America on Film: Representing Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality in the Moviesis a lively introduction to issues of diversity as represented within the American cinema. The first synthetic and historical text of its kind, America on Filmprovides a comprehensive overview of the industrial, socio-cultural, and aesthetic factors that contribute to cinematic representations of race, class, gender, and sexuality. The volume chronicles the cinematic history of various cultural groups, examines forces and institutions of bias, and stimulates discussion about the relationship between film and American national culture.

Accessible and user-friendly, America on Film features 101 illustrations, a glossary of key terms, questions for discussion, and lists for further reading and further viewing. The book is organized within a broad historical framework, with specific theoretical concepts – including film genre, auteurism, cultural studies, Orientalism, the “male gaze,” feminism, and queer theory – integrated throughout. Each individual chapter features a concise overview of the topic at hand, a discussion of representative films, figures, and movements, and an in-depth analysis of a single film, including The Lion King, The Jazz Singer, Smoke Signals,The Grapes of Wrath, and The Celluloid Closet.

"Although referring to race, class, and gender has been commonplace in film studies for some time, remarkably this excellent textbook is the first to give a full, comprehensive account of these important issues. Benshoff and Griffin write in a clear style and illustrate all their major points with case studies of films. Their work is up-to-date and historically informed. A broad range of topics includes heterosexual and queer perspectives, masculinity and femininity, Whiteness, Native Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans, and Latinos. Highly recommended." Peter Lehman, Arizona State University <!--end-->

"With W. E. B. DuBois’s twentieth-century ‘color line’ now morphing into the twenty-first-century ‘difference line’, America on Filmbecomes particularly relevant in its comprehensive exploration of the new cinematic horizon. This outstanding volume is necessary and compelling reading for all – from scholar, to student, to movie fan – who want to understand the politics of representation in the age of ‘difference’." Ed Guerrero, New York University

“The authors do a remarkable job at presenting contexts for identifying and tracking the historical constructions of race, gender, class and sexuality.” Scope Journal

America on Film: Representing Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality in the Movies is a lively introduction to issues of diversity as represented within the American cinema.

America on Film: Representing Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality in the Moviesis a lively introduction to issues of diversity as represented within the American cinema.

• Introduces issues of diversity as represented within the American cinema in a lively and accessible manner.

• Provides a comprehensive overview of the industrial, socio-cultural, and aesthetic factors that contribute to cinematic representations of race, class, gender, and sexuality.

• Is designed specifically for students and includes 101 illustrations, a glossary of key terms, questions for discussion, and lists for futher reading and further viewing.

• Includes case studies of a number of films, including The Lion King, The Jazz Singer, Smoke Signals, The Grapes of Wrath, and The Celluloid Closet.

• Each chapter features a concise overview of the topic at hand, a discussion of representative films, figures, and movements, and an in-depth analysis of a single film.

Harry M. Benshoff is Assistant Professor of Radio, Television, and Film at the University of North Texas. He is author of Monsters in the Closet: Homosexuality and the Horror Film(1997).

Sean Griffinis Assistant Professor of Cinema and Television at Southern Methodist University. He is author of Tinker Bells and Evil Queens: The Walt Disney Company from the Inside Out(2000).

Acknowledgements.

How To Use This Book.

Part I: American Film and Culture.

Part II: Race and Ethnicity and American Film.

Part III: Class and American Film.

Part IV: Gender and American Film.

Part V: Sexuality and American Film.

Glossary.

Photo Credits.

Index.