A Zoo of Lust... a Harem of Fondled Hatreds
An Historical Interrogation of Sexual Violence Against Women in Film

Explores the pernicious nature of rape in films from the silent era to the 21st century. This book addresses three major questions: why does rape persist as a recurring theme in film, how is this subject manifested in film and what does this manifestation say about the act of rape itself, its victims, its perpetrators and our culture?

My research dwells on the portrayal of the latter type of victims because their sexual violations evoke an absorbing commentary on society's reaction toward those who do not easily fit into the status quo. What is it about the makeup of these victims that make their violations more horrific?