Schwarzenegger's Star Image example essay topic

Arnold Schwarzenegger - Star Image "To be tough or not to be tough that is the question" Our perceptions as the audience are heavily influenced by how Schwarzenegger's star image is portrayed by the media, publicists, his films and the roles he undertakes within them. This image captivates and interests us for many reasons, from his star persona to his powerhouse masculine physique, they all create an icon that we admire and want to emulate. For example, Schwarzenegger has won seven 'Mr Olympia' competitions and a 'Mr Universe' competition in 1969. These incredible achievements of masculinity gave the star an image of toughness and dominance which has consequently been transferred to his movie persona.

This image is personified and evident in many of his films such as; Terminator (1984), Predator (1987) and in Total Recall (1990). In such films our expectations of the Actor to be the hard, weapon wielding hero or even villain are often expressed exactly the way we anticipate. For example, in Running Man (1987) Schwarzenegger plays a good cop framed for a bloody massacre. As a result his character is sent to a sadistic TV show aimed to kill criminals in twisted games of cat and mouse. The audience at this point expect him to overcome the adversaries and restore order using his brute strength and power, because of his image. Of course this occurs, although it relies upon a high degree of predictability it is effective because it is based on the audience's expectations; which intensify the relationship between his star persona and us as viewers, allowing the audience to feel we "know" this real person.

Schwarzenegger's power and strength is illustrated in such films in a variety of ways, often relying on constant and varying signifiers that the audience can carry from one film to the next. Mis-en-scene is often used to portray Swarzenneger in a rough, hard manner. For example, his almost constant use of large guns demonstrate his dominance, also may have phallic connotations. In addition many of his films involve the mega star wearing clothes that show the source of his strength and perceived power - his incredible muscles. Such visual signifiers are repetitive and run from one film to the next allowing his image in stay almost exactly as we expect. Likewise, narrative is also important in building his power house representation in the stars movies.

His infamous "I'll be back" originally from Terminator, has become an aural signifier of the stars image. In nearly every film this line is used and to the audience it reflects his image as a relentless force in movies, where he is near invincible. This ties in again with audience expectations and keeps his film persona constant. Heightening the relationship between the Star and 'us' the audience by establishing and maintaining a lasting image, allowing us to see him as a cultural signifier of strength and symbol of power.

In addition, this powerful image mirrors the prevailing zeitgeist ('spirit of the times'), where people viewed men as superior, whilst women were struggling for power. This gave "men" an icon to emulate both his "tough guy image" and success; he was also looked upon as an object of desire for people who found him sexually appealing. In both instances this star is a real person; therefore his assets are attainable by the audience, consequently intensifying the relationship further. However, the modern day "tough guy" icon has much more depth to his character than simply strength and manliness, Schwarzenegger also mocks this image by reversing it in films like Junior and Kindergarten Cop engaging in a surprising amount of humour and effectively in its execution. Schwarzenegger's surprising willingness to turn his tough guy image on its head and effectively enter the comedy genre from action films, is testament to his success as many other star's have tried and failed to do so, Sylvester Stallone for instance. By reversing his image and the audience's expectations of the star, he generates much more interest and heightens humour in movies such Kindergarten Cop, for the audience.

The very idea of powerhouse Schwarzenegger become a nursery teacher is comic genius, as he is usually associated with massive guns, explosions and killing people. Likewise in 'Junior's schwarzenegger becomes the first 'pregnant man' outrageously violating his tough guy persona, showing a much more sensitive and humorous side to the star's image. Again this heightens the relationship with the audience because it creates much more depth and detail to his image allowing the audience to get closer to the star and to the person. Schwarzenegger's image is mainly accountable for the publicity he receives from the characters he undertakes in films. At first appearance, the audience may only be aware of the 'tough guy' persona from Terminator, but on looking closer over a greater range of his movies it is apparent he is just as willing to mock this image of strength and power, creating humour and adding much more depth to how the public perceive this mega star.