Author: Martha McCaughey Publisher: University of Texas Press ISBN: 0292778376 Category : Performing Arts Languages : en Pages : 291
Book Description
When Thelma and Louise outfought the men who had tormented them, women across America discovered what male fans of action movies have long known—the empowering rush of movie violence. Yet the duo's escapades also provoked censure across a wide range of viewers, from conservatives who felt threatened by the up-ending of women's traditional roles to feminists who saw the pair's use of male-style violence as yet another instance of women's co-option by the patriarchy. In the first book-length study of violent women in movies, Reel Knockouts makes feminist sense of violent women in films from Hollywood to Hong Kong, from top-grossing to direct-to-video, and from cop-action movies to X-rated skin flicks. Contributors from a variety of disciplines analyze violent women's respective places in the history of cinema, in the lives of viewers, and in the feminist response to male violence against women. The essays in part one, "Genre Films," turn to film cycles in which violent women have routinely appeared. The essays in part two, "New Bonds and New Communities," analyze movies singly or in pairs to determine how women's movie brutality fosters solidarity amongst the characters or their audiences. All of the contributions look at films not simply in terms of whether they properly represent women or feminist principles, but also as texts with social contexts and possible uses in the re-construction of masculinity and femininity.
Author: Yvonne Tasker Publisher: Routledge ISBN: 1134564945 Category : Performing Arts Languages : en Pages : 431
Book Description
Addressing areas such as genre, film history and style, action and spectacle, stars and bodies, action auteurs and the film industry, the reader covers both Hollywood and also European and Asian action cinema.
Author: Zsófia Anna Toth Publisher: Cambridge Scholars Publishing ISBN: 1443832294 Category : Performing Arts Languages : en Pages : 290
Book Description
This book explores the different trends and the various changes in the representational history of femmes fatales within twentieth century American culture. While providing precedents, discussing the Western cultural history of this iconic female figure, as well as presenting the cultural and theoretical debates surrounding ‘her,’ the major focus lies in Maurine Dallas Watkins’s story entitled Chicago and how its diachronic and transmedial revivals contributed to this debate and what kind of an interpretation it provided of the lethal woman. Through a cultural, historical, literary and cinematic excavation this book argues that the story of Chicago produces a unique kind of deathly woman figure: the farcical femme fatale by combining the traditionally tragic aspects with comic modes of discourse and (re)presentation. In addition to the theorization of the femme fatale within Western culture, the discussion of the comic as well as various comic genres and comic strategies of representation, Mikhail Bakhtin’s theory of the carnival and the carnivalesque is discussed in great detail – with an emphasis on scapegoating – as well as Judith Butler’s concept of gender performativity and Joan Riviere’s womanly masquerade in order to understand how the farcical femmes fatales of Chicago manage to get away with their sins and crimes. Additionally, the Vice of sixteenth century drama as well as the figure of the homme fatale are also taken under scrutiny since it is argued that, in the various versions of Chicago, we encounter farcical femmes fatales who are the minions of a modern(ized) Vice figure, and all their comic-grotesque performances and masquerades take place in the heterotopic space of the carnival. While also examining their historical and cultural contexts, the different versions of Chicago are investigated one by one starting from the original Chicago Tribune articles and ending in the 2002 film adaptation. This book reveals what strategies can be employed to justify the modification of the traditionally tragic scenario of the femme fatale. It is a scholarly work that is informative, thorough as well as entertaining.
Author: Katherine Dashper Publisher: Routledge ISBN: 131775140X Category : Languages : en Pages : 209
Book Description
Despite the mythology of sport bringing people together and encouraging everyone to work collectively to success, modern sport remains a site of exclusionary practices that operate on a number of levels. Although sports participation is, in some cases at least, becoming more open and meritocratic, at the management level it remains very homogenous; dominated by western, white, middle-aged, able-bodied men. This has implications both for how sport develops and how it is experienced by different participant groups, across all levels. Critical studies of sport have revealed that, rather than being a passive mechanism and merely reflecting inequality, sport, via social agents’ interactions with sporting spaces, is actively involved in producing, reproducing, sustaining and indeed, resisting, various manifestations of inequality. The experiences of marginalised groups can act as a resource for explaining contemporary political struggles over what sport means, how it should be played (and by whom), and its place within wider society. Central to this collection is the argument that the dynamics of cultural identities are contextually contingent; influenced heavily by time and place and the extent to which they are embedded in the culture of their geographic location. They also come to function differently within certain sites and institutions; be it in one’s everyday routine or leisure pursuits, such as sport. Among the themes and issues explored by the contributors to this volume are: social inclusion and exclusion in relation to class, ‘race’ and ethnicity, gender and sexuality; social identities and authenticity; social policy, deviance and fandom. This book was published as a special issue of Sport in Society.
Author: Luke White Publisher: Reaktion Books ISBN: 1789145341 Category : Performing Arts Languages : en Pages : 295
Book Description
From classic Bruce Lee films to the comedies of Jackie Chan, a vibrant look at the enduring fascination with the kung fu cinema of Hong Kong. In the spring and summer of 1973, a wave of martial arts movies from Hong Kong—epitomized by Bruce Lee’s Enter the Dragon—smashed box-office records for foreign-language films in America and ignited a “kung fu craze” that swept the world. Fighting without Fighting explores this dramatic phenomenon, and it argues that, more than just a cinematic fad, the West’s sudden fascination with—and moral panic about—the Asian fighting arts left lasting legacies still present today. The book traces the background of the craze in the longer development of Hong Kong’s martial arts cinema. It discusses the key films in detail, as well as their popular reception and the debates they ignited, where kung fu challenged Western identities and raised anxieties about violence, both on and off-screen. And it examines the proliferation of ideas and images from these films in fields as diverse as popular music, superhero franchises, children’s cartoons, and contemporary art. Illuminating and accessible, Fighting without Fighting draws a vivid bridge between East and West.
