestants waive their rights to creating their own story-line and are trained to point of collapsing, not a healthy way to address weight loss. This pseudo-reality is problematic in that it presents a certain social problem, along with a viable solution, like diet and exercise, yet it doesn't speak to the cultural issues and systematic factors like cheap fast food in poverty-stricken areas.
The rise of
social media
Social media are interactive technologies that facilitate the Content creation, creation, information exchange, sharing and news aggregator, aggregation of Content (media), content (such as ideas, interests, and other forms of expression) amongs ...
has led to a transformation of many established systems, such as advertising, news, protests, campaigning, and exposure to other cultures. The ability to instantly connect with an event occurring and to share something with the public instantly has led to a new development of networks that can be accessed at the click of a mouse. So just as these other aspects of life were effected so is the idea of the social problem film. The ability for users to obtain, via
YouTube
YouTube is an American social media and online video sharing platform owned by Google. YouTube was founded on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim who were three former employees of PayPal. Headquartered in ...
, actual real-life video of events occurring around the world makes it tougher for filmic representations to become the didactic entity they need to be in order to fit in the genre. For instance, with over 100,000 results for a search on Iraq war footage, it becomes difficult to depict a sense of reality in which the viewer can relate purely, therefore the filmmaker's artistic influence becomes more apparent. This combined with the development of news programming via television has created a sort of environment where the social problem film was forced to change form, the majority didactic approach was no longer satisfactory as people have access to actual footage, therefore the implementation of deeper characterization and richer narratives became relevant in the more contemporary entries into this genre.
An example of controversial social problem television is ''
13 Reasons Why
''13 Reasons Why'' (also stylized as ''TH1RTEEN R3ASONS WHY'') is an American teen drama television series based on the 2007 novel '' Thirteen Reasons Why'' by author Jay Asher. Developed for Netflix by Brian Yorkey and with Selena Gomez ser ...
'' as it dealt with
teen suicide,
rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault involving sexual intercourse, or other forms of sexual penetration, carried out against a person without consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority, or against a person ...
and
bullying
Bullying is the use of force, coercion, Suffering, hurtful teasing, comments, or threats, in order to abuse, aggression, aggressively wikt:domination, dominate, or intimidate one or more others. The behavior is often repeated and habitual. On ...
.
Why Schools Need to Step Up Suicide Prevention Efforts, College of Education
/ref>
Examples
Social issues touched on by this genre can include:
* Age and intergenerational conflict
** '' The Wrestler'' (2008)
** Childhood and adolescence
*** '' The 400 Blows'' (1959)
*** '' Kids'' (1995)
* Class
** '' La Grande Illusion'' (1937)
** ''Parasite
Parasitism is a Symbiosis, close relationship between species, where one organism, the parasite, lives (at least some of the time) on or inside another organism, the Host (biology), host, causing it some harm, and is Adaptation, adapted str ...
'' (2019)
** Poverty
*** '' Hillbilly Elegy'' (2020)
* Climate and pollution
** ''WALL-E
''WALL-E'' (stylized with an interpunct as ''WALL·E'') is a 2008 American animated Romance film, romantic science fiction film produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures. The film was directed by Andrew Stanton, produced b ...
'' (2008)
* Consumer culture
** '' Fight Club'' (1999)
* Crime
In ordinary language, a crime is an unlawful act punishable by a State (polity), state or other authority. The term ''crime'' does not, in modern criminal law, have any simple and universally accepted definition,Farmer, Lindsay: "Crime, definiti ...
and delinquency
** ''Blackboard Jungle
''Blackboard Jungle'' is a 1955 American social drama film about an English teacher in an interracial inner-city school, based on the 1954 novel ''The Blackboard Jungle'' by Evan Hunter and adapted for the screen and directed by Richard Brook ...
'' (1955)
* Trafficking and war on drugs
** ''Sicario'' (2015)
* Immigration and immigrant experience
** ''Border Incident
''Border Incident'' is a 1949 American film noir featuring Ricardo Montalbán, George Murphy, and Howard Da Silva. Directed by Anthony Mann, the MGM production was written by John C. Higgins from a story by John C. Higgins and George Zuckerman. ...
'' (1949)
* Education
** '' Good Will Hunting'' (1997)
* Family life and values
** '' Where Are My Children?'' (1916)
** '' Ordinary People'' (1980)
** '' Juno'' (2007)
* Health, mental health, and illness
** '' Bigger Than Life'' (1956)
** '' One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'' (1975)
** '' A Child is Waiting'' (1963)
** Substance abuse
*** '' Leaving Las Vegas'' (1995)
*** '' Udta Punjab'' (2016)
*** ''Beautiful Boy'' (2018)
* Labour
** '' Modern Times'' (1936)
** ''The Grapes of Wrath'' (1940)
** '' Norma Rae'' (1979)
** '' Germinal'' (1993)
* Race, racism, and discrimination
** '' Do the Right Thing'' (1989)
** '' The Defiant Ones'' (1958)
** '' Pressure Point'' (1962)
** '' Guess Who's Coming to Dinner'' (1967)
** '' American History X'' (1998)
** '' District 9'' (2009)
** '' Crash'' (2005)
* Sex discrimination
** '' The Children's Hour'' (1961)
** '' Far from Heaven'' (2002)
** ''Brokeback Mountain
''Brokeback Mountain'' is a 2005 American neo-Western romantic drama film directed by Ang Lee and produced by Diana Ossana and James Schamus. Adapted from Brokeback Mountain (short story), the 1997 short story by Annie Proulx, the screenplay ...
'' (2005)
* Social values and pressures
** '' Dead Poets Society'' (1989)
** '' 3 Idiots'' (2009)
* Censorship
** '' Storm Center'' (1956)
* Technology, media, and society
** ''Network'' (1976)
** '' The Truman Show'' (1998)
** '' Natural Born Killers'' (1994)
* Rape
**'' Outrage'' (1950)
* Urban and rural life
**'' Boyz N' the Hood'' (1991)
** The aforementioned ''Hillbilly Elegy''
* Religion
Religion is a range of social system, social-cultural systems, including designated religious behaviour, behaviors and practices, morals, beliefs, worldviews, religious text, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, ethics in religion, ethics, or ...
** '' Elmer Gantry'' (1960)
* Gun violence
** '' American Gun'' (2005)
** '' Bowling for Columbine'' (2002)
* War and veteran life
** '' The Deer Hunter'' (1978)
** '' Full Metal Jacket'' (1987)
** '' Born on the Fourth of July'' (1989)
** '' The Hurt Locker'' (2009)
** '' Paths of Glory'' (1957)
See also
* Message picture
* Social science fiction
* Social thriller
* Very special episode
* Social realism
* Oscar bait
* Identity politics
Identity politics is politics based on a particular identity, such as ethnicity, Race (human categorization), race, nationality, religion, Religious denomination, denomination, gender, sexual orientation, Socioeconomic status, social background ...
References
Bibliography
* Roffman, Peter, and Jim Purdy. ''The Hollywood Social Problem Film''.
* Sloan, Kay. 1988. ''The Loud Silents: Origins of the Social Problem Film''. University of Illinois Press.
{{Film genres
Film genres
Social issues