Sign-In
Cart
Framing Monsters: Fantasy Film and Social Alienation
Paperback
Currently unavailable to order
Please enter your email and a message will be sent to you when this product becomes available on our website.
ISBN13: 9780809326242
Publisher: Southern Illinois Univ Pr
Published: Mar 10 2005
Pages: 256
Weight: 0.78
Height: 0.62 Width: 5.74 Depth: 9.02
Language: English
The canon of popular cinema has long been rife with fantastic tales, yet critical studies have too often expediently mixed the fantasy genre with its kindred science fiction and horror films or dismissed it altogether as escapist fare. Framing Monsters: Fantasy Film and Social Alienation reconsiders the cultural significance of this storytelling mode by investigating how films seemingly divorced from reality and presented in a context of timelessness are, in fact, encoded with the social practices and beliefs of their era of production.
Situating representative fantasy films within their cultural moments, Joshua David Bellin illustrates how fantastic visions of monstrous others seek to propagate negative stereotypes of despised groups and support invidious hierarchies of social control. In constructing such an argument, Framing Monsters not only contests dismissive attitudes toward fantasy but also challenges the psychoanalytic criticism that has thus far dominated its limited critical study.
Beginning with celebrated classics, Bellin locates King Kong (1933) within the era of lynching to evince how the film protects whiteness against supposed aggressions of a black predator and reviews The Wizard of Oz (1939) as a product of the Depression's economic anxieties. From there, the study moves to the cult classic animated Sinbad Trilogy (1958-1977) of Ray Harryhausen, films rampant with xenophobic fears of the Middle East as relevant today as when the series was originally produced.
Advancing to more recent subjects, Bellin focuses on the image of the monstrous woman and the threat of reproductive freedom found in Aliens (1986), Jurassic Park (1993), and Species (1995) and on depictions of the mentally ill as dangerous deviants in 12 Monkeys (1996) and The Cell (2000). An investigation into physical freakishness guides his approach to Edward Scissorhands (1990) and Beauty and the Beast (1991). He concludes with a discussion of X-Men (2000) and Lord of the Rings (2001-2003), commercial giants that extend a recent trend toward critical self-reflection within the genre while still participating in the continuity of social alienation.
Written to enhance rather than undermine our understanding of fantastic cinema, Framing Monsters invites filmmakers, critics, and fans alike to reassess this tremendously popular and influential film type and the monsters that populate it.
Also in
Film Studies
Visions of Japanese Modernity: Articulations of Cinema, Nation, and Spectatorship, 1895-1925
Gerow, Aaron
Paperback
Dreaming of Cinema: Spectatorship, Surrealism, and the Age of Digital Media
Lowenstein, Adam
Paperback
Ancient Rome at the Cinema: Story and Spectacle in Hollywood and Rome
Theodorakopoulos, Elena
Paperback
What Have They Built You to Do?: The Manchurian Candidate and Cold War America
Gonzalez, Gaspar
Jacobson, Matthew Frye
Paperback
The Man Who Invented Motion Pictures: A True Life Murder Mystery from the Birth of the Movies
Paul Fischer
Paperback
Anime from Akira to Princess Mononoke: Experiencing Contemporary Japanese Animation
Napier, S.
Paperback
The Last Kings of Hollywood: Coppola, Lucas, Spielberg--And the Battle for the Soul of American Cinema
Fischer, Paul
Hardcover
Zen and Ghibli: Life Lessons for Lasting Happiness from the Legendary Studio
Suzuki, Toshio
Hardcover
Scream with Me: Horror Films and the Rise of American Feminism (1968-1980)
Johnson, Eleanor
Hardcover
Funny Business: The Old-School Wedding Crashers and Knocked-Up Virgins Who Changed Comedy Forever
Singer, Matt
Hardcover
There and Back Again: The Unofficial Oral History of the Lord of the Rings Films
Moore, Sam
Hardcover
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation: Station Wagon and Griswold Family Tree: With Sound!
Running Press
Paperback
Partially Devoured: How Night of the Living Dead Saved My Life and Changed the World
Kraus, Daniel
Hardcover
Hollywood Babylon: The Legendary Underground Classic of Hollywood's Darkest and Best Kept Secrets
Anger, Kenneth
Paperback
Star Wars Dad Jokes Strike Back: The Best Worst Jokes and Puns from a Galaxy Far, Far Away. . . .
Knox, Kelly
Hardcover
Laika: The Magic Behind a Stop-Motion Dream Factory: Two Decades of Groundbreaking Animation from Coraline to Wildwood
Inguanzo, Ozzy
Hardcover
Every Time a Bell Rings: The Legacy of It's a Wonderful Life, America's Most Beloved Holiday Film
Theisen, Lauren
St James, Emily
Hardcover
Disney: Winnie the Pooh: The Hundred-Acre Wood Cookbook: Family-Friendly Recipes Featuring Eeyore, Kanga, Roo, Tigger, Rabbit, Piglet, Owl, and Most o
Asmus, James
Jao, Vivian
Tarpy, Liz
Hardcover
The World of Black Film: A Journey Through Cinematic Blackness in 100 Films with a Foreword by John Akomfrah
Clark, Ashley
Hardcover
Studio Ghibli Origami: Unofficial Papercraft Projects to Create Totoro, Ponyo, Jiji, and More!
