The Crash Controversy: Censorship Campaigns and Film ReceptionBetween 1996-97 an almost unprecedented campaign was mounted in the British press against one film: David Cronenberg's "Crash." Ultimately unsuccessful, the year-long campaign went to extremes to try to get the film banned (where it still is in one London borough). What motivated this campaign? What can it tell us about British film culture? What impact did the campaign have on general audiences? And with all those claims of corruption and depravity, what did ordinary viewers -- whether they loved it or hated it -- have to say about "Crash"? This book, which draws on a year-long investigation funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, offers a series of important and challenging findings. "The Crash Controversy" is thus a major contribution to our understanding of censorship campaigns, how audiences respond to films of a controversial nature, and the strategies employed in engaging with such texts. |
Contents
ONE BIG CONTROVERSY SEVERAL LARGE RESEARCH TASKS | 1 |
EXPECTING THE WORST | 27 |
THE SHAPE OF POSITIVE RESPONSES | 63 |
FOUR MENS POSITIVE RESPONSES TO CRASH | 93 |
REFUSING CRASH | 115 |
SORTING THROUGH THE WRECKAGE | 139 |
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actually analysis arousing asked audience research Basic Instinct BBFC boring British campaign car crashes Catherine censors censorship Chapter characters Christopher Tookey cinema claims concept controversy critics Cronenberg cultural Daily Mail David David Cronenberg David Lynch debate Deborah Thomas Derek dislike English Patient entertainment erotic expectations experience explore fact feel felt film film-maker film's filmic genre Holly Hunter Hollywood idea important interesting Interview involved issues James James Ferman James Spader journalists Judge Dredd judgement kind Lindsey London Mail's Martin Barker mean Michael Mike moral motives movie narrative particular people's Petley pleasure porn pornography position Press question reactions relation relationship responses to Crash screening seen sense sex scenes sexual shocking social sort talk there's things thought tion Tookey Vaughan Video Nasties Videodrome viewers viewing strategy violence Walker WOMEN'S CINEMA yeah