Race in American Film

November 1, 2017

Bernardi (cinema, San Francisco State Univ.) and Green (film studies & screenwriting, Arizona State Univ.) offer critical insights into U.S. cinema's place in world culture with respect to race. The work begins with an alphabetical list of entries (on movies, directors, actors, and noteworthy topics), a list of films by era, a guide to related topics, and a chronology. In an excellent introductory essay, the editors discuss their theory of race, the difficulty of consensus on race's meaning in film, and the challenge of compiling contributions from a diverse range of 95 scholars, who don't all agree on the definitions of race and racism. The editors include only what they consider the most significant films. All articles are signed, with "see-also" references and suggestions for further reading and viewing. Posters, pictures, and film scenes supplement the entries. The work concludes with recommended books, journals, websites, and other materials. Although the contributors are scholars, their clearly written and stimulating articles will be accessible to most readers. VERDICT High school and college students, general readers, and film enthusiasts interested in the role of race in U.S. cinema will find this exceptional and well-organized work indispensable.--Rob Tench, Old Dominion Univ. Lib., Norfolk, VA

Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2017
This reference work couldn't have come at a better time. Its examination of race and racism on screen, from the film industry's early days to the present, provides historical and cultural context for our current national discussion. As the editors explain in the preface, their aim is to cover three kinds of films: those that are considered outright racist; those that attempt to subvert racism (however problematically); and those by nonwhite directors that feature nonwhite characters or racial themes. They enlisted a diverse group of 95 contributors to write more than 300 articles on individual actors, films, genres, directors, and other relevant topics. Each of the alphabetically arranged entries provides not only basic information, such as plot summaries and production histories, but also background discussions of contemporary as well as current reactions to particular films or subjects. There are also suggestions for further viewing and reading. Additional features include a guide to related topics, a chronology, and a substantial list of recommended resources. These three volumes will be a welcome addition to collections that serve high-school and college students as well as individual film buffs and independent scholars.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)