Gender, Ethnicity and Sexuality in Contemporary American Film

A series of essays on films such as Wall Street , Disclosure , Glory , Malcolm X , Stonewall , and Philadelphia explore the way that Hollywood engages current debates about multiculturalism. Davies and Smith (both cultural studies, King Alfred's College, England) do not attempt a definitive taxonom

Hollywood has devoted big budgets and established stars to films about controversial issues in the last ten years. Identities considered marginal have come into prominence on the big screen. The authors of this title look at the issues raised by these developments, bring together debates in identity politics with film studies, and launch an innovative theorization of the cinematic representation of identity.

Movies from Forrest Gump to Philadelphia, from Malcolm X to Falling Down have been specifically concerned with multiculturalism and identity politics. This book is concerned with the meanings put into circulation by these mainstream films and audiences'' reactions to them. It provides an accessible introduction to issues such as arguments over positive and negative images and the relationship between cultural representation and political power in American life.