Transgressive Art Films: Extremity, Ethics, and Controversial Images of Sex and Violence

Transgressive Art Films explores the ethical, theoretical, and film-philosophical implications of extremity in films, providing a framework for understanding controversial and extreme films. It offers a theory of transgressive film that responds to theories of transgression, accounts for multiple contradictory viewer perspectives, and incorporates micro- and macro-scale analysis. The book reflects on the ethical and political stakes of scholarly engagement with images of sex, violence, and sexual violence and provides a holistic approach to the way we consider controversial and extreme cinema as artefacts that ought to be considered within a complex network of social factors.

Format: Hardback
Length: 264 pages
Publication date: 31 October 2023
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press

The exploration of extremity in films holds profound ethical, theoretical, and film-philosophical implications. It provides a valuable framework for understanding the complexities and nuances of controversial and extreme films, enabling us to engage with them on a deeper level.

A theory of transgressive film emerges as a response to various theories of transgression, accounting for the diverse and often contradictory viewer perspectives that these films evoke. This theory encompasses a comprehensive approach that incorporates both micro- and macro-scale analysis of films. By examining the intricate details of individual frames, as well as the broader discourse surrounding them, transgressive art films offer a nuanced understanding of the ethical and political stakes involved in scholarly engagement with images of sex, violence, and sexual violence.

Transgressive Art Films takes a holistic approach to the way we consider controversial and extreme cinema. It recognizes that these films are not merely individual or grouped texts for analysis but rather artefacts that ought to be considered within a complex network of social factors. This book provides a rigorous framework for understanding some of the most controversial films of the past twenty-five years.

The term "transgressive art film" denotes the phenomenon of a select few controversial films being reclaimed each year by the cinema art world as part of an expansion of the definition of film art. Rather than perceiving controversial films as anomalies, this book proposes that transgressive art films should be understood as a socio-cultural phenomenon and a vital component of cinema's quest for newness, innovation, and renewal. By paying attention to all scales of cinema, from close analysis of individual frames to the broader discourse constructed around them, transgressive art films shed light on how certain forms of cinematic transgression gain widespread institutional support rather than being ignored or forgotten.

In conclusion, the exploration of extremity in films holds immense significance for our understanding of cinema as an art form. By engaging with these films through a transgressive lens, we can gain a deeper appreciation of their ethical, theoretical, and film-philosophical implications. Transgressive art films offer a valuable framework for understanding the complexities and nuances of controversial and extreme cinema, enabling us to engage with them on a deeper level and contribute to the ongoing dialogue about the role of cinema in shaping our cultural and societal landscape.

Weight: 586g
Dimension: 161 x 241 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781474483933