"The Monstrous-Feminine: Film, Feminism, Psychoanalysis" by Barbara Creed offers a groundbreaking exploration of female representation in horror cinema. Moving beyond the common portrayal of women solely as victims, Creed argues that the fundamental prototype of the monstrous is rooted in the female reproductive body.
This seminal work analyzes the concept of the "monstrous-feminine" through feminist and psychoanalytic lenses, challenging patriarchal interpretations of female power and fear. Creed examines how women are depicted as castrators, a significant aspect of the monstrous-feminine in film, and critiques the notion that women terrify primarily due to their own castration.
Drawing on classic horror films such as Alien, The Brood, The Hunger, The Exorcist, Sisters, I Spit on Your Grave, and Psycho, Creed provides a detailed analysis of the seven key "faces" of the monstrous-feminine. These include woman as archaic mother, monstrous womb, vampire, witch, possessed body, monstrous mother, and castrator.
Creed's research disrupts established Freudian and Lacanian theories of sexual difference, as well as existing frameworks of spectatorship and fetishism. The book offers a provocative rereading of cinematic representations and theoretical texts, making it essential for students and scholars of film, feminist theory, and cultural studies.
Author and Publisher
Barbara Creed is a lecturer in Cinema Studies at La Trobe University, Melbourne. The book is published by Routledge, part of the Taylor & Francis Group.
