published_or_final_version / Comparative Literature / Master / Master of Philosophy

This thesis examines the articulations of gender, class, and race in a specific sample of films from the 1930's to the 1990's. The tendency in these films is to depict women as passive, rather than heroic. Because this has been the common practice, I chose to outline it through fourteen films that exemplified an inherent bias when dealing with women as subject matter. Brief summaries of several recently produced progressive films are provided to show that it is possible to improve the image of women in film, hence we may finally witness justice on the big screen. / In this discursive analysis, I trace specific themes from the feminist and film literature to provide a critical overview of the chosen films, with a view to establishing educational possibilities for the complex issues dealt with in this study.

This thesis explores the changing relationship of power, technology, and gender in recent Hollywood films. Beginning with ideas of gender "truths" in philosophical thought, I posit that the representation of violence is inseparable from the notion of gender, and that ideas of gender are always historically specific. / I examine masculinity and aggression in Vietnam films, arguing that masculinity must struggle to renew its privilege and its illusion of purity. / Finally, I examine combat roles for women where the heroines have accessed "male" technology to become subjects of the social act. I conclude that these representations offer a possible female subjectivity and resistance to patriarchal assimilation only when the ambivalence and fragility of that subjectivity is recognized.

This film is a comment on the past, present, and future. It looks into the past in photographs, brief dialogues, and period music.The film shows the home as it is today ... a deserted building that is no longer a home. It is in need of repair and living beings to bring life anew. The film is intended to bring thought to the viewer to be more responsive to the needs of the future.The cycles of life are seen as parallels from generation to generation.

The focus of this study was to explore the film image of the mental health professional (MHP) in importance of this study is founded upon the assumption that many film viewers' perceptions and expectations of the mental health profession and the process of psychotherapy and counseling are influenced by these film images.A total of seventeen films were identified. Of these, eight were randomly selected for a content analysis. A prevailing film image of the MHP and MHP's client was obtained. Following the content analysis, the films selected were further analyzed using a hermeneutic approach, which is a further development of phenomenolical theories. The study was descriptive in nature and, therefore, no statistical analyses were employed.The results of this study found that the film image of the MHP in current films is more negative than previous researchers have discovered. This image iscontemporary Hollywood feature length films. They explored within the social and political context of the 1980s, and associations are made among perceptions of authority figures, gender of film MHPs, and techniques employed by film MHPs. Recommendations are made for future researchers. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of California, San Diego, 2007. / Adviser: Yingjin Zhang. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / Bibliography. Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--York University, 2006. Graduate Programme in History. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 435-456). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:NR19837

Thesis (M. A.)--University of New South Wales, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references. Also availalbe online.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Murdoch University, 2005. / Thesis submitted to the Division of Arts. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 328-342) and filmography (leaves 343-345).