Feminist Film Theory

by Thornham, Sue

• ISBN13: 9780814782446
• ISBN10: 0814782442
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-04-01
• Publisher: NEW YORK UNIVERSITY PRESS
• More Book Details

About This Book

Feminist Film Theory: A Reader

ISBN: 9780814782446

Feminist Film Theory: A Reader is a comprehensive anthology that maps the major developments and debates in feminist film theory. This book has been a vital resource for scholars and students in the field of film studies for over two decades. It brings together key, classic essays in feminist film theory, providing a detailed exploration of the impact of major theoretical developments on this growing field.

Who Uses It?

Primarily, this book is used by students and instructors in film studies courses at the college and university levels. It's also a valuable resource for anyone interested in understanding the foundational principles of feminist film theory, including professionals looking to expand their knowledge or engage in critical discussions about representation and identity in cinema.

History and Editions

First published in April 1999 by New York University Press, Feminist Film Theory: A Reader has been a cornerstone in the field of feminist film studies. The book covers a wide range of topics, including oppressive images, "woman" as fetishized object of desire, female spectatorship, and the cinematic pleasures of black women and lesbian women. It reflects the evolution of feminist debates over the past twenty-five years, from structuralism and psychoanalysis in the 1970s to post-colonial theory, queer theory, and postmodernism in the 1990s.

Author and Other Works

Sue Thornham is the editor of Feminist Film Theory: A Reader. Sue Thornham is known for her contributions to feminist film theory and her ability to curate a diverse collection of essays that reflect the complexity and richness of feminist debates in cinema. While this specific book is her most notable work in this anthology format, her contributions to the field have been widely recognized and respected.

Key Features

• Comprehensive Coverage: The book covers core concepts in feminist film theory, including detailed explanations and examples.
• Diverse Perspectives: It reflects a wide range of feminist perspectives, from structuralism to postmodernism.
• Classic Essays: It brings together key, classic essays in feminist film theory.
• Historical Context: It provides a historical context for understanding the evolution of feminist debates over the past twenty-five years.

Detailed Information

ISBNs and Formats

• Hardcover: ISBN-13: 9780814782446
• eTextbook: ISBN-13: 9780814782446 (Note: While specific e-book formats may vary, this ISBN is commonly associated with digital versions)
• Paperback: ISBN-13: 9780814782446 (Note: This format is also widely available)

Publication Details

• Publisher: New York University Press
• Publication Date: April 1999
• Number of Pages: 361
• Language: English

Other Editions and Formats

While there are no other editions specifically listed, the original publication date and ISBN have been widely used across various formats.

Related ISBNs:

• Softcover: ISBN-13: 9780814782446
• Paperback: ISBN-13: 9780814782446

This detailed information section provides a quick reference for all the available formats and sources for Feminist Film Theory: A Reader, making it easier to find and access the book in the preferred format.

Table of Contents

Introduction	1	(7)
Part I: Taking up the Struggle	7	(44)
Introduction	9	(5)
`The Image of Women in Film: Some Suggestions for Future Research'	14	(6)
Sharon Smith
`The Woman's Film'	20	(11)
Molly Haskell
`Women's Cinema as Counter-Cinema'	31	(10)
Claire Johnston
`The Crisis of Naming in Feminist Film Criticism'	41	(10)
B. Ruby Rich
Further Reading	48	(3)
Part II: The Language of Theory	51	(58)
Introduction	53	(5)
`Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema'	58	(12)
Laura Mulvey
`Caught and Rebecca: The Inscription of Femininity as Absence'	70	(13)
Mary Ann Doane
`Oedipus Interruptus'	83	(14)
Teresa de Lauretis
`Lost Objects and Mistaken Subjects'	97	(12)
Kaja Silverman
Further Reading	106	(3)
Part III: The Female Spectator	109	(50)
Introduction	111	(4)
`Women and Film: A Discussion of Feminist Aesthetics'	115	(7)
Michelle Citron
Julia Lesage
Judith Mayne
B. Ruby Rich
Anna Marie Taylor
`Afterthoughts on ``Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema'' inspired by King Vidor's Duel in the Sun (1946)'	122	(9)
Laura Mulvey
`Film and the Masquerade: Theorising the Female Spectator'	131	(15)
Mary Ann Doane
`Women's Genres: Melodrama, Soap Opera and Theory'	146	(13)
Annette Kuhn
Further Reading	157	(2)
Part IV: Textual Negotiations	159	(68)
Introduction	161	(5)
`Pleasurable Negotiations'	166	(14)
Christine Gledhill
`Video Replay: Families, Films and Fantasy'	180	(16)
Valerie Walkerdine
`Feminine Fascinations: Forms of Identification in Star-Audience Relations'	196	(14)
Jackie Stacey
`Taboos and Totems: Cultural Meanings of The Silence of the Lambs'	210	(17)
Janet Staiger
Further Reading	224	(3)
Part V: Fantasy, Horror and the Body	227	(58)
Introduction	229	(5)
`Her Body, Himself: Gender in the Slasher Film'	234	(17)
Carol J. Clover
`Horror and the Monstrous-Feminine: An Imaginary Abjection'	251	(16)
Barbara Creed
`Film Bodies: Gender, Genre and Excess'	267	(18)
Linda Williams
Further Reading	282	(3)
Part VI: Re-thinking Differences	285	(68)
Introduction	287	(6)
`White Privilege and Looking Relations: Race and Gender in Feminist Film Theory'	293	(14)
Jane Gaines
`The Oppositional Gaze: Black Female Spectators'	307	(14)
bell hooks
`Cinema and the Dark Continent: Race and Gender in Popular Film'	321	(15)
Tania Modleski
`Gender is Burning: Questions of Appropriation and Subversion'	336	(17)
Judith Butler
Further Reading	350	(3)
Copyright Acknowledgements	353	(2)
Index	355