Abstract: »This dissertation, which takes the first part of its title from the musings of C.S. Lewis, discusses the subject of rape in classic and contemporary Hollywood cinema—yesterday and today, i.e., from 1915 to 2003—in which I interrogate the rape and victimization of women as viewed through the lens of feminist theory and film. Despite much feminist intervention and revamping of rape laws, women are still seen as instigators of their own victimization as well as victims of a distraught and failing femininity. I concur with many film theorists that most rape scenes provide insight into the power relations of race, gender and class oppressions; however, by taking a slight departure, I move beyond these relations and enter into a wider discussion of the construction of female virtue, pedophilia, female sexual orientation, woman as spectacle, woman in the middle, and commodification of female sexuality. I also discuss the relationship between rape and religion. Working from a selective rather than exhaustive and from a thematic rather than a strictly historic framework, these themes are discussed in conjunction with their significance as it relates to particularly graphic rape scenes. That is, I explore what these films collectively say about rape, as I try to understand what about the victim or theme makes the rape scene so graphic. I submit that in each of the films that I analyze, the individual trauma of the victim has its etiology in more complex dysfunctions of the larger social world; therefore, I examine sexual victimization in the context of the societal power structure in which she resides. I also look at masculinities under pressure and how these pressures are often used to explain and to excuse men doing harm to women. Finally, I juxtapose the connection between past histories and images of rape in film with the contemporary reality of the discourse of rape and provide some commentary on how to lessen their impact onto the female experience.« (Source: Thesis)

Contents:

	Acknowledgements (p. iii)
	Abstract (p. vi)
	Introduction: Theoretical and Generic Contexts of Sexual Violence (p. 7)
		The Woman Dilemma (p. 15)
	Review of Literature: Feminism’s Response to Rape (p. 17)
		An Overview of Rape on the Big Screen (p. 26)
		Invisibility and the Beast (p. 34)
		Masculinities under Pressure (p. 45)
		Black Women’s Sexuality: “It’s Not Over Just Because it Stopped” (p. 54)
	Methodology: The Bottom Line (p. 68)
	Film Representations of Rape (p. 73)
		Chapter 1: For Such a Time as This: Female Virtue (p. 75)
			Birth of a Nation (p. 75)
		Chapter 2: Girls, Interrupted: Pedophilia (p. 83)
			A Time to Kill (p. 83)
			Bastard Out of Carolina (p. 91)
			Monsoon Wedding (p. 98)
			Things Behind the Sun (p. 101)
		Chapter 3: No Rest for the Weary: Sexual Orientation and Rape (p. 108)
			Boys Don’t Cry (p. 108)
			Women of Brewster Place (p. 115)
		Chapter 4: Woman as Spectacle: Exploitation and Idolization (p. 122)
			The Accused (p. 122)
			Swept Away (p. 130)
		Chapter 5: Woman in the Middle (p. 134)
			Straw Dogs (p. 134)
			Dust (p. 140)
			Thelma and Louise (p. 149)
		Chapter 6: Commodification of Women’s Sexuality (p. 156)
			Pretty Woman (p. 156)
			“Monstrous” Monster (p. 163)
		Chapter 7: The Religion Connection (p. 174)
			The Virgin Spring (p. 174)
			The Magdalene Sisters (p. 180)
	What Shall We Say To These Things: A Few Suggestions (p. 185)
		The Medium or the Message (p. 190)
		Other Representations of Rape’s Staying Power (p. 196)
		What Else Can We Do? (p. 203)
	Appendix (p. 207)
	Appendix: Rape Films Categorized (p. 207)
	Works Cited (p. 210)

Thesis: James, Deveryle. “A Zoo of Lusts ... A Harem of Fondled Hatreds”: An Historical Interrogation of Sexual Violence against Women in Film. Newcastle upon Tyne 2011. - Bibliography Entry: Info

Wikipedia: History of Asia: History of India | History of Europe: History of Sweden | History of the Americas: History of the United States | Film: Films about rape / Bastard Out of Carolina (film), The Birth of a Nation, Boys Don't Cry (1999 film), The Magdalene Sisters, Monsoon Wedding, Pretty Woman, Straw Dogs (1971 film), Thelma & Louise, Things Behind the Sun, The Virgin Spring | Television: American television series / The Women of Brewster Place (miniseries) | Sex and the law: Rape / History of rape