- Paperback: 256 pages
- Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (9 April 1998)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0415140056
- ISBN-13: 978-0415140058
- Product Dimensions: 2.3 x 1.6 x 0.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 283,969 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
Working Girls: Gender and Sexuality in Popular Cinema
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More About the Author
Product Description
Review
"[Tasker's] insights are brilliant and compelling. She demonstrates conclusively that, although roles for women are still not plentiful, their representations are far more proactive than before the era of feminism. Another strength of the book is the writing: Tasker's style is accessible and elegant. This book is hard to put down. This reviewer finished it with a long list of films and shows to watch or rewatch. A must for every academic and public library."
-"Choice, 3/99
-"Choice, 3/99
Product Description
Working Girls investigates the thematic concerns of contemporary Hollywood cinema, and its ambivalent articulation of women as both active, and defined by sexual performance, asking whether new Hollywood cinema has responded to feminism and contemporary sexual identities.
Whether analysing the rise of films centred around female friendships, or the entrance of pop stars such as Whitney Houston and Madonna into film, Working Girls is an authoritative investigation of the presence of women both as film makers and actors in contemporary mainstream cinema.
Whether analysing the rise of films centred around female friendships, or the entrance of pop stars such as Whitney Houston and Madonna into film, Working Girls is an authoritative investigation of the presence of women both as film makers and actors in contemporary mainstream cinema.
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
'Just act like you belong' Tess McGill tells Jack Trainer (Harrison Ford) in Mike Nichols' Working Girl (1988) as they crash a 'society' wedding in pursuit of a business deal. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index
'Just act like you belong' Tess McGill tells Jack Trainer (Harrison Ford) in Mike Nichols' Working Girl (1988) as they crash a 'society' wedding in pursuit of a business deal. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I first discovered this book when I was writing my dissertation for my BA. It was one of the few texts that devoted any space to a discussion of the representation of women in action films, which it does in a comprehensive manner.
The book is broken into 9 chapters, each one dealing with a different aspect of women in film, from comedy and action to singers who have broken into the world of the movies. This is achieved through the textual analysis of films such as The Long Kiss Goodnight, Body Heat, Aliens, Boys on the Side and Sister Act. The book discusses contemporary films and stars from a viewpoint that is situated in the wake of feminism.
Tasker's discussion wanders from Melanie Griffith's ballsy secretary in Working Girl, to Sharon Stone's moody, lone cowgirl in Sam Raimi's The Quick and the Dead and covers topics from cross-dressing & lesbianism to the masculine-woman and the new femme fatale. Tasker doesn't just limit her discussion to the women on screen, but also devotes a chapter to those behind the camera (such as Kathryn Bigelow and Maggie Greenwald).
The book is easy to read and Tasker's conclusions are well supported throughout, not least by the inclusion of black and white images at the beginning of the chapters. Her argument flows intelligently throughout the book and can be followed effortlessly. The filmography and bibliography alone are impressive.
Anyone with an interest in the representation of women in film should find this book a welcome addition to their bookshelf.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
1 review
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Working Girls
7 April 2000
Format:Paperback
The best thing about Yvonne Tasker's newest book, "Working Girls" is the clarity with which she discusses her subject. Too many film theorists get bogged down in discussing "theory for theory's sake," but Tasker illustrates each of her theoretical points-- for instance, the idea of "transvestism of class"-- with concrete examples from a number of films (in this case 'Working Girl' and 'Up Close and Personal'). This makes her larger and more abstract points more accessible to people who are interested in the cultural phenomenon of film, but who are "self-taught." Every time I pick up one of Tasker's books (she also wrote a fascinating study of gender and the action film called "Spectacular Bodies") I come away from it feeling educated and a little more confident in my ability to understand film and the ways in which it moves me. I look forward to her next endeavor.
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