This book discusses the figure of Woman in Lars von Trier's distinctive cinematic productions from 1996 to 2014. It takes the notorious legacy of violence against women in von Trier's cinema beyond the perceived gender division, elevating the director's image above being a mere provocateur. By raising fundamental questions about woman, sexuality, and desire, Elbeshlawy shows that Trier's cinematic Woman is an attempt at creating an image of a genderless subject that is not inhibited by the confines of ideology and culture. But this attempt is perennially ill-fated. And it is this failure that not only fosters viewing enjoyment but also gives the films their political importance, elevating them above both commendations and condemnations of feminist discourse.
About the AuthorAhmed Elbeshlawy is an independent scholar and occasional lecturer. He is author of
America in Literature and Film (2011) and has contributed articles to
The Comparatist (2008)
, the forthcoming
Palgrave Handbook to Literature and the City,
female/bodies (2005, 2006),
Scope (2008) and
Sexuality and Culture (2014).
Book InformationISBN 9783319821436
Author Ahmed ElbeshlawyFormat Paperback
Page Count 213
Imprint Springer International Publishing AGPublisher Springer International Publishing AG
Weight(grams) 2952g