Edinburgh University Press Phases of the Moon: A Cultural History of the Werewolf Film

Examines the cultural significance of the werewolf film Provides the first academic monograph dedicated to developing a cultural understanding of the werewolf film Reconsiders the psychoanalytic paradigms that have dominated scholarly discussion of werewolves in pop culture Includes over 40 individual case studies to illustrate how werewolf films can be understood as products of their cultural moment Identifies the cinematic werewolf's most common metaphorical dimensions Horror monsters such as the vampire, the zombie and Frankenstein's creature have long been the subjects of in-depth cultural studies, but the cinematic werewolf has often been considered little more than the 'beast within' a psychoanalytic analogue for the bestial side of man. This book, the first scholarly study of the werewolf in cinema, redresses the balance by exploring over 100 years of werewolf films, from The Werewolf (1913) to Wildling (2018) via The Wolf Man (1941), The Curse of the Werewolf (1961), The Howling (1981) and WolfCop (2014). Revealing the significance of she-wolves and wolf-men as evolving metaphors for the cultural fears and anxieties of their times, Phases of the Moon serves as a companion and a counterpoint to existing scholarship on the werewolf in popular culture, and illustrates how we can begin to understand one of our oldest mythical monsters as a rich and diverse cultural metaphor. From the Inside Flap This is a book long needed. For all the impressive academic books out there on screen vampires, their hirsute kindred have received comparatively little attention. Craig Ian Mann's Phases of the Moon discusses films both familiar and extremely obscure with rigorous scholarship and clear prose. In the immortal words of Warren Zevon: Ah-woooo!Murray Leeder, University of CalgaryAstute, absorbing and gleefully thorough! Craig Ian Mann offers a thoughtful and scholarly deep-dive into a centurys worth of werewolf movies, exploring themes of alienation, sexuality and rebellion within a cultural and historical context. Along the way, Mann happens to assert the irrefutable social significance of the horror genre. Bravo!Larry Fessenden, writer and directorEngaging, insightful, useful and fun. This is a supremely confident and well-written book with a vast amount of knowledge and enthusiasm behind it. It was a pleasure to read.Simon Brown, Kingston University LondonHorror monsters such as the vampire, the zombie and Frankensteins creature have long been the subjects of in-depth cultural studies, but the cinematic werewolf has often been considered little more than the beast within: a psychoanalytic analogue for the bestial side of man. This book, the first comprehensive history of the werewolf in cinema, redresses the balance by exploring over 100 years of werewolf films, from The Werewolf (1913) to Wildling (2018) via The Wolf Man (1941), The Curse of the Werewolf (1961), The Howling (1981) and WolfCop (2014).Revealing the significance of she-wolves and wolf-men as evolving metaphors for the pervading fears and anxieties of their times, Phases of the Moon serves as a companion and a counterpoint to existing scholarship on the werewolf in popular culture, and illustrates how we can begin to understand one of our oldest mythical monsters as a rich and diverse cultural metaphor.Craig Ian Mann lectures in Film and Media Studies at Sheffield Hallam University.Cover design © Mute, 2020, www.mutecult.com[EUP logo]edinburghuniversitypress.comISBN 978-1-4744-4111-7Barcode From the Back Cover 'This is a book long needed. For all the impressive academic books out there on screen vampires, their hirsute kindred have received comparatively little attention. Craig Ian Mann's Phases of the Moon discusses films both familiar and extremely obscure with rigorous scholarship and clear prose. In the immortal words of Warren Zevon: Ah-woooo!' Murray Leeder, University of Calgary 'Astute, absorbing and gleefully thorough!