Final answer:
Between 1910-1925, Hollywood's portrayal of women shifted with the emergence of the flapper, personified by actresses like Alice Joyce and Clara Bow. This new image challenged traditional values and reflected changing attitudes towards gender roles and sexuality, with the film industry at the forefront of this societal transformation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Portrayal of Women in 1910-25 Hollywood
During the early 20th century, Hollywood began to shape and influence American culture significantly. Female portrayal in Hollywood between 1910-1925 highlighted a dramatic shift in the societal view of women. The period saw the rise of the flapper, a term that originally carried a pejorative connotation, likening young, independent women to immature birds clumsily flapping their wings. However, actresses like Alice Joyce and Clara Bow, who was dubbed the "It Girl" after her performance in It, transformed the flapper into a symbol of the modern, liberated woman.
While men like Rudolph Valentino and Charlie Chaplin garnered immense popularity, the emergence of the New Woman in film presented a significant challenge to traditional values. This modern image was propagated throughout various mediums and became an aspirational figure for women worldwide. Hollywood played a key role in reflecting and shaping American attitudes towards gender roles, sexuality, and female autonomy.
The movie industry also paved the way for the flapper look to become a national craze, as evidenced by works of art like Ellen Pyle's cover for The Saturday Evening Post. It was during this era that Hollywood cemented its place as America's movie capital, housing a vast number of movie houses and tapping into America's desire for excitement and romance.