About the book
A history of the Hollywood film industry as a modern system of labor, this book reveals an important untold story of an influential twentieth-century workplace. Ronny Regev argues that the Hollywood studio system institutionalized creative labor by systemizing and standardizing the work of actors, directors, writers, and cinematographers, meshing artistic sensibilities with the efficiency-minded rationale of industrial capitalism. The employees of the studios emerged as a new class: they were wage laborers with enormous salaries, artists subjected to budgets and supervision, stars bound by contracts. As such, these workers — people like Clark Gable, Katharine Hepburn, and Anita Loos — were the outliers in the American workforce, an extraordinary working class.
Through extensive use of oral histories, personal correspondence, studio archives, and the papers of leading Hollywood luminaries as well as their less-known contemporaries, Regev demonstrates that, as part of their contribution to popular culture, Hollywood studios such as Paramount, Warner Bros., and MGM cultivated a new form of labor, one that made work seem like fantasy.
Editions of Working in Hollywood
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9781469638294
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781469636504
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469637068
- EBook
- ISBN 9798890853912
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469636771
- PDF
- ISBN 9798890853929
Read an Excerpt
A history of the Hollywood film industry as a modern system of labor, this book reveals an important untold story of an influential twentieth-century workplace. Ronny Regev argues that the Hollywood studio system institutionalized creative labor by systemizing and standardizing the work of actors, directors, writers, and cinematographers, meshing artistic sensibilities with the efficiency-minded rationale of industrial capitalism. The employees of the studios emerged as a new class: they were wage laborers with enormous salaries, artists subjected to budgets and supervision, stars bound by contracts. As such, these workers — people like Clark Gable, Katharine Hepburn, and Anita Loos — were the outliers in the American workforce, an extraordinary working class.
Through extensive use of oral histories, personal correspondence, studio archives, and the papers of leading Hollywood luminaries as well as their less-known contemporaries, Regev demonstrates that, as part of their contribution to popular culture, Hollywood studios such as Paramount, Warner Bros., and MGM cultivated a new form of labor, one that made work seem like fantasy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Working in Hollywood about?
A history of the Hollywood film industry as a modern system of labor, this book reveals an important untold story of an influential twentieth-century workplace. Ronny Regev argues that the Hollywood studio system institutionalized creative labor by systemizing and standardizing the work of actors, directors, writers, and cinematographers, meshing artistic sensibilities with the efficiency-minded rationale of industrial capitalism. The employees of the studios emerged as a new class: they were wage laborers with enormous salaries, artists subjected to budgets and supervision, stars bound by contracts. As such, these workers — people like Clark Gable, Katharine Hepburn, and Anita Loos — were the outliers in the American workforce, an extraordinary working class.
Through extensive use of oral histories, personal correspondence, studio archives, and the papers of leading Hollywood luminaries as well as their less-known contemporaries, Regev demonstrates that, as part of their contribution to popular culture, Hollywood studios such as Paramount, Warner Bros., and MGM cultivated a new form of labor, one that made work seem like fantasy.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Working in Hollywood?
History and Archaeology > History > History of the Americas
Where can I read a sample of Working in Hollywood?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781469638294
How long is Working in Hollywood and how many pages does it have?
Working in Hollywood has 288 page(s)
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Working in Hollywood?
Ronny Regev
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Working in Hollywood is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781469638294) and paperback(ISBN 9781469636504) and ebook(ISBN 9781469637068) and ebook(ISBN 9798890853912) and ebook(ISBN 9781469636771) and pdf(ISBN 9798890853929)
Where can I buy Working in Hollywood online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Working in Hollywood from below
Where can I buy Working in Hollywood?