A Guide to Women in Comics, Video Games, Film, and Television
October 1, 2010
In early silent films, the sole female role was being tied to railroad tracks as a damsel in distress. One hundred years later, female action heroes punch, kick, and drive fast cars to fight their way to profit and success at the box office (Ripley of Alien), on TV (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), in comics (Wonder Woman), and in video games (Lara Croft). This title examines women in action roles in the pop culture realm and how these portrayals have changed our opinions of the so-called fairer sex. Freelance writer Knight selected 25 female protagonists--featured in alphabetically arranged profiles--that are some of the most iconic heroes of the 20th century, such as Emma Peel, Foxy Brown, Joan of Arc, and Xena. Sidebars highlight additional items of interest, while a brief glossary and selected bibliography aid understanding and provide direction for additional research. BOTTOM LINE This is the first work to cover strong women characters in media since Action Chicks: New Images of Tough Women in Popular Culture (Palgrave Macmillian, 2004). Its broad appeal makes it a good fit for public, school, and academic libraries and for anyone interested in gender roles and the historical time line of female toughness.--Laverne Mann, Piscataway P.L., NJ
Copyright 2010 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
October 15, 2010
Male action heroes are a staple in the media. Now women are starting to come to the fore as action heroes in their own right. In this title, author Knight showcases a broad spectrum of female protagonists (mainly from American culture) featured in twentieth-century mass media. The oldest, Joan of Arc, is included because of several film treatments. Among others who are discussed are Catwoman, Foxy Brown, Lara Croft, the Powerpuff Girls, and Princess Leia. In all, there are twenty-five women covered in alphabetically arranged chapters. A black-and-white image introduces each entry, which details origins of the character, creator and portrayer mini biographies, power suit and abilities, villains, analysis, and impact. A short list of further readings completes each chapter. Feminism is an ongoing undercurrent, and social issues of the day are noted. For example, Emma Peel, of the Avengers, is described as a precursor of womens liberation, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a precursor of the third generation of feminists. Most chapters include sidebars addressing associated thematic concepts or other figures (e.g., Nancy Drew, Margaret Mead, Betty Friedan). A useful overview and selective time line can be found at the books beginning, and a selected bibliography and index at the end. The writing is engaging; the content is accurate and makes good reading. A fun addition to reference collections from high school and up.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)