Women Scientists In Fifties Science Fiction Films [Paperback]

Bonnie Noonan (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0786421304 | ISBN-13: 978-0786421305 | Publication Date: May 18, 2005

In the 1950s, science was rapidly advancing, and so were scientific opportunities for women. Modern science fiction films reflected these simultaneous social developments. This book proposes that the social ideology of the 1950s, which was partly concerned with gender issues, saturated the B science fiction films of that era and inspired a new appreciation for the role of women in scientific advancements and other social achievements. Drawing on feminist literary and cultural theory, the author argues that the emergence of the modern American science fiction film in 1950 and the situation of post–World War II female scientists together created a film genre. That genre was explicitly amenable to exploring the tension between a woman's place in her home and her place in the work force, particularly in scientific fields. Early chapters provide a general introduction to the science fiction genre and specifically describe 1950s B science fiction films as they resonate with concerns proper to feminist theory. Subsequent chapters offer detailed, historically situated readings of 10 B science fiction films from the 1950s that feature women in science. The cinematic representations of female scientists are compared and contrasted with real female professionals of the time, illuminating the changing gender dynamics reflected in popular film in the 1950s. Films analyzed include Rocketship X-M, It Came from Beneath the Sea, Them!, Tarantula, The Deadly Mantis, Beginning of the End, Kronos, Cat-Women of the Moon, World Without End, and Queen of Outer Space.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Bonnie Noonan is a professor of English at Xavier University of Louisiana. She lives in New Orleans.

Product Details

• Paperback: 235 pages
• Publisher: McFarland & Company (May 18, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786421304
• ISBN-13: 978-0786421305
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,649,605 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enlightening, Engrossing and Fascinating, January 18, 2006

By 

ronnie (San Francisco) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Women Scientists In Fifties Science Fiction Films (Paperback)

Don't miss out on this superb, beautifully written essay on female scientists in the hip decade of the 1950s. Marvelous insight into a decade that saw much more than the screaming, fainting heroine that seemed representative of the era. There's so much more to the strong female type in the popular films, with even some surprising entries ("Queen of Outer Space"?) that bear fine scrutiny and research by the meticulous author. Buy it...Now!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great read, September 9, 2007

By 

J. Rhoades (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Women Scientists In Fifties Science Fiction Films (Paperback)

For those readers who like a little analysis of their movies, as wrll as the usual review, this is it. This focuses on what the title says, Women Scientists In Fifties Science Fiction Films. And the way she defines them, there are a lot (including those who just work for a scientist in some capacity). The book is well-written, and the analysis of these films is not so academic that it would turn off the casual fan. I thought it could use more photographs, but I'm a huge 50's sci-fi fan and will always want more photos.