Blood, Guns, and Testosterone: Action Films & Audience Psychology - Perfect for Movie Nights, Film Studies, and Thriller Enthusiasts
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SKU:23655519
Product Description
Since the early days of film, the representation of masculinity has changed considerably. In the beginning, men instinctively knew right from wrong. They rode to the rescue and saved the day in the nick of time to the admiration and gratitude of society. But over the decades, heroes have evolved from being larger than life and infallible to being cynical, washed up, unwanted outsiders. Violent content in these films also "evolved"―from fistfights and gunplay to brutal attacks and nuclear explosions―repeatedly ramping up in frequency, intensity, and graphic depictions.But there is more to a violent film genre than violence, and Blood, Guns, and Testosterone: Action Films, Audiences, and a Thirst for Violence brings an entirely new understanding to the nature of such entertainment. In this book, Barna William Donovan examines masculinity and violence in action and adventure films and discusses how the most ardent fans of the genre incorporate this controversial form of entertainment into their lives. Donovan argues that far from becoming violent, the fans of the action film look at the genre as an artistic rumination on the nature of violence, good and evil, and the ever-changing definitions of manhood.At their very best, or most interesting at least, these films may even reflect on the nature of violence, on human nature, on aggression, and how a self-reflexive, moral society can deal with violence. And since so much of the violence of the world has always been perpetrated by men, action films―more often than not―are contemplations of the complicated meaning of manhood. In addition to fans of the genre, Blood, Guns, and Testosterone will appeal to scholars of film, history, popular culture, gender studies, and audience research.
Customer Reviews
Back in October 2010, I reviewed 101 ACTION MOVIES YOU MUST SEE BEFORE YOU DIE, a "once-over lightly" celebration of action movies. Since I've always put action movies in the "guilty pleasures" category, I thought Steven Schneider's book was a perfect compliment to the genre, bulging with colorful pix and short but insightful commentary. Barna Donovan's BLOOD, GUNS AND TESTOSTERONE; ACTION FILMS, AUDIENCES AND A THIRST FOR VIOLENCE is the diametric opposite to the Schneider book, being a dense, dry examination of the genre and fans that enjoy them.You know you're stepping in deep - and ultimately boring - waters when the book's back cover announces that it is an examination of "masculinity and violence in action and adventure films and describes how ardent fans incorporate those controversial forms of entertainment into their lives." Futher, it is noted that the author "argues that far from being violent, admirers of action films view the genre as an artistic rumination on the nature of good and evil and the ever-changing definitions of manhood." Boy, someone is really taking things REALLY seriously here, huh!?!The book is divided into two parts. The first covers 'The Controversies, the Crisis and the Films.' In this section, Donovan, a college communications prof, probes such topics as the crisis in men's social relations, their need to incorporate violence as a perferred entertainment form, male alienation, etc. The second and largest part - 'The Audience' - aims at discovering and understanding "the reasons (why avid) fans watch (action films) and their expectation and their likes and dislikes of various aspects of the action genre, specifically the genre's social meanings and statements." Donovan devotes 180 pages to analyzing the responses from 31 such men and 13 women on topics like fast-paced storytelling, man talk, the appeal of watching violence, etc. After plodding through that section, I can honestly say: Frankly my dear, I don't really give a damn about what 'Patrick,' 'Louis,' 'Helen,' 'Anthony,' etc. feel about action films.As much as I love discussing films, books like BLOOD, GUNS AND TESTOSTERONE take all the fun out of the subject. The book's academic, artsy-fartsy tone won't get anybody fired up about action films, let me tell you! Donovan is obviously knowledgeable and the book is well-researched but it's as exciting as the back of a cereal box.The book's cover states it will appeal to "scholars of film, history and pop culture, genre studies and audience research." Well and good; the rest of humanity can skip it. Not recommended.
