Beginning the second week of my dissertation research has proved problematic and stressful due to the fact that trying to define my topical interests and core themes of my dissertation isn’t as straightforward as I thought. So in order to progress and define the vocal point of my dissertation I began the week with basic research in the library, primarily focusing on titles that would suffice as secondary readings. I knew that I wanted to look at feminism therefore I knew I had to have extensive readings and knowledge of the key feminist theorists. Also I wanted to know more about the ‘Epic’ genre and how it was socially received as a genre, and this is where I began to struggle. Researching the term ‘Epic’ produced little or no results in the library database however I came across a book entitled John Milton and the Transformation of Ancient Epic by Charles Martindale although the title sounded promising the book primarily focuses on the translation of poetry and its effects on other poets. It quickly became apparent to me that if I still wanted to focus on the ‘epic’ genre and the representation feminism in such cinematic releases that I would have to somehow redefine my definition of the term ‘epic’. Re-evaluating the work I had done so far the films that intrigued me proved to be useful in redefining what sort of ‘epic’ I was interested in. Films such as Gladiator, Spartacus, The 10 Commandments and 300 are all Ancient/Historical Epics. So after producing the type of ‘epic’ I wanted to explore I began my search online for books that embodied such titles and theories on such films. But I encountered another problem the books that I have ordered have not arrived. The texts in question are case specific to this particular topical area that I was keen to explore thus making the progress with this part of questioning void for the time being. Instead I chose to focus on my other area of research feminism. I have looked at numerous books that combine feminist theory and the representation on women within the cinematic spectrum to further my knowledge, I have also read numerous texts that slightly deviate away from the central focus of my study, however I feel that all texts related to the subject of feminism could only further strengthen my dissertation and may also count as secondary readings and the basis for understanding more key texts and theories as all theorists within this category influence each other’s writings as I found out through my research. Obviously Laura Mulvey and her theory entitled Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema formed the basis of my readings as she proves to be the most challenged and also reinforced writer within the feminist cinema spectrum. E. A Kaplan’s book women and Film Both Sides of the Camera also prove useful along with Annette Kuhn’s Women’s Pictures Feminism and Cinema. Other books for consideration include Feminism and Film by Maggie Humm, The Acoustic Mirror The female voice in Psychoanalysis and Cinema by Kaja Silverman. Now all of these books are not case specific to my area of research as I want to analyse women in the Ancient/ Historical epic genre, however they give accurate assessments of feminism, having many books to go through reading and doing notes is proving to be quite time consuming and its taking me a while to sift through the texts. Further readings have also been chosen as I think any form of research into feminism has to contain research into sexuality and gender positioning therefore I thought I would look into Sigmund Freud and his theories just to form the basis of my understanding of psychoanalysis and also to reinforce the sociological viewpoint of women within film, which I intend to do as soon as I have made more progression with the readings I have already acquired. Other books such as The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan and Issues in Feminist Film Criticism edited by Patricia Erens will also help to give me an historical insight into the progression of feminist film theory which will hopefully reinforce my understanding and overall credibility when it come to producing a balanced assessment of women within the Ancient/Historical Epic genre. In order to progress further I must wait for the other books to arrive and carry on reading and taking notes as well as looking at more films that focus on my topical area. Plus I will expand further on the books that I have already began to study, more in depth reading and analysis is needed.
Bibliography
Martindale, C. (1986) John Milton and the Transformation of Ancient Epic, Great Britain: Croom Helm LTD
Mulvey, L. (1990) Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema In D. Thornham (Ed.) Feminist Film Theory A Reader (pp.58-70). Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press
Kaplan, A. (1983) Women and Film Both Sides of the Camera, Great Britain: Methuen Inc
Kuhn, A. (1994) Women’s Pictures Feminism and Cinema, London: Verso
Humm, M. (1997) Feminism and Film, Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press
Silverman, K. (1988) The Acoustic Mirror The female voice in Psychoanalysis and Cinema, USA: Indiana University Press
Friedan, B. (1965) The Feminine Mystique, London: Penguin Books
Erens, P. (1990) Issues in Feminist Film Criticism, USA: Indiana University Press
Filmography
Gladiator, 2000. Film. Directed by Ridley SCOTT. USA: UIP
Spartacus, 1969. Film. Directed by Stanley KUBRICK. USA: Bryna Productions
The 10 Commandments, 1956. Film. Directed by Cecil B. DEMILLE. USA: Paramount Pictures
300, 2006. Film. Directed by Zack SNYDER. USA: Warner Brothers Inc
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