Research Project: Brad Pitt by

Pitt as the "Romantic Hero"

201581579 — 2023-11-06 12:47:04 UTC

"Pitt's stardom has been sustained not solely on his tabloid coverage but also on a persona sustained by two decades of film roles - a persona that fits more within the literary definition of the (often tragic) figure of the Romantic Hero [or] Byronic Hero" pp. 21f. in Abele, E. (2014) 'Romantic Hero', in Schaberg, C. & Bennett, R. (ed.) Deconstructing Brad Pitt, New York: Bloomsbury Publishing.

Thelma & Louise (1991)

201581579 — 2023-11-06 14:43:52 UTC

In Ridley Scott's Crime Drama young Brad Pitt plays JD, a hitchhiking heartthrob. This film is also the source of Pitt's famous intimate scene with Geena Davis, which helped form his heroine image.

Link to Pringles Advertisment (1999)

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Pitt standing out with his looks in shirtless Pringles commercial

A River Runs Through It (1992)

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This well reviewed drama, directed by Robert Redford, firstly put Pitt in contact with Academy Award nominations.

Screenshot Used in one of Many Reviews

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Jane Gaines's definition of “persona''

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“The persona [...] is separate from the real person and the character roles, but draws form both - “authenticity’’ from the former and “typicality’’ from the latter’’ (1992, p. 33)

Interview With the Vampire (1994)

201581579 — 2023-11-06 15:53:05 UTC

Despite Pitt's personal negative opinion about this role, Neil Jordan's drama earned him a lot of accolades. Once more, the movie featured a much talked about kissing scene.

Even long after the film's release, the kiss is still topic of conversation

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Northrop Frye:

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According to Northrop Frye , the Romantic Hero "is placed outside the structure of civilisation and therefore represents the force of physical nature, amor or ruthless, yet with a sense of power, often leadership, that society has impoverished itself by rejecting" (1968, p. 41)

12 Monkeys (1995)

201581579 — 2023-11-06 16:08:39 UTC

Brad Pitt's attempt to lose the fixated image of his usual chivalrous characters with the role of mentally ill Jeffrey Goines landed him an Academy Awards nomination and a Golden Globe, both for the category of Best Supporting Actor.

201581579 — 2023-11-06 16:16:26 UTC

This archetype comes off as unsuitable as romantic partner, because they prioritises their personal desires, anxieties, and aspirations over responsibilities, tradition, and family

(Feeley, 2016, p. 55)

Brad Pitt's film roles in the early 1990s led him to be associated with the archetype of the Romantic Hero

201581579 — 2023-11-06 16:57:01 UTC

Public persona & personal life

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Impact of Celebrity Bodies' according to Redmond

201581579 — 2023-11-06 17:22:39 UTC

"One of their key signifying capabilities is communication through the senses, through sensorial representations", effectively heightening the public's focus on their bodies and physique p. 12 in Celebrity & the Media

Brad Pitt's Body & Beauty as Element of his Persona

201581579 — 2023-11-06 17:31:16 UTC

Abele points out that, differently to male celebrities coming to fame in the early 1980s, Pitt possesses a leaner physique, consequently reflecting "a more complicated, more personal code of masculinity" (2014, p. 22). Even decades later, Brad Pitt's body is still part of his public persona.

Brad Pitt With Former Wife & Friends Star Jennifer Aniston

201581579 — 2023-11-06 17:44:45 UTC

After a blind date in 1998, the couple took on their first red carpet together in 1999

Se7en (1995)

201581579 — 2023-11-06 17:47:32 UTC

The first of multiple collaborations between Pitt and Se7evn's director David Fincher. Pitt portrays a young ambitious detective and loving husband, effectively reuniting himself with the romantic hero. The somber ending, including his wife's death, speaks to Abele's description of a doomed Byronic Hero (2014, p. 21)

Pitt & Se7en Co-Star Gwyneth Paltrow embark on romantic journey in 1995

201581579 — 2023-11-06 17:51:15 UTC

Two years into a reportedly happy relationship, the couple decides to get married. However, six months after announcing their engagement, they break up.

