Feminism and Popular Culture : Investigating the Postfeminist Mystique

When the term “postfeminism” entered the media lexicon in the 1990s, it was often accompanied by breathless headlines about the “death of feminism.” Those reports of feminism’s death may have been greatly exaggerated, and yet contemporary popular culture often conjures up a world in which feminism had never even been born, a fictional universe filled with suburban Stepford wives, maniacal career women, alluring amnesiacs, and other specimens of retro femininity. In __Feminism and Popular Culture__, Rebecca Munford and Melanie Waters consider why the twenty-first century media landscape is so haunted by the ghosts of these traditional figures that feminism otherwise laid to rest. Why, over fifty years since Betty Friedan’s critique, does the feminine mystique exert such a strong spectral presence, and how has it been reimagined to speak to the concerns of a postfeminist audience? To answer these questions, Munford and Waters draw from a rich array of examples from contemporary film, fiction, music, and television, from the shadowy cityscapes of __Homeland__ to the haunted houses of __American Horror Story__. Alongside this comprehensive analysis of today’s popular culture, they offer a vivid portrait of feminism’s social and intellectual history, as well as an innovative application of Jacques Derrida’s theories of “hauntology.” __Feminism and Popular Culture__ thus not only considers how contemporary media is being visited by the ghosts of feminism’s past, it raises vital questions about what this means for feminism’s future. When The Term Postfeminism Entered The Media Lexicon In The 1990s, It Was Often Accompanied By Breathless Headlines About The Death Of Feminism. Those Reports Of Feminism's Death May Have Been Greatly Exaggerated, And Yet Contemporary Popular Culture Often Conjures Up A World In Which Feminism Had Never Even Been Born, A Fictional Universe Filled With Suburban Stepford Wives, Maniacal Career Women, Alluring Amnesiacs, And Other Specimens Of Retro Femininity. In This Book The Authors Consider Why The Twenty-first Century Media Landscape Is So Haunted By The Ghosts Of These Traditional Figures That Feminism Otherwise Laid To Rest. Why, Over Fifty Years Since Betty Friedan's Critique, Does The Feminine Mystique Exert Such A Strong Spectral Presence, And How Has It Been Reimagined To Speak To The Concerns Of A Postfeminist Audience? To Answer These Questions, The Authors Draw From A Rich Array Of Examples From Contemporary Film, Fiction, Music, And Television, From The Shadowy Cityscapes Of Homeland To The Haunted Houses Of American Horror Story. Alongside This Comprehensive Analysis Of Today's Popular Culture, They Offer A Portrait Of Feminism's Social And Intellectual History, As Well As An Innovative Application Of Jacques Derrida's Theories Of Hauntology. This Work Thus Not Only Considers How Contemporary Media Is Being Visited By The Ghosts Of Feminism's Past, It Raises Vital Questions About What This Means For Feminism's Future. -- From Publisher's Website. Wonder Women: All The World Is Waiting For You -- Postfeminism Or Ghost Feminism? -- Postfeminist Haunts: Working Girls In And Out Of The Urban Labyrinth -- Haunted Housewives And The Postfeminist Mystique -- Who's That Girl? Slayers, Spooks And Secret Agents -- The Return Of The Repressed: Feminism, Fear And The Postfeminist Gothic -- Ghostscript. Rebecca Munford & Melanie Waters. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 185-201) And Index. Feminism and Popular Culture maps the fraught and often unpredictable relationship between popular culture, feminism and postfeminism. From the shadowy city spaces of Mad Men and Homeland to the dystopic suburbia of The Stepford Wives and American Horror Story, the authors trace the maniacal career women, hysterical housewives and amnesiac girls who roam the postfeminist landscape. Through recourse to these figures, they are able to illuminate postfeminism's obsessive resuscitation of seemingly anachronistic models of femininity and ask why these should today be gilded with new appeal. Analys Over The Past Fifty Years, Feminism Has Revolutionized The Lives Of American Women. Yet Much Of Our Popular Culture Seems To Be Set In An Alternate Universe Filled With Retro Images Of Femininity: Suburban Stepford Wives, Maniacal Career Women, And Alluring Amnesiacs. Feminism And Popular Culture Investigates Why Contemporary Media Is Being Haunted By The Ghosts Of Feminism's Past—and Considers What This Means For Its Future.