Customer Reviews

Images in the Dark: An Encyclopedia of Gay and Lesbian Film and Video

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is wonderful. It is filled with over 3,00 films and videos. I found movies that i had forgot about in this book. The book is filled with Directors, Themes, Stars, and photos. I would recommend it to EVERYONE. I will have to say though, most rescent titles arent included. It was published in 1996 .

I agree with the reviewer who stated that this book needs to be updated. As the other reviewer noted, the book was published in 1996, which makes it a very dated. Regardless, that does not diminish the usefulness of the book in any way.
The book is broken up into chapter sections and then listed in alphabetical order. You may want to get tabs for the individual sections in order to make it easier to locate what you are looking for specifically. For instance, if you are looking for gay directors, it is the first chapter in the book. However films of "Gay Male Interest" begin on page 375. By putting tabs in the book, it makes it a much quicker reference guide.
Each film has a small blurb discussing what the film is about and how it relates to the LGBTQ community. Not all of the films in the book are gay or lesbian but it may have a gay or lesbian, etc. character, theme, or whatever in it that contributes to the study of the sub-cultural genre. The reviews also tell whether the LGBTQ portrayals are positive or negative, in most cases, which helps guide whether or not we want to see the particular film. Unfortunately, by 1996, most portrayals of Gays, Lesbians, etc. were negative portrayals, with notable exceptions. This was a period where cinematic perspectives about the LGBTQ community was only beginning to change. That is something to keep in mind when considering many of these films.
All in all, the book is wonderful and a great reference for the film buff, film student, auteur or anyone interested in the art form to refer to. The book is great for LGBTQ studies.
As previously noted, the only downfall for the book is that it has not been updated in 15 years. That is the only limitation of the book. Otherwise, the reviews are clear and concise. It is worth purchasing this book and keeping it near your film library.
4.5/5 stars

My only regret is that this book has not been updated in years. We need a new edition.