A Critical History of Health Films in Central and Eastern Europe and Beyond

The study of Western health films has grown significantly, while Eastern European films have been largely overlooked. This book presents a nonlinear historical model that reveals how Eastern European health films played a unique role in the inception of national cinematography and established supranational health security. It explores how these films adopted Western propaganda patterns and actively contributed to their formation, particularly with regard to marginalized groups such as women and populations in the periphery. The book also examines the long-lasting impact of health film discursive practices and the efforts of rebellious filmmakers to challenge and deconstruct them. By utilizing a range of methods, including filmmaker biographies, historical reconstructions, and production analysis, the book contextualizes these films within a multifaceted continuum that spans global patterns and national authenticity.

Format: Hardback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 21 December 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The growing body of scholarship on Western health films stands in stark contrast to the relative lack of attention given to Eastern European films in terms of historical conceptualization. This book presents a nonlinear historical framework that reevaluates the unique contributions of these films to the establishment of national cinematography and the establishment of supranational health security. Through the pages of this book, readers are granted a glimpse into an hitherto unknown chapter of history, shedding light on how health films produced in Eastern European countries not only adopted Western propaganda patterns but actively contributed to their formation, particularly with regard to marginalized groups such as women and populations residing in the periphery. The authors delve into the profound "echo" of the discursive practices introduced by health films within public health propaganda, as well as the efforts by rebellious filmmakers to challenge and dismantle these practices. A diverse range of methods, including the analysis of filmmakers' sociological biographies, the historical reconstruction of public campaigns against diseases, and an investigation into the production of health films, contextualizes these films within a multifaceted continuum that spans between the adaptation of global patterns and the cultivation of national authenticities.

This book is intended for scholars and researchers interested in the history of film, the history of public health, Central and Eastern European countries, and global history. The Open Access version of this book, accessible at http://www.taylorfrancis.com, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 International license.

Weight: 690g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032215143