Impossible Bodies: Femininity and Masculinity at the Movies

by Christine Holmlund

Overview

Impossible Bodies investigates issues of ethnicity, gender, and sexuality in contemporary Hollywood. Examining stars from Arnold Schwarzenegger and Clint Eastwood, to Whoopi Goldberg and Jennifer Lopez, Holmlund focuses on actors whose physique or appearance marks them as unusual or exceptional, and yet who occupy key and revealing positions in today's mainstream cinema. Exploring a range of genres and considering both stars and their sidekicks, Holmlund examines ways in which Hollywood accommodates - or doesn't - a variety of 'impossible' bodies, from the 'outrageous' physiques of Dolph Lundgren and Dolly Parton, to the almost-invisible bodies of Asian-Americans, Latinas and older actors.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415185769
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	12/20/2001
Series:	Comedia
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	250
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

Chris Holmlund is Associate Professorin Cinema Studfies and Women's Studies at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She is the co-editor of Between the Sheets, in the Streets: Queer, Lesbian, Gay Documentary (Minnesota UP, 1997).

Table of Contents

Introduction - Impossible Bodies, Compromised Positions Part I: Gesturing Towards Genres - 1. Visible Difference and Flex Appeal: The Body, Sex, Sexuality and Race in the Pumping Iron Films 2. When a Lesbian is Not a Lesbian?: The Lesbian Continuum and the Mainstream Femme Film 3. Noveaux Western for the 1990s: Genre Off-Shoots, Audience Re-Routes Part II: Siding With Sidekicks - 4. 'Crusin' for a Brusin': Hollywood's Deadly (Lesbian) Dolls 5. 'Swede as Other' 6. 'Latinas in La-La Land: From Bit Part to Stratlet in Indie and Mainstream Films Part III: Starring at Stars 7. Chanelling Desire, Making Whoopi 8. The Aging Clint 9. Marketing Dolly Dialectics: The Sky is Green, the Grass is Blue

Editorial Reviews

'Masculinity: Bodies, Movies, Culture is a diverse and intriguing collection of essays whose impressive range of reference embraces a broad chronology, medium and nationality' - Rosemary Barrow, Journal of European Area Studies

From the Publisher