Description
Cinematic Howling presents a refreshingly unorthodoxframework for feminist film studies. Instead of criticizing mainstreammovies from feminist perspectives, Hoi Cheu focuses on women'sfilmmaking itself. Integrating systems theory and feminist aestheticsin his close readings of films and screenplays by women, he considershow women engage the process of storytelling in cinema. The importanceof these films, he argues, is not merely that they reflectwomen's perceptions, but that they have the power to reframeexperiences and, consequently, to transform life.
A major contribution to feminist scholarship that will appeal toscholars of both gender and film, Cinematic Howling is writtenin an approachable and inviting style, full of vivid examples andattention to detail, which will suit both undergraduate and graduatecourses in gender, film, and cultural studies.
A timely and important book for feminist film and cultural studies. Cheu is sensitive to the films and literature he treats. He posits an original framework for thinking about women's writing and for situating feminist debates on gender identity and writing within theories of transnational culture and politics. -- Janine Marchessault, Canada Research Chair in Art and Digital Media, York University An ambitious work that provides an alternative, fruitful way of analyzing and appreciating cinema. Cinematic Howling advances feminist theory in exciting ways that should challenge students of film and cultural studies, feminist scholars, and general film enthusiasts. -- Noreen Golfman, Professor of English and Film Studies, Memorial University
About the Author
Hoi F. Cheu teaches film theory and applied mediaaesthetics at Laurentian University, where he is the Director of theCentre for Humanities Research and Creativity.
Reviews
What a pleasant surprise that Cinematic Howling: Women's Films, Women's Film Theories, a new book for film and cultural studies, has all the elements of a good story with its unconventional title, engaging first person narrative and refreshing writing style! Yet Cinematic Howling is much more than a story about women's films and feminist theory - it is an innovative theoretical work about gender identity and transnational culture with close readings that focus on the importance of storytelling in selected films by women filmmakers. ... Cheu has written an intriguing academic reference on women filmmakers....Cinematic Howling will prove very useful for feminist film analysis and cultural studies at the undergraduate and graduate levels. While the author of Cinematic Howling reminds us that there are many voices involved in the field of women's films, some of these voices might need more room for expression in film studies classes, alongside Cheu's thoughtful book. -- Judith Plessis * Canadian Literature, No. 195, Winter 2007 *
Book Information
ISBN 9780774813785
Author Hoi Cheu
Format Hardback
Page Count 216
Imprint University of British Columbia Press
Publisher University of British Columbia Press
Weight(grams) 440g