Editions, Insight
Paperback
Dog's Day: The True Story of a Bank Robbery, Gay Liberation, and Toxic Love That Inspired a Hollywood Classic
Prigge, Matthew J.
Hardcover
Do What You're Gonna Do: The Definitive Oral History of Breaking Bad
Layden, Joe
Norris, Dean
Hardcover
Disney Dreams Collection Thomas Kinkade Studios Disney Princess Coloring Book
Kinkade, Thomas
Paperback
House of Psychotic Women: Expanded Edition: An Autobiographical Topography of Female Neurosis in Horror and Exploitation Films
Janisse, Kier-La
Paperback
Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Official Cookbook: Recipes from the Four Nations
Dorsey, Jenny
Hardcover
Your Favorite Scary Movie: How the Scream Films Rewrote the Rules of Horror
Cullins, Ashley
Paperback
Marvel Studios: The Official Cookbook: Recipes Inspired by the Marvel Cinematic Universe
Bende, S. T.
Aki, Evi
Fujikawa, Jenn
Hardcover
Disney Princess Cookie Party: 50+ Family-Friendly Recipes Inspired by Your Favorite Disney Princesses
Walker Caron, Sarah
Hardcover
Godzilla: The First 70 Years: The Official Illustrated History of the Japanese Productions
Godziszewski, Ed
Ryfle, Steve
Hardcover
Nightmare Before Christmas: The Tiny Book of Jack Skellington
Insight Editions
Vitale, Brooke
Hardcover
Future Boy: Back to the Future and My Journey Through the Space-Time Continuum
Fortenberry, Nelle
Fox, Michael J.
Hardcover
The Girl Who Would Be Marilyn Monroe: An Intimate Portrait of the Young Norma Jeane
Castro, Tony
Hardcover
Godzilla: The Encyclopedia: Shinji Nishikawa Unravels the Depths of Godzilla
Nishikawa Shinji
Paperback
Black Film: A History of Black Representation and Participation in the Movies
Walker, David F.
Hardcover
The K-Pop Kitchen: Korean Recipes and Idol Fun Facts for Fans of Kpop Demon Hunters, Blackpink, Bts, and More
Cho, Jasmine M.
Hardcover
The Magic of Minalima: Celebrating the Graphic Design Studio Behind the Harry Potter & Fantastic Beasts Films
Denton, Nell
Minalima
Hardcover
Men, Women, and Chain Saws: Gender in the Modern Horror Film - Updated Edition
Clover, Carol J.
Paperback
The Greatest Original Film Scores: An Illustrated History of the Music of Movies
Jousse, Thierry
Hardcover
Lucas Wars: The True Story of George Lucas and the Creation of Star Wars
Hopman, Laurent
Roche, Renaud
Hardcover
Disney Moana: The Official Cookbook: Pacific Recipes Inspired by Motunui
Fiso, Monique
Monteith, Katie
Hardcover
As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of the Princess Bride
Layden, Joe
Elwes, Cary
Paperback
Star Wars Dad Jokes: The Best Worst Jokes and Puns from a Galaxy Far, Far Away . . . .
Knox, Kelly
Hardcover
Jim Henson's Labyrinth: Bestiary: A Definitive Guide to the Creatures of the Goblin King's Realm
Bende, S. T.
Hardcover
Star Wars Encyclopedia: The Comprehensive Guide to the Star Wars Galaxy
Brooks, Dan
Crouse, Megan
Richau, Amy
Hardcover
Disney the Wonderful Worlds of Disney: The Scenic Art of Walt Disney Animation Studios
Ghez, Didier
Hardcover
Brain Games - Horror Movies Word Search Puzzles: Do You Dare to Solve These 84 Puzzles?
Publications International Ltd
Brain Games
Paperback
Star Wars Vader's Little Princess: (Star Wars Kids Book, Star Wars Children's Book, Geek Dad Books)
Brown, Jeffrey
Hardcover
Harry Potter: Make Your Own Chocolate Frogs: Silicone Chocolate Mold and Gift Box Set
Insight Editions
Paperback
Studio Ghibli Bento Cookbook: Unofficial Recipes Inspired by Spirited Away, Ponyo, and More!
Rossi, Barbara
Azuki
Hardcover
Roddy McDowall: An Actor's Life -- From How Green Was My Valley to Lassie to Planet of the Apes
Garza Bernstein, Samuel
Hardcover
Directing Actors - 25th Anniversary Edition: Creating Memorable Performances for Film and Television
Weston, Judith
Paperback
The Secret Hitchcock: How Hollywood's Legendary Director Lived Through Cary Grant and James Stewart
Segaloff, Nat
Hardcover
Star Wars: The Mini Book of Lightsabers: (Lightsaber Collection, Lightsaber Guide, Gifts for Star Wars Fans)
Insight Editions
Hardcover