Corpses, Fools and Monsters : The History and Future of Transness in Cinema

Agroundbreaking exploration of trans images in film and the emerging politicalpossibilities of the new trans cinema movement. Forover a century, trans images have appeared in cinema, often as harmful culturalobjects shaped by the zeitgeist—from Christine Jorgensen to Candy Darling tosensationalised guests on The Jerry Springer Show.These representationsfrequently cast trans bodies in abject forms: as corpses, jokes, tragicmartyrs, or even monsters.But now, a new wave of trans cinema is emerging fromthe margins, creating its own film language in direct response to this history. Corpses,Fools, and Monsters provides a radicalhistory of trans images in film, analysing the works of trans directors likeIsabel Sandoval, Silas Howard, and the Wachowski Sisters.It explores transrepresentation in everything from pre-talkie films and Ed Wood’s B-movies toOscar-winners, body horror, and slashers.Beyond reassessing notable films andportrayals, the book highlights overlooked filmmakers and films, showcasingthose who are pushing trans cinema into the mainstream in the twenty-firstcentury. Key Features: - Acritical history of trans representations in cinema-In-depth analysis of notable trans filmmakers, including Isabel Sandoval, SilasHoward, and the Wachowski Sisters-Exploration of diverse film genres, from body horror to Oscar-winning dramas-Focus on both historical and emerging trans cinema movements-Brings attention to underappreciated films and artists that challengetraditional portrayals