Abstract
Taking as its starting point the so-called college-craze (in films, books, music and fashion) of the early 1920's, the article explores a number of perhaps surprising parallels between Fitzgerald's archetypal campus novel, This Side of Paradise (1920) and Harold Lloyd's 1925 parody of the college genre, The Freshman. In particular the essay seeks to examine the gendered relationship between the narcissistic self and the crowd, whether in terms of Fitzgerald's view of the positive and negative crowd, or Harold Lloyd's obsession with conformity and belonging. The essay argues that the college genre of the twenties marked a key transition in American culture from older forms of elitism and privilege identity rooted in aping older modes of distinction and nobility to new modes of social recognition derived from movies, advertising and consumer goods. It thus explores the glamour and hallowed aura attached to college life in the light of American ideas of celebrity and constructed identity, and reads both Fitzgerald's novel and Lloyd's film in terms of a critical engagement with this nascent mode of belonging.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
