America on Film: Representing Race, Class, Gender,and Sexuality at the Movies [Paperback]

Harry M. Benshoff (Author), Sean Griffin (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0631225838 | ISBN-13: 978-0631225836 | Publication Date: October 20, 2003 | Edition: New edition

America on Film: Representing Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality in the Movies is a lively introduction to issues of diversity as represented within the American cinema.

• Introduces issues of diversity as represented within the American cinema in a lively and accessible manner.
  
• Provides a comprehensive overview of the industrial, socio-cultural, and aesthetic factors that contribute to cinematic representations of race, class, gender, and sexuality.
  
• Is designed specifically for students and includes 101 illustrations, a glossary of key terms, questions for discussion, and lists for futher reading and further viewing.
  
• Includes case studies of a number of films, including The Lion King, The Jazz Singer, Smoke Signals, The Grapes of Wrath, and The Celluloid Closet.
  
• Each chapter features a concise overview of the topic at hand, a discussion of representative films, figures, and movements, and an in-depth analysis of a single film.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Although referring to race, class, and gender has been commonplace in film studies for some time, remarkably this excellent textbook is the first to give a full, comprehensive account of these important issues. Benshoff and Griffin write in a clear style and illustrate all their major points with case studies of films. Their work is up-to-date and historically informed. A broad range of topics includes heterosexual and queer perspectives, masculinity and femininity, Whiteness, Native Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans, and Latinos. Highly recommended." Peter Lehman, Arizona State University

"With W. E. B. DuBois’s twentieth-century ‘color line’ now morphing into the twenty-first-century ‘difference line’, America on Film becomes particularly relevant in its comprehensive exploration of the new cinematic horizon. This outstanding volume is necessary and compelling reading for all – from scholar, to student, to movie fan – who want to understand the politics of representation in the age of ‘difference’." Ed Guerrero, New York University

“The authors do a remarkable job at presenting contexts for identifying and tracking the historical constructions of race, gender, class and sexuality.” Scope Journal

Book Description

America on Film: Representing Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality in the Movies is a lively introduction to issues of diversity as represented within the American cinema. The first synthetic and historical text of its kind, America on Film provides a comprehensive overview of the industrial, socio-cultural, and aesthetic factors that contribute to cinematic representations of race, class, gender, and sexuality. The volume chronicles the cinematic history of various cultural groups, examines forces and institutions of bias, and stimulates discussion about the relationship between film and American national culture.Accessible and user-friendly, America on Film features 101 illustrations, a glossary of key terms, questions for discussion, and lists for further reading and further viewing. The book is organized within a broad historical framework, with specific theoretical concepts including film genre, auteurism, cultural studies, Orientalism, the male gaze, feminism, and queer theory integrated throughout. Each individual chapter features a concise overview of the topic at hand, a discussion of representative films, figures, and movements, and an in-depth analysis of a single film, including The Lion King, The Jazz Singer, Smoke Signals, The Grapes of Wrath, and The Celluloid Closet.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 392 pages
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell; New edition edition (October 20, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0631225838
• ISBN-13: 978-0631225836
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #166,160 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing considering the subject matter., September 28, 2008

By 

missmeamea "musicseeker" (Annapolis, Moldova, Republic of) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: America on Film: Representing Race, Class, Gender,and Sexuality at the Movies (Paperback)

I would like this book more if the authors had been more thorough. The theories about socio-political trends reflected in cinema are very valid but provided without citation. Although "further reading" suggestions are provided at the end of each chapter, no specific citations are made for any of the statements. As a book aimed towards students, the authors are providing a poor example.

I realize that the book is geared towards introductory level students, but it could have been a much different and frankly more interesting book if it had just gone further and been a little less sloppy. For example, one statement that immediately bothered me was one that was used as the basis throughout the book. "For the working purposes of this introduction, capitalism as an ideology can be defined as the belief that success and worth are measured by one's material wealth." (Introduction, page 9) Why? Who says? Isn't that actually materialism, not capitalism? Definition of materialism by The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: "2. The theory or attitude that physical well-being and worldly possessions constitute the greatest good and highest value in life." Sure, the author is talking about ideology and the tendency of capitalism to promote commodity fetishism. Why not just directly quote Das Kapital by Karl Marx? His model of dominant ideologies (see Wikipedia entry http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominant_ideology for a summary) are exactly what the authors use to explore their subject matter and yet they don't SAY that. In "further reading", one book suggested is "Marxism and Literature", so fine, the reader could theoretically gain the same knowledge there, but it's bad academic form to make sweeping statements without any kind of evidence. It also denies the student a richer learning experience and leads to the practice of "parroting" commonly held views without knowing the truth behind them.

And as far as cultural reform goes, it's doing anti-discrimination and equal rights causes a disservice because if they don't provide evidence and sound logic in a scholarly manner, people of opposing viewpoints can discredit their arguments as typical liberal speculation. Thus their very valid criticisms of Hollywood films hold less weight.

This book could have been a major work, had the authors developed it further and used a more academic approach. I guess it's fine as an introductory text, but even so it still should have used a bibliography.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Full of Great Information!, February 24, 2010

By 

ivory (California, USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: America on Film: Representing Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality at the Movies, Second Edition (Paperback)

This book is full of great information about film and it's history but not in a dated way. There are a ton of case studies of various types of films new and old that help shed some light on the film and get you thinking about it more deeply and not just as entertainment or "I liked or didn't like it". I think the case studeis are the parts I like best and the glossary and index and very easy to read. There are a lot of good pictures of celebrities and scenes from films in the book and many are from the authors own personal collection. The authors explain the new terms clearly and the information is very revelent to anyone who has anything to do with the media. Be it you love watching movies, are a film major, or a culture buff. It's a good read for anyone doesn't seem like a typical textbook. I will be keeping it! America on Film: Representing Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality at the Movies, Second Edition

3.0 out of 5 stars A Baseline for Something Far Better, November 21, 2010

By 

Hermin Hollerith, Maker of Tacky Wreaths in t... (Ann Arbor, MI and Generally Man of the World) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

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This review is from: America on Film: Representing Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality at the Movies, Second Edition (Paperback)

This book seems most relevant when viewed as a sociology text than as a film text. The authors provide many good examples of films where images of race, class and gender are portrayed in support of what the authors call the "dominant ideology". They are very critical of Hollywood, taking the film industry to task for the many ways it has irresponsibly and carelessly used its power in film as well as the way it treated actors and employees.

However, this isn't a particularly enjoyable book to read. The book is from the viewpoint of the authors and few references cited as external support. There's a seemingly endless supply of example films, but no discussion with actual directors, writers or actors. What is *their* opinion and experiences? You know, the people who worked for these bloodsucking, sexist, racist and abusive studios? Furthermore, while I don't have a problem with using Sigmund Freud's work in either a crediting or discrediting role (the book does both), I would much rather see analysis from contemporary researchers and professionals. Citing Freud when applicable to films or views in his time is appropriate; citing him for a modern or clinical definition of fetishization seems inappropriate considering Freud's reputation for being occasionally wrong, nuts, or both.

With a little less dryness, fresher approaches and more supporting examples, this could be an outstanding work. As it stands right now, it's more like a highly polished version of someone's thesis.