Pitt's Acceptance Speech For his First Golden Globe

201581579 — 2023-11-06 17:55:05 UTC

Beginning his speech with “Oh no!'' expresses the classical sense of humor associated with his charming public persona.

Conan O'Brien Sleepwalking Tale

201581579 — 2023-11-06 17:59:14 UTC

Anecdote gives exclusive insight in Brad Pitt & Jennifer Aniston's seemingly wonderful life as a married couple.

The interview overall presents him as a funny, charming, down to earth guy.

Pitt standing up for his girlfriend to Harvey Weinstein after Paltrow gets harassed by the producer in 1995

201581579 — 2023-11-06 18:08:24 UTC

People Magazine quote Paltrow about her boyfriend confronting Weinstein: "It was so fantastic ... He leveraged his fame and power to protect me at a time when I didn't have fame or power yet." (Dodd, 2023)

“blue eyed charisma'' as journalist Dunn calls it in Rollings Stone magazine (1997)

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“Pitt is low-key, free of attitude and positive''

201581579 — 2023-11-06 20:02:33 UTC

When having a conversation with Brad Pitt, journalists often describe to feel “instantly at ease'' and to “forget he's a huge movie star'' (Dunn, 1997, Rolling Stone)

Coherence Behind the Curtain

201581579 — 2023-11-06 20:07:23 UTC

Taking on his usual on-screen romantic hero character in real life, aligns Pitt's private and public spheres with each other. The “collection of images'' (McDonald, 2000, p. 6) standing in for Pitt's authentic self seem to create a cohesive picture with this information revealed.

Pitt about his films Meet Joe Black (1998) & Fight Club (1999)

201581579 — 2023-11-06 20:26:27 UTC

Despite being part of Hollywood's elite at this point, Pitt speaks humbly about admiring co-stars, such as Anthony Hopkins, and feeling overwhelmed at the beginning of shoots.

Fight Club (1999)

201581579 — 2023-11-06 20:32:44 UTC

With his role as Tyler Durden, Brad Pitt steps further away from his classic archetype as Byronic Hero. McGavin describes Pitt's character as “the catalyst for the Narrator’s violent rejection of the bourgeois life'' (2019, The Hollywood Reporter)

Sexiest Man Alive 1995

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Sexiest Man Alive 2000

201581579 — 2023-11-06 20:49:51 UTC

Brad Pitt remains one of two celebrities to have been named “Sexiest Man Alive'' by People Magazine twice.

Fight Club co-star Helena Bonham Carter about Brad Pitt:

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“What makes him really attractive is internal – his humor and caring and curiosity", as quoted in People Magazine in 2004.

the Golden Boy Image

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An unusually public engagement announcement

201581579 — 2023-11-06 21:52:31 UTC

Instead of publishing an article, the couple opted for presenting their plan to marry personally and publicly at a Sting concert. A little sliver of truthfulness, and therefore arguably authenticity, is revealed with this.

Private Wedding in 2000

201581579 — 2023-11-06 21:56:22 UTC

Despite a public engagement announcement, the wedding was kept secretive. Wedding G magazine even claims that even the airspace above the wedding premises was restricted.

Actor vs. Character

201581579 — 2023-11-06 22:06:12 UTC

Gledhill describes the actor as “the site of amorous and shifting bodily attributes, instinct, psychic drives and experiences’’ (1991, pp. 214f.); a versatility perfectly visible in Brad Pitt's Jeffrey Goines.

Martin Shingler

201581579 — 2023-11-06 22:10:29 UTC

“a star persona is as much a constructed character as any film role’’ (Shingler, 2012, p. 126)

Pitt's love life

201581579 — 2023-11-06 22:13:38 UTC

“Pitt’s personal life [has] reflected the simpler definition of a romantic star, as he has moved serially between intense, monogamous relationships with beautiful actresses’’ (Abele, 2014, p. 21)

Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005) - the Start of Brangelina

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Mr. & Mrs. Smith: A Classic Couple's Halloween Costume

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Especially among younger generations and on social media, this couple's costume has become a very popular option for Halloween.

