Headline Hollywood: A Century of Film Scandal

Communications, Media, and Culture Series

by Adrienne L. McLean, David A. Cook (Editor)

Hollywood has long been associated with scandal--with covering it up, with managing its effects, and, in some cases, with creating and directing it. In putting together Headline Hollywood, Adrienne McLean and David Cook approach the relationship between Hollywood and scandal from a fresh perspective. The contributors consider some of the famous transgressions that shocked Hollywood and its audiences during the last century, and explore the changing meaning of scandal over time by zeroing in on issues of power: Who decides what crimes and misdemeanors should be circulated for public consumption and titillation? What makes a Hollywood scandal scandalous? What are the uses of scandal? The essays are arranged chronologically to show how Hollywood scandals have evolved relative to changing moral and social orders. This collection will prove essential to the field of film studies as well as to anyone interested in the character and future direction of American culture. Contributors are Mark Lynn Anderson, Cynthia Baron, James Castonguay, Nancy Cook, Mary Desjardins, Lucy Fischer, Lee Grieveson, Erik Hedling, Peter Lehman, William Luhr, Adrienne L. McLean, Susan McLeland, and Sam Stoloff. Adrienne L. McLean is an assistant professor of film studies at the University of Texas at Dallas. David A. Cook is a professor of film and media studies at Emory University. He is the author of A History of Film Narrative.

Genres: Nonfiction, Film, Essays

313 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fascinating series of essays that look at how scandal is understood and used by the media, the public, and politicians for personal, economic, and moral gains.

[Jaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting collection, even if it does take itself too seriously. The Arbuckle essay has a rather tenuous thesis.