The Fascination of Film Violence

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-vii

   PDF

2. Introduction

   • Henry Bacon

   Pages 1-10

3. The Biocultural Evolution of Representing Violence

   • Henry Bacon

   Pages 11-51

4. Symbolism of Evil in Film

   • Henry Bacon

   Pages 52-85

5. The Poetics of Film Violence

   • Henry Bacon

   Pages 86-121

6. Women and Physical Screen Violence

   • Henry Bacon

   Pages 122-150

7. Relational and Structural Violence

   • Henry Bacon

   Pages 151-187

8. Back Matter

   Pages 188-220

   PDF

The Fascination of Film Violence is a study of why fictional violence is such an integral part of fiction film. How can something dreadful be a source of art and entertainment? Explanations are sought from the way social and cultural norms and practices have shaped biologically conditioned violence related traits in human behavior.

• Altruistic punishment
• Biolculturalism
• Cognitive science
• Comic violence
• Counterviolence
• (symbolism of) Evil
• Fictional violence
• Film violence
• Law and order
• Metaemotions
• Rape and revenge
• Relational violence
• Sadism
• Structural violence
• Vigilante
• Violence
• film
• violence

'Screen violence has been a core feature of cinema throughout its history. Henry Bacon gives us a wise and perceptive exploration of the uncanny appeals of movie violence and the numerous ways that it engages and affects audiences. This is an elegant and persuasive treatment of a complex and paradoxical subject.' - Stephen Prince, author of Savage Cinema: Sam Peckinpah and the Rise of Ultraviolent Movies

• University of Helsinki, Finland

  Henry Bacon

Henry Bacon is Professor of Film and Television Studies at the University of Helsinki, Finland. Previously he worked as a research fellow at the Finnish Film Archive, where he also acted as project manager in charge of designing a national radio and television archive.

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