Latin American Cinema: Essays on Modernity, Gender and National Identity

by Lisa Shaw, Stephanie Dennison

Overview

Renewed interest in Latin American film industries has opened a host of paths of scholarly exploration. Productions from different countries reflect particular social attitudes, political climates and self-conceptions, and must be considered separately and as a whole. The search for national identity is a key component of Latin American films in a time of decreasing cultural diversity and pressures to westernize. Globalization and falling government support have fueled cross-border collaborations, calling into question the idea of a movie's "nationality," and leaving some nations' film industries on the brink of collapse. Whether thriving or barely surviving, struggling to remain distinct or embracing globalization on its own terms, addressing the government or society, Latin American cinema remains vibrant, offering a wealth of material to scholars of all stripes.

These collected essays explore important elements of Latin American cinema and its associated national film industries. The first section of essays examines the impact of modernization on both Latin American screen images and the industry itself, offering modern and historical perspectives. The second section focuses on filmmakers who deal with issues of gender and sexuality, whether sexual transgression, the role of female characters, or societal attitudes towards sex and nudity. The final section of essays discusses the relationship between national identity and Latin American film industries: how movies are used to create a sense of self; Uruguay's ongoing identity crisis; and Brazil's use of Hollywood's stereotypical depiction of the country to depict itself. Photographs and an annotated bibliography accompany each essay, and an index supplements the text.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780786420049
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date:	03/09/2005
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	228
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.46(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Lisa Shaw is a Reader in Portuguese and Brazilian Studies at the University of Liverpool, England. Stephanie Dennison is a lecturer in Portuguese and Brazilian Studies at the University of Leeds, England.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments     

Introduction: Reflections on Modernity, Gender, and Nation in the Latin American Context     

PART I: MODERNITY AND GLOBALIZATION
1. TV Globo, the MPA, and Contemporary Brazilian Cinema     
2. Images of Peru: A National Cinema in Crisis     
3. Crossing the Line in Mexico?: Luis Buñuel’s El ángel exterminador     

PART II: GENDER AND SEXUALITY
4. Nelson and Nelson: Mirror Images and Social Drama in Boca de Ouro     
5. María Luisa Bemberg Winks at the Audience: Performativity and Citation in Camila and Yo la peor de todas     
6. Nelson Rodrigues into Film: Two Adaptations of O beijo no asfalto     

PART III: NATION AND IDENTITY
7. Born at Last? Cinema and Social Imaginary in 21st-Century Uruguay     
8. Mulata Cubana: The Problematics of National Allegory     
9. Brazil through Hollywood’s Gaze: From the Silent Screen to the Good Neighbor Policy Era     

About the Contributors     
Index     

Editorial Reviews

a superb collection of scholarly essays...well-crafted book...providing fresh insights...in-depth analysis...an important and useful contribution”—A Contra corriente.

From the Publisher