Cindy Herrmann 
Escapism and Nostalgia in the Film Musical 
The Case of ‘Mamma Mia!’

Bachelor Thesis from the year 2017 in the subject Musicology — Miscellaneous, grade: 2, 7, Technical University of Braunschweig (Anglistik und Amerikanistik), language: English, abstract: The research paper offers the following question: Is the film musical Mamma Mia! an example for a nostalgic, escaping desire to relive the era of ABBA the band and its music or can the film be seen as a work of art detached from the band?

To answer this question, first of all, the film musical as a term will be introduced and considered with regards to the evolution in pop context. Afterwards, signifying features of film musicals will be defined. In this context, the terminologies escapism, nostalgia, and participation are exposed. Then, the band ABBA and its factors of success will be regarded in terms of their motives to produce a film musical. What kind of signs of a relation between ABBA and the film musical “Mamma Mia!” can be examined?

Finally, the film musical “Mamma Mia!” will be analyzed in relation to escapism, nostalgia and participation. At the very end, a prospect of ABBA’s presence in the future will be given.