Screening the Marquis de Sade

Since their publication, the works of the Marquis de Sade have challenged the reading public with a philosophy of relentless physical transgression. This is the first book-length academic study by a single author that applies the philosophy of the Marquis de Sade to the analysis of a wide array of film texts. By employing Sade's controversial body-oriented philosophy within film analysis, this book provides a new understanding of notions of pain, pleasure, and the representation of the transgressive body in film. Whereas many analyses have used theory to excuse and thus dilute the power of sexual and violent images, the author has here sought to examine cinematic representations of human relations as unflinchingly as Sade did in his novels.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments         
Preface         
Introduction: The Philosophy of the Marquis de Sade         

Part One: The Monster in Horror         
1. Vampires         
2. Zombies         
3. Werewolves         

Part Two: Monstrous Humans         
4. Serial Killers         
5. Cannibals         
6. The Transhuman         

Part Three: Victims         
7. Women         
8. Adolescents         

Part Four: Sexual Transgressors         
9. Sadists         
10. Masochists         

Conclusion         
Filmography         
Chapter Notes         
Bibliography         
Index