The Silence of the Lambs : Critical Essays on a Cannibal, Clarice, and a Nice Chianti

One of only three films to-date to win Academy Awards in all five major categories, The Silence of the Lambs marked a sea change in horror films when it debuted, shifting the genre from teen slasher fare of the 1970s to the sophisticated psychological horror that characterizes acclaimed films today. Praised by some as the first true feminist thriller, it has drawn criticism from others for perpetuating narratives of crimes against women and demonizing its queer character. Regardless of the controversy, this film is a perennial favorite and even made it into AFI’s list of top 100 movies of all time. In The Silence of the Lambs : Critical Essays on a Cannibal, Clarice, and a Nice Chianti , editor Cynthia J. Miller compiles fifteen essays, contributed by authors from a wide range of disciplines, which are divided into three sections, each approaching the film from a different vantage point: “Situating the Silence” looks at the film in its cultural and historical context—as an adaptation, popular culture icon, and as an element in genre and character history; “Dissecting Evil” takes a closer look at portrayals of evil in the film, in both Hannibal Lecter and Buffalo Bill; and “Minds, Hearts, and Body Parts” offers critical explorations of gender, patriarchy, class, Orientalism, and humor as lenses for continued contemporary analysis of this classic film. Written accessibly, this collection of essays also introduces readers to forensics, semantics, and the psychology of serial killers. The Silence of the Lambs : Critical Essays on a Cannibal, Clarice, and a Nice Chianti will be of interest to scholars and fans of horror, thriller, and crime drama films, as well as those interested in film history and the legacy of “Hannibal the Cannibal” in popular culture. Contents Acknowledgments Introduction Part I: Situating the Silence 1 Adapting The Silence of the Lambs 2 Chasing Demons 3 “Clarice, Your Case File” 4 Hannibal Lecter, Preying on the Last Man at the End of History 5 The Silence of the Lambs and the Transformation of the Mystery-Thriller Film Part II: Dissecting Evil 6 The Evolution of Evil 7 Forensic Silence 8 Hannibal Lecter 9 Misrepresenting the Psychopathology of Serial Killers in The Silence of the Lambs 10 Denial and Dominance in the Semantics of Buffalo Bill in The Silence of the Lambs Part III: Minds, Hearts, and Body Parts 11 Buffalo Bill Meets Madame Butterfly 12 The Filleting of Gender and Sexuality in The Silence of the Lambs 13 Tortured Objects 14 “A Hustling Rube with a Little Taste” 15 Oh, Hannibal—You Cannibal Appendix Index About the Editor and Contributors The Silence Of The Lambs: Critical Essays On A Cannibal, Clarice, And A Nice Chianti Brings Together Scholarship From Across The Disciplines To Examine Not Only Themes Commonly Associated With The Film--such As Gender, Cannibalism, And Psychopathy--but Also Unexpected Themes Such As The Film's Use Of Humor, Language, And Forensic Science, As Well As Issues Of Orientalism And Classism. Each Of The Essays Offers A New Perspective On A Film That Both Audiences And Scholars Relate To As A Cultural Touchstone. In Addition, Chapters On Critical Historiography, The Film's Role In Popular Culture, Genre Evolution, As Well As Its Critical Reception, Offer Contemporary Readers A Big Picture Perspective On The Film.