Hairspray Questions

1.  Define:  setting.  Describe the setting--in detail--keeping in mind the complete definition of setting.
setting-the natural, manufactured, and cultural environment in which characters live and move, including all their possessions, homes, ways of life, and assumptions.

The movie begins in 1962 in Baltimore, Maryland. Tracy wakes to a song "Good Morning Baltimore" as she gives a tour of her home she shares with her parents. Modern home with the family business down below. Conservative with dress but hair the higher the better. Simple living. The movie revolves around a dance show called The Corny Collins Show and how Tracy desires to one day be on the show and show her talent.

2.  Why and how is the setting important in the story?
With the 60's came the BIG hair and the swing dancing

3.  What is the major conflict in the story?  Who or what is the major conflict between?
Racial segregation, between the Negros and the whites

4.  In what ways do the conflict advance or influence the plot of the story?  Name at least two.
1. Amber and her mother who manages the dance show and Corny Collins himself-they don't even want to allow and "Negro Day" and he wants more of it.
2. Tracy thinks of the blacks like they are just like her and even starts a march to protest segregation.

5. The title of the play is Hairspray.  What or how is hairspray significant/important to the story?
The Corny Collins Show is sponsored by a brand of Hairspray and because the big hair was in and everyone used tons of Hairspray.

6.  Define:  theme.  List and explain at least three themes in the story.
Theme-the major or central idea of a work

1.Tracy proved to everyone that she was talented and could dance and didn't matter her height or size
2.Tracy accepted the blacks for who they were and welcomed their talent. She never judged them because of the color of their skin and never acted as if she was superior.
3.For the lead in "Miss Teenage Hairspray" Little Inez is given the role. She was the first negro to play the part but she was voted in by the people. This just proved that everybody didn't think they were more superior to the other race as did Velma and Amber.

7.  Listen carefully to the final song of the movie.  What does it mean--not just for the story itself, but for you, too?  I'm including 2 separate links, but they're for the same song.  One link includes the lyrics on the screen for you to look at....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xx9guWBRgB0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aw8ybll5SSc
This song to me means that no one can get in your way when you have your heart and mind set on something. If you make a goal and intend to meet it nobody will be able to cause a detour.

8.  Tracy sings to her mom "Welcome to the Sixties."  In what ways have things changed over the years--from the sixties to now--based on what Tracy sings about as well as the themes of the story?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4XSU-kqSCI&feature=fvst
TVs were black and white......today color
Hair has changed drastically!!!......today there is no telling what you will see from crazy colors to shaved in mohawks
Clothing was more conservative-today you will see it all!!! All clothing types and skin types hanging out, off, on backwards, and worn different places.
Make-up was more conservative-today its wild and dramatic
racial segregation.....today non-existent

9.  Why do you think the director chose to use a man (John Travolta) to play the part of Tracy's mom?  Once you answer this question for yourself, do a little research and see if you can find out the real reason why the director chose to use a man.  Compare your answer/opinion to the real reason.
Mainly for humor of it. The role was to be of someone who was over weight and ashamed of themselves and to leave the emotion out of it and to not offend someone then why not cast a man to play to role.

The real reason is because since 1988 the play has always had the role of Edna played by a man in drag.

10.  What have I missed?  What do you want to say about Hairspray that I haven't asked about? (You must have SOMETHING answered here.)
I had no idea that this movie was about segregation, I never would of guessed it. What do you think the original director/writer was thinking when comparing Hairspray to segregation??? I don't see the connection!