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Monstrous-Feminine, The: Film, Feminism, Psychoanalysis 2nd edition


Monstrous-Feminine, The: Film, Feminism, Psychoanalysis 2nd edition

Paperback by Creed, Barbara

Monstrous-Feminine, The: Film, Feminism, Psychoanalysis

£36.99

ISBN:
9780367209452
Publication Date:
2 Nov 2023
Edition/language:
2nd edition / English
Publisher:
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Imprint:
Routledge
Pages:
266 pages
Format:
Paperback
For delivery:
Estimated despatch 17 May 2024
Monstrous-Feminine, The: Film, Feminism, Psychoanalysis

Description

This is a timely update of a seminal text which re-interprets key films of the horror genre, including Carrie, The Exorcist, The Brood and Psycho. In the first edition, Creed draws on Julia Kristeva's theory of abjection to challenge the popular view that women in horror are almost always victims, and argues that patriarchal ideology constructs women as monstrous in relation to her sexuality and reproductive body to justify her subjugation. Although a projection of male fears and paranoid fantasies, the monstrous-feminine is nonetheless a terrifying figure. Creed's argument contests Freudian and Lacanian theories of sexual difference to offer a provocative rereading of classical and contemporary horror. This updated edition includes a new section examining contemporary feminist horror films in relation to nonhuman theory. Creed proposes a new concept of radical abjection to reinterpret the monstrous-feminine as a figure who embraces abjection by reclaiming her body and re-defining her otherness as nonhuman - while questioning patriarchy, anthropocentrism, misogyny and the meaning of the human. Films discussed include Ginger Snaps, Teeth, Atlantics, The Girl with All the Gifts, Border and Titane. Barbara Creed's classic remains as relevant as ever and this edition will be of interest to academics and students of feminist theory, nonhuman theory, critical animal studies, race, and queer theory.

Contents

Preface to the Second Edition Part I Faces of the Monstrous-Feminine: Abjection and the Maternal Introduction 1 Kristeva, Femininity, Abjection 2 Horror and the Archaic Mother: Alien 3 Woman as Possessed Monster: The Exorcist 4 Woman as Monstrous Womb: The Brood 5 Woman as Vampire: The Hunger 6 Woman as Witch: Carrie Part II Medusa's Head: Psychoanalytic Theory and the Femme Castratrice Preface 7 'Little Hans' Reconsidered: or 'The Tale of Mother's Terrifying Widdler' 8 Medusa's Head: the Vagina Dentata and Freudian theory 9 The femme castratrice: I spit on your grave, sisters 10 The Castrating Mother: Psycho 11 The Medusa's Gaze Part III Revolt of the Monstrous-Feminine: Embracing the Nonhuman Introduction: The Nonhuman Turn an Women's Horror of the New Millennium 12 Coming of Age: The Monstrous-Feminine as Virginal Dentata: Ginger Snaps: (2000), Teeth (2007), Jennifer's Body (2009). 13 The Monstrous-Feminine as Avenging Zombie: The Girl With All The Gifts (2016), The Dark (2018), Atlantics (2019). 14 The Monstrous-Feminine as Uncanny Creatrix: Border (2018), Little Joe (2019), Titane (2021). Bibliography Filmography Index

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