Known for graphically brutal depictions of sex and violence, the subgenre emerged from the french arthouse scene in the late 1990s and became a cult phenomenon, eventually merging into the horror genre where it became associated with american torture porn. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading films of the new french extremity. Alexandra west this book provides an indepth study of new french extremity, focusing on such films as trouble every day 2001, irreversible 2002, twentynine palms 2003, high tension 2003 and martyrs. This is a cinematic and artistic movement that refers to a collection of transgressive films by french directors at the turn of the 21st century. New french extremity or new french extremism is a term coined by artforum critic james quandt for a collection of transgressive films by french directors at the turn of the 21st century. Visceral horror and national identity via mcfarland books or amazon. Alexandra wests films of the new french extremity visceral horror and national identity is another book i got given for my halfcentury birthday this year and, im happy to say, its one of those slightly rarer film books that is actually pretty well written and which holds a certain kind of intelligence projected at 24 frames per. Although the new french extremity might be considered simply as a bunch of extreme horror movies from. Visceral horror and national identity kindle edition by west, alexandra. The author explores the social implications of cinematic. Saint joan of arcs trials a fascinating morbid legal procedural.
Visceral horror and national identity, explains that the term the new french extremity was coined by tiffs senior programmer james quandt in a 2004 artforum piece titled flesh and blood. The case of baisemoi baisemoi despentes and trinh thi, 2000 is the story of two women who, marginalized by society, go on a destructive rampage where they fuck and kill men. French translation of extremity collins englishfrench. Hey the writing on the wall is fading and no heroes yeah hell before you never to come back new neighbor you. In films of the new french extremity, alexandra west studies french horror films which are known for graphically brutal depictions of sex and. It also includes a long interview with film programmer colin geddes, who has premiered many of the new french extremity films at the toronto international film festivals midnight madness programme. Flash sale get your limited edition faculty of horror class of 2016 tshirts. Visceral horror and national identity alexs book on things french, filmic and extreme. New french extremity new french extremism or, informally, new french extreme is a term coined by artforum critic james quandt for a collection of transgressive films by french directors at the turn of the 21st century. January 19, 2018 kisha 1 comment im sure there are book written about this subject and im not claiming to be an authority on it but heres an easy and slightly obvious guide to the new wave of french bizarre and disturbing films. Coined by critic james quandt in 2004, the term new french extremity refers to a selection of directors whose films embody a new aesthetic of naturalistic violence and symbolic transgression. The movement was dubbed, new french extremity, a name that no longer accurately describes the subgenre which is no longer new.
Originating from that which is deemed transgressive or offensive, this new wave of extreme films does so under the origins of french film makers. Rethinking pornography within the context of the new. Films of the new french extremity west alexandra west ebok. This book is an engaging eyeopener to the world of french horror and the development of the new french extremity. It is the countrys way of dealing with past traumas and present shared feelings of uncertainty and lack of security. Alexandra west is the author of films of the new french extremity 3. This book provides an indepth study of new french extremity. This book provides an indepth study of new french extremity, focusing on. Alexandra wests films of the new french extremity is a delightful treat for film buffs, horror fans, and those who love history.
Very interesting read which has been extremely influential on my current essay on whether or not the french new extremism can be classified as a genre. Bava as much as bataille, salo no less than sade seem the determinants of a. While it took a little while, hollywood has begun poaching from the new french extremity. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Which brings me to alexandra wests films of the new french extremity.
The films of the new french extremity have been reviled by critics but adored by fans and filmmakers. New french extremity restores french history as collective memory by using inductive images and unsettling styles that disturb and upset the spectator. Films of the new french extremity will most likely serve as the analytic lightning rod for fans and scholars of the nfe for some time to come, but hopefully will not be the last commentary for such a controversial genre. Plus, free twoday shipping for six months when you sign up for amazon prime for students. Films of the new french extremity by alexandra west. The filmmakers are also discussed by jonathan romney of the independent.
The films of the new french extremity were marked by extreme violence andor gore and overall, are considered exceptionally transgressive, even by horror cinema standards. New french extremity is a term coined by artforum critic james quandt for a collection of. Propaganda proceeds by psychological manipulations, character modifications, by creation of stereotypes useful when the time comes the two great routes that this subpropaganda takes are the conditioned reflex and the myth jacques ellul french new extremity, according to james quandt. We discuss perhaps the most challenging modern genre of horror, and explore mixed feelings about the breakout high tension. Over 100,000 french translations of english words and phrases. Alexandrawest, cohost of the faculty of horror blog, has written an excellent book, films of the new french extremity 2016, for readers interested in learning more about the subgenre. While the book is thorough, it is by no means is exhaustive, leaving the door open for further study. Parking new in front of any purported development in cinema, thematic, national, or otherwise, is a venerable tack, and by naming this development the new french extremity, the article appeared to give form to an apparent but hitherto unspecified affinity. Overseas, we think of france as a place of high art, language, culture, and diningromanticbut forget about the countrys dark past. Every page of the book offers something for readers to learn.
This book provides an indepth study of new french extremity, focusing on such films as trouble every day 2001, irreversible 2002, twentynine palms 2003, high tension 2003 and martyrs 2008. My introduction to french horror came in the early days of netflix. Through buckets of blood, ruined flesh and screams, the new french extremity is creating a cultural commentary about perceptions of gender and nihilism through the adaptation, and ultimate destruction, of an established horror trope. With their knowledge and background, its no surprise that west has recently written a book entitled films of the new french extremity. Essentially its a subgenre of horror that began in france in the 1990s and continued for a little over a decade. You can get your own copy of films of the new french extremity. Inside remake misses the point of new french extremity.
Associated with the new french extremity movement, high tension is a french horror film splattered with a looming psychopath, under the radar sexuality, and a twist ending that will polarize. Arriving from that, these films have fallen under the modern categorization of what some call french extreme or new french extremity. West displays remarkable insight into each film, taking the depictions of suffering and. How the new french extremity is redefining the final girl. And that is exactly what alex wests debut, films of the new french extremity, is all about. Visceral horror and national identity, the first volume to focus exclusively on the gory, sexually explicit, controversial, and often transgressive french films from the late 90s. In the latest episode of tiffs yo adrian podcast, alex west, author of films of the new french extremity. When james quandt coined the term new french extremity in a piece for artforum, he referred to such a. Visceral horror and national identity 9781476663487. After committing a murder, a young couple on the run find refuge in a remote cottage in the woods, where they become trapped by the perverse hermit who lives there. A look at the new french extremity movement from its early arthouse sex and violence roots through to the new wave of french horror. Alexandra west takes a look at the movement with films of the new french extremity. Excellent book chronicling the history, themes, and politics of the new extremity movement in french cinema.
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