: A study hosted by James Madison University focuses specifically on how the 2021 version updates the portrayal of Puerto Rican characters and women compared to the 1961 original.
: This extensive essay from the Boston Review debates whether the film should have been more radically reimagined and what its existence says about modern cultural controversies. West Side Story(2021)
: Available on ResearchGate , this paper challenges the creators' claims that the remake provides a more "ethnically sensitive" and "progressive" reimagining. It analyzes the film through the lens of modern Hollywood's attempts to add deeper historical significance to legacy projects. : A study hosted by James Madison University
: A document on Scribd provides a detailed cinematic breakdown of specific scenes, such as the fight sequence, analyzing the use of props, lighting, and makeup to convey themes of cultural tension and violence. Critical Essays and Cultural Reviews It analyzes the film through the lens of
: Writing for Domus , critics analyze how the 2021 film introduces a political backstory centered on the literal demolition of New York neighborhoods, framing the Jets vs. Sharks conflict as a "war between the poor" in the shadow of rising gentrification.