“Brangelina''

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Brangelina's Divorce now titled "War of the Rose"

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Fatherhood as Part of Pitt's Image

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Still charming, but matured

201581579 — 2023-11-06 22:29:54 UTC

In this recent interview, one can see a shift from the young, heartthrob actor giddily talking about his films (like in the TODAY interview from 1998), to a more mature, relaxed mentor personality. A significant change is how a grown up Pitt clearly prefers to talk about other people's success, in this case Adam Sandler's, than his own fame and films.

Friends Cameo

201581579 — 2023-11-08 15:44:22 UTC

Brad Pitt as Will Colbert in Friends Season 8, Ep. 9

Funnily enough, Pitt's character hates Rachel (played by Aniston).

“This for my kids, who color everything I do. I adore you!''

201581579 — 2023-11-08 16:00:54 UTC

Brad Pitt thanks his kids in his Oscar acceptance speech for Once Upon A Time In Hollywood in 2020.

former Hollywood's It couple is still much talked about in social media now

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“Yeah that's beautiful!''

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Pitt as proud father when asked about his daughter, Zahara, deciding to go to college.

Symbiosis between public and celebrity

201581579 — 2023-11-08 16:35:22 UTC

Interviews like these depict perfectly what Turner describes as a constant back and forth of the fans needing access to a celebrity's life and a celebrity needing the fan's interest for keeping their status (2007, p. 38)

“Domestic Bliss: Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt at Home'' by W Magazine

201581579 — 2023-11-08 16:41:23 UTC

This article shows the ambiguity gossip publications try to achieve. Stories should be a commodity and paint stars as “spectacular and exorbiant’’, while at the same time help “[construct] the celebrities' everydayness - their similarity to us’’ (Turner, 2007, p. 44)

"The Power of Brad and Angelina's Co-Brand"

201581579 — 2023-11-09 12:25:52 UTC

In the context of 2010's falsely rumored split of the Hollywood It couple, Fast Company magazine writes about Brangelina's function as co-brand and compares it Nike & Apple, as well as Aston Martin & Nokia partnerships

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)

201581579 — 2023-11-09 12:33:47 UTC

In addition to receiving multiple Academy Awards nominations and wins, Pitt's character in this film reflected his star persona after becoming a father, even if so in a wildly different context. Moreover, it once again connected the actor to the Romantic archetype previously explained.

Burn After reading (2008)

201581579 — 2023-11-09 12:38:23 UTC

Differently to many other role, Pitt plays an eccentric fitness trainer finding himself in various comical situations throughout the movie.

Moneyball (2011)

201581579 — 2023-11-09 12:40:50 UTC

Brad Pitt's character Billy Beane, Oakland Athletics manager, "riffs on the nature of crashing" (Schaberg, 2014, p. 42)

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)

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For his role, Cliff Booth, Pitt won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Taking step away from usual Romantic Hero characters

201581579 — 2023-11-09 12:59:55 UTC

Both in Fight Club (1999) and Burn After Reading (2008), as well as in Moneyabll (2011), Pitt strays away from his established hero characterisation. This is especially visible in Fight Club, as his entire part is based on breaking down the Narrator's stability in life.

Living a more private life after divorce

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Split in 2016 but pronounced legally single in April 2019

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extensive GQ article

201581579 — 2023-11-09 13:03:12 UTC

"He’s trying to think carefully about what’s ahead, about the path that he wants to chart for the final stages of an abundantly creative career". A big part of that is working as a film producer behind the camera rather than acting in front of it.

Star & Character

201581579 — 2023-11-09 14:23:56 UTC

As Shingler describes it: “the star is incarnated in the characters of his or her films but also transcends them’’ 2012, p. 122

Pitt allegedly abusing former wife and kids

201581579 — 2023-11-09 14:37:28 UTC

Jolie fights Pitt's lawsuit with a cross complaint. The described incident supposedly is what caused Jolie to file for divorce shortly after.

