Abstract
As has been demonstrated in the preceding chapters, the late twentieth century witnessed a consolidated engagement by mainstream cinema with pain guided by a masochistic impulse. Sadism was hardly eclipsed, with torment rather than ecstatic submission remaining the dominant formulation, but films such as Crash, Fight Club and even 8mm and Se7en began considering the possibility, and in some cases the compunction, to experience pain as a form of exquisite pleasure. The case studies therefore highlighted a progressive shift towards acknowledging the potential delights, benefits even, of releasing control and accepting the pleasures of pain.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 2013 Steven Allen
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Allen, S. (2013). Choosing Torture Instead of Submission. In: Cinema, Pain and Pleasure. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137306692_7
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137306692_7
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-33989-1
Online ISBN: 978-1-137-30669-2
eBook Packages: Palgrave Media & Culture CollectionLiterature, Cultural and Media Studies (R0)