women and 1950s British popular cinema
- Categories
- Book/Boek
- Creator
- Bell, Melanie
- Publish Year
- 2010
- Shelfmark
- GR BR 54 2010
- Thesaurus
- films, vrouwbeelden, rolgedrag, vrouwelijkheid, receptie, historisch, Verenigd Koninkrijk, 1950-1959, 20e eeuw
- Description
- The study challenges received understandings, arguing that the period was marked by social unease and anxiety about gender roles and femininity. British cinema produced ambiguous messages about feminine identities and the role of women. Marginalized figures, such as prostitutes, criminals and femmes fatales, are analysed and the themes of sexuality, marriage and female friendship addressed. The author examines how British popular cinema imagined and constructed femininity. She describes how new ideas and understandings of femininity entered the cultural imagery. Films with proto-feminist ideas are presented and recognized as important representations of new forms of femininity.