Jolie sells her share for together bought winery in 2021

201581579 — 2023-11-09 14:42:39 UTC

According to Pitt, his former wife sold their shared Château Miraval winery illegally and vindictively. As this headline shows, press leans toward siding with Brad Pitt in this lawsuit.

Divorced in 2005

201581579 — 2023-11-09 14:46:50 UTC

"This decision is the result of much thoughtful consideration. We happily remain committed and caring friends with great love and admiration for one another." The couple gets divorced shortly after rumors about Brangelina appear in the media.

"Born like a phoenix from the ashes of Brad and Jennifer Aniston’s world-rocking break up"

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The Standard Magazine, Edmonds & Mussen, 2023

"We know him as a legendary leading man, a Hollywood power broker, maybe the greatest heartthrob of all time. But Brad Pitt isn’t attached to any of those old conceptions. [...] His ambitions for the rest of his life are more mystical than we ever could have imagined"

201581579 — 2023-11-09 15:34:46 UTC

Cameo in Deadpool 2 (2018)

201581579 — 2023-11-09 15:50:06 UTC

Unlike other celebrities, Pitt did not want to get paid for this small role, the only thing he asked for in return was a single cup of coffee.

Pitt named in Elle Magazine's "30 Sober Celebrities" in October 2023

201581579 — 2023-11-09 15:55:03 UTC

Ad Astra (2019)

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With this dramatic role, Brad Pitt focusses on creative expression of his character, Rob McBride.

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Spending time in a friend's sculpting studio

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While taking a step back from public appearances and shooting films, Pitt has nurtured his inner creative side

Pitt on identifying with his character Cliff Booth

201581579 — 2023-11-09 17:36:07 UTC

"A guy who was pretty at peace with his place in life. Knew what he was dedicated to do, what he was not dedicated to do; looked for the best in people, but was not surprised to get the worst in people... I could relate to that" he said in a W Magazine in 2020.

With age, Pitt remains charming, but, without losing passion for films and arts, has become more relaxed in life.

201581579 — 2023-11-09 17:38:34 UTC

Pitt states he enjoys doing less press nowadays with streaming services existing, than before they were as big a part of the entertainment industry as now.

201581579 — 2023-11-09 18:29:13 UTC

Golden Boy image has become fixated enough at this point in Pitt's career, that accusations weren't as much a scandal as they might have been for someone with a less established image

201581579 — 2023-11-09 18:32:12 UTC

Angelina Jolie & Jennifer Aniston were portrayed worse in media and press in the years of divorce than Brad Pitt.

201581579 — 2023-11-09 18:33:02 UTC

"And yet the enterprise known as Brad Pitt inexorably carries on"

201581579 — 2023-11-09 18:40:42 UTC

Pitt's alcoholism and other addictions are depicted as a challenge he had to face to become a better version of himself, rather than a career-shattering scandal.

Pitt opening his own recording studio in France

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Make It Right Foundation

201581579 — 2023-11-09 19:20:34 UTC

The charity organisation was founded by Brad Pitt in 2007 to help rebuild houses destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans two years earlier. However, only a few years later, residents have started filing lawsuits due to uninhabitable conditions increasing in the properties.

“Our porch, the wood is rotten. We have a hole in the porch. The railing came apart. Right now we have problems with the light switches. It's just coming apart,” a resident explained to Architectural Digest in 2019

“Angelina Jolie seduced Brad Pitt with sexy trick before Jen Aniston divorce''

201581579 — 2023-11-10 10:24:49 UTC

Mr. & Mrs. Smith: “The film that eventually derailed the hottest couple in Hollywood''.

In the press, especially visible in this Mirror article, Jolie gets blamed for breaking up Hollywood's golden couple, Pitt and Aniston.

Since Pitt's image and its stability is a brand itself, the actor has participated in fewer brand endorsements than other celebrities.

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Fits into Redmond's type of the “achieved celebrity'' (2914, p. 6)

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This category “derives from the perceived accomplishments of the individual in open competition'' (Rojek, 2001, p. 18)