The Films of the Eighties: A Social HistorySouthern Illinois University Press, 1993 - 335 pages In this remarkable sequel to his Films of the Seventies: A Social History, William J. Palmer examines more than three hundred films as texts that represent, revise, parody, comment upon, and generate discussion about major events, issues, and social trends of the eighties. Palmer defines the dialectic between film art and social history, taking as his theoretical model the "holograph of history" that originated from the New Historicist theories of Hayden White and Dominick LaCapra. Combining the interests and methodologies of social history and film criticism, Palmer contends that film is a socially conscious interpreter and commentator upon the issues of contemporary social history. In the eighties, such issues included the war in Vietnam, the preservation of the American farm, terrorism, nuclear holocaust, changes in Soviet-American relations, neoconservative feminism, and yuppies. Among the films Palmer examines are Platoon, The Killing Fields, The River, Out of Africa, Little Drummer Girl, Kiss of the Spiderwoman, Silkwood, The Day After, Red Dawn, Moscow on the Hudson, Troop Beverly Hills, and Fatal Attraction. Utilizing the principles of New Historicism, Palmer demonstrates that film can analyze and critique history as well as present it. |
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... feminist theme is a powerful , if somewhat stacked , statement that women are both the brains and the stamina that ... feminist characterization than the maternal toughness of Lange's Jewel Ivey . Spacek is quite aware of the ...
... feminist backlash elements in which good and faithful wife rises up and triumphs over aggressive , liberated careerwoman . Upheld in this feminist backlash scenario is the age - old double standard as the unfaithful husband walks away ...
... feminist text preparation for her central role of the decade , that of Dian Fossey in the feminist biopic Gorillas in the Mist ( 1988 ) . Other actresses - Jessica Lange in Frances ( 1982 ) , then Country ( 1984 ) , then Sweet Dreams ...
Contents
The Vietnam War as Film Text | 16 |
The Coming Home Films | 61 |
The Terrorism Film Texts | 114 |
Copyright | |
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