Off-White Hollywood : American Culture and Ethnic Female Stardom

Off-White Hollywood investigates how the 'ethnicity' of white European-American actresses has played a key role in the mythology of American identity and nation building.

Embodying national fantasies and 'assimilation myths', ethnic female film stars symbolised the promise of American multiculturalism and proved the desirability and reliability of the American Dream.

Through case studies of stars spanning cinema's history, Diane Negra examines Hollywood films and promotional material as a vehicle through which American culture expresses and negotiates gender and ethnic identities. Negra focuses on key stars of the silent - Colleen Moore and Pola Negri - classical - Sonja Henie and Hedy Lamarr - and post-classical eras - Marisa Tomei and Cher - to demonstrate how each star illuminates aspects of ethnicity, gender, consumerism, and class at work in American culture.

Tracing processes of transformation, containment and resistance, from the assimilation imperatives of the early twentieth century to the current ethnic revival, Off-White Hollywood shows how star personae have reflected the changing meanings of whiteness in US culture.