Performing Arts History & Criticism
The Silvering Screen
Old Age and Disability in Cinema
- Publisher
- University of Toronto Press, Scholarly Publishing Division
- Initial publish date
- May 2011
- Category
- History & Criticism, Gerontology
-
Paperback / softback
- ISBN
- 9781442611047
- Publish Date
- May 2011
- List Price
- $39.95
-
Hardback
- ISBN
- 9781442640795
- Publish Date
- May 2011
- List Price
- $55.00
-
eBook
- ISBN
- 9781442661981
- Publish Date
- May 2011
- List Price
- $29.95
Add it to your shelf
Where to buy it
Out of print
This edition is not currently available in bookstores. Check your local library or search for used copies at Abebooks.
Description
Popular films have always included elderly characters, but until recently, old age only played a supporting role onscreen. Now, as the Baby Boomer population hits retirement, there has been an explosion of films, including Away From Her, The Straight Story, The Barbarian Invasions, and About Schmidt, where aging is a central theme.
The first-ever sustained discussion of old age in cinema, The Silvering Screen brings together theories from disability studies, critical gerontology, and cultural studies, to examine how the film industry has linked old age with physical and mental disability. Sally Chivers further examines Hollywood's mixed messages - the applauding of actors who portray the debilitating side of aging, while promoting a culture of youth - as well as the gendering of old age on film. The Silvering Screen makes a timely attempt to counter the fear of aging implicit in these readings by proposing alternate ways to value getting older.
About the author
Sally Chivers is Chair of the Department of Canadian Studies at Trent University.