
For this edition of her classic study of the feminine role in film, Molly Haskell has written a new chapter addressing recent developments in the appearance and perception of women in the movies."An incisive, exceedingly thoughtful look at the distorted lens through which Hollywood has historically viewed women. It is a valuable contribution not just of film criticism but to a society in which the vital role of women is just beginning to emerge."— Christian Science Monitor"Haskell is interested in women—how they are used in movies, how they use movies, and how the parts they play function as projections and verifications of our myths about women's lot and woman's psyche and even, lately, women's lib."—Jane Kramer, Village Voice"In examining the goddesses worshipped by an entire nation, Molly Haskell reveals a good deal about our national character and our most cherished sexual myths.... Concerned with the deeply ingrained belief of women's inferiority, she analyzes movies as a social product as well as a social arbiter, and she effectively demonstrates how women are encouraged to impose limitations on themselves by fashioning those selves after flickering shadows in a darkened auditorium—sexual creatures who possess neither ability nor ambition beyond their bodies.... Both as an examination of film and as sociology, From Reverence to Rape is excellent."—Harriet Kriegel, The Nation
This work investigates the historical evolution of female representation in Hollywood cinema and the subsequent impact of these portrayals on societal perceptions of women. Molly Haskell, a prominent film critic, utilizes a sociological framework to analyze how cinematic archetypes function as both reflections and reinforcements of cultural myths regarding gender roles. By examining the transition of female characters from idealized goddesses to marginalized figures, she argues that film acts as a powerful arbiter of social behavior and self-perception.
What You Will Find
Scope Limits
Critics and scholars recognize this work as a foundational text in the field of feminist film criticism. Readers frequently note the intellectual rigor of Haskell's prose and the enduring relevance of her observations regarding the construction of gender on screen.
Page Count:
388
Publication Date:
1974-01-01
Publisher:
Holt, Rinehart and Winston
ISBN-10:
0030076064
ISBN-13:
9780030076060
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