ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces students to key debates within feminist film theory regarding the uses of realist versus genre modes and film forms, particularly as they relate to ideology and the politics of representation. Several genres that have continued relevance in feminist film studies – such as melodrama, horror, science fiction, action films, and porn – are discussed in terms of the significant contributions feminist scholars have made to how we think about the interactions between gender and genre in particular. Case studies include Sinking Sands (Leila Djansi, 2011, Ghana), A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (Ana Lily Amirpour, 2014, US) and the Cleopatra Jones films.
Chapter 7 objectives:Introduce students to the concepts of narrative cinema, realism, and genre, as they intersect with gender
Examine critical feminist approaches to various genre forms, including melodrama, horror, science fiction, action films, and porn
Introduce international and transnational approaches to the study of genre