Author: S. Inness Publisher: Springer ISBN: 1403981248 Category : Social Science Languages : en Pages : 293
Book Description
Xena, Buffy, Lara Croft. WWF, The Sopranos, Witchblade, La Femme Nikita. The women of pop culture are center stage and as tough as ever. Action Chicks is a groundbreaking collection highlighting the heroines we've grown to worship. What can they tell us about women in the Twent-first-century? What can they tell us about how popular culture depicts women? Do the characters escape traditional gender role expectations? Or do they adhere to sexual, racial, ethnic, and class stereotypes? The essays in Action Chicks provide fans with a new look at their favourite icons and their relationship to the popular media machine. A fascinating collection that's bound to stir up some excitement.
Author: Allison P. Palumbo Publisher: McFarland ISBN: 1476677395 Category : Performing Arts Languages : en Pages : 246
Book Description
The fighting female archetype--a self-reliant woman of great physical prowess--has become increasingly common in action films and on television. However, the progressive female identities of these narratives cannot always resist the persistent and problematic framing of male-female relationships as a battle of the sexes or other source of antagonism. Combining cultural analysis with close readings of key popular American film and television texts since the 1980s, this study argues that certain fighting female themes question regressive conventions in male-female relationships. Those themes reveal potentially progressive ideologies regarding female agency in mass culture that reassure audiences of the desirability of empowered women while also imagining egalitarian intimacies that further empower women. Overall, the fighting female narratives addressed here afford contradictory viewing pleasures that reveal both new expectations for and remaining anxieties about the "strong, independent woman" ideal that emerged in American popular culture post-feminism.
Author: John C. Lyden Publisher: Routledge ISBN: 1135220654 Category : Performing Arts Languages : en Pages : 518
Book Description
The Routledge Companion to Religion and Film brings together a lively and experienced team of contributors to introduce students to the key topics in religion and film and to investigate the ways in which the exciting subject of religion and film is developing for more experienced scholars. Divided into four parts, the Companion: analyzes the history of the interaction of religion and film, through periods of censorship as well as appreciation of the medium studies religion-in-film, examining how the world’s major religions, as well as Postcolonial, Japanese and New Religions, are depicted by and within films uses diverse methodologies to explore religion and film, such as psychoanalytical, theological and feminist approaches, and audience reception analyzes religious themes in film, including Redemption, the Demonic, Jesus or Christ Figures, Heroes and Superheroes considers films as diverse as The Passion of the Christ, The Matrix, Star Wars and Groundhog Day. This definitive book provides an accessible resource to this emerging field and is an indispensable guide to religion and film for students of Religion, Film Studies, and beyond.
Author: James Bren Publisher: Gregory Groves ISBN: Category : Juvenile Nonfiction Languages : en Pages : 494
Book Description
Step into the heart of the Octagon with James Bren's comprehensive journey through "The History of the UFC - Book 2." As a follow-up to the acclaimed first volume, Bren once again takes readers on an exhilarating ride through three decades of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, capturing the essence of a sport that has transcended boundaries and become a global phenomenon. From the early days of the UFC, where pioneers tested their skills in a raw and unregulated arena, to the glitzy spectacles of sold-out arenas and global Pay-Per-View events, this book leaves no stone unturned. Bren masterfully navigates through the highs and lows, the triumphs and tribulations, documenting the evolution of mixed martial arts as told by the warriors who stepped into the cage. Relive iconic moments that shaped the UFC's narrative, from legendary title bouts to underdog stories that defy the odds. With meticulous detail, Bren delves into the stories behind every submission, knockout, and decision that echoed through the annals of UFC history. Witness the rise of fighters who became legends — from the early dominance of Royce Gracie to the era-defining presence of fighters like Georges St-Pierre, Anderson Silva, Ronda Rousey, and Conor McGregor. Explore the intricacies of the sport through the tales of grit and determination, where fighters battled not only in the cage but against personal demons and adversities. "The History of the UFC - Book 2" is not just a recollection of events; it's an immersive experience that transports readers into the heart of the action. Through Bren's vivid storytelling, the Octagon comes alive, and the resilience, courage, and indomitable spirit of the fighters shine. This book is a celebration of the UFC community, where passionate fans contribute to the energy that fuels the sport. Whether you're a seasoned fan reliving the glory days or a newcomer eager to understand the roots of the UFC, this book caters to a diverse audience. As the final bell rings on this volume, the reader is left with a profound appreciation for the UFC's impact on sports, culture, and the human spirit. James Bren's "The History of the UFC - Book 2" is not just a book; it's a testament to the enduring legacy of a sport that continues to inspire generations. Get ready for an unforgettable journey through the Octagon. The cage door is open — are you ready to step in?
Author: Martha McCaughey
Author: Hilary Neroni
Author: Yvonne Tasker
Author: Zsófia Anna Toth
Author: Katherine Dashper
Author: Luke White
Author: S. Inness
Author: Allison P. Palumbo
Author: John C. Lyden
Author: James Bren