Diana, a cultural history : gender, race, nation, and the people's princess

This book intervenes in debates over the significance of Diana, Princess of Wales by offering a critical account of her media iconicity from 1981 to the present. It outlines the historical development of representations of Diana, analysing the ways in which the Princess has been understood via discourses of gender, sexuality, race, economic class, the royal, national identity, and the human. The book then goes on to assess the issues at stake in debates over the 'meaning' of Diana, such as the gender politics of cultural icon-making and deconstruction, and conflicting notions of cultural value. This Book Intervenes In Debates Over The Significance Of Diana, Princess Of Wales, By Offering A Critical Account Of Her Status As A Media Icon From 1981 To The Present. It Outlines The Historical Development Of Representations Of Diana, Analyzing The Ways In Which She Has Been Understood Via Discourses Of Gender, Sexuality, Race, Economic Class, The Royal, National Identity, And The Human. The Book Goes On To Assess The Issues At Stake In Debates Over The Meaning Of Diana, Such As The Gender Politics Of Cultural Icon-making And Deconstruction, And Conflicting Notions Of Cultural Value.--jacket. Pt. I. Historicizing The Signs Of Diana -- Pt. Ii. Diana, Royalty And Femininity -- Pt. Iii. The Ambivalent Femininities Of Diana Narratives -- Pt. Iv. A Life In Images. Jude Davies. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 233-244) And Index. Front Matter....Pages i-viii Introduction: Why a Cultural History?....Pages 1-19 Historicizing the Signs of Diana....Pages 20-54 Diana, Royalty and Femininity....Pages 55-86 The Ambivalent Femininities of Diana Narratives....Pages 87-134 A Life in Images....Pages 135-180 The Mourning for Diana and the Question of National Transformation....Pages 181-204 Epilogue....Pages 205-209 Back Matter....Pages 210-250 The epigraphs to this chapter - entries from the most authoritative and the most popular British dictionaries - illustrate how hard it can be to pin down the meaning of a princess.