Throughout this site, I will be exploring how child actors during the early 20th century were used as performative tools for media, companies, and the US government. For many, their position as ‘perfect children’ had negative effects on physical and mental health, but their positions as figureheads for public campaigns placed them within a cycle that continuously used their image and talent as tools for control. This control was exercised to create both geographical hegemony and to cement gender roles that are still expected in our society today. I will explore this concept through literature review, data analysis, and a deeper look at the lives of two specific child actors from this era, Shirley Temple and Jackie Coogan.

Children of Hollywood: The Creation of the Perfect Youth

Introduction|Literature Review|Data Analysis|Timelines|Conclusion|Sources