To describe women in film as “invisible” may seem peculiar, considering that actresses throughout film history have provided audiences with different representations of femininity, and that female stars have been closely connected with the film industry’s glamorous surface and the notion of visual attraction and pleasure.
This book, however, is concerned with the underrepresentation of women in other areas of film culture. Despite significant variations between countries/geographical areas, historical time periods and different roles/professions in film production, distribution and exhibition, film related equipment and spaces such as cameras and projection booths have generally been operated and occupied by men, and still in contemporary film culture, many professions are male dominated.
We investigate women’s contribution to film in a wide range of professional roles, in a book that features new perspectives on stars/actresses and their agency, as well as LGBT and queer identities.