Gay Directors, Gay Films?: Pedro Almodar, Terence Davies, Todd Haynes, Gus Van Sant, John Waters (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780231152778)

Through intimate encounters with the life and work of five contemporary gay male directors, this book develops a framework for interpreting what it means to make a gay film or adopt a gay point of view. For most of the twentieth century, gay characters and gay themes were both underrepresented and misrepresented in mainstream cinema. Since the 1970s, however, a new generation of openly gay directors has turned the closet inside out, bringing a poignant immediacy to modern cinema and popular culture.

Combining his experienced critique with in-depth interviews, Emanuel Levy draws a clear timeline of gay filmmaking over the past four decades and its particular influences and innovations. While recognizing the "queering" of American culture that resulted from these films, Levy also takes stock of the ensuing conservative backlash and its impact on cinematic art, a trend that continues alongside a growing acceptance of homosexuality. He compares the similarities and differences between the "North American" attitudes of Todd Haynes, Gus Van Sant, and John Waters and the "European" perspectives of Pedro Almodar and Terence Davies, developing a truly expansive approach to gay filmmaking and auteur cinema.

Author: Emanuel Levy
ISBN-10: 0231152779
ISBN-13: 9780231152778
Publisher: Columbia University Press
Language: English
Published: 08/25/2015
Pages: 426
Format: Paperback
Weight: 1.25lbs
Size: 8.90h x 5.90w x 0.80d

Review Citation(s):
Booklist 07/01/2015 pg. 15
Library Journal 08/01/2015 pg. 98
Choice 01/01/2016