March 29, 2024

I Spit on Your Grave (Cultographies) by David Maguire

ISOYG Front CoverDuring its recent road trip to New Orleans, The MOnster read David Maguire’s book “I Spit On Your Grave”, which dissects – with a VERY sharp knife – Meir Zarchi’s original 1978 hit film and the copycat films, sequels and reboots that followed it. This is an extremely in-depth and well written history of the film and its genre, although what that genre is (exploitation or female empowerment?) still remains debatable. This series of films is also very near to The MOnster’s heart, as it will, itself, be making an on-screen appearance as the main antagonist, Becky, in the official sequel to the original 1978 ISOYG: I Spit On Your Grave Deja Vu. Hopefully Maguire’s book will soon be updated to include his thoughts and feelings on this sequel, which stars two amazing talents: Camille Keaton – the original Jennifer Hills – and Jamie Bernadette as Hills’ daughter, Christy.

But, without further ado, here is Maguire’s own press release regarding his book:

 

“There is no denying that Meir Zarchi’s I Spit on Your Grave (1978) deserves its title as one of the most controversial films ever made. While many condemn it as misogynistic, others praise it for raising uncomfortable issues about sexual violence. While its reputation as a cult film has undoubtedly been cemented by its unique position in the 1970s/80s exploitation era and the “video nasties” scandal, it has also become mythologized by its own official and unofficial franchises. David Maguire examines why the film still continues to provoke fierce debate forty years on, not only investigating the historical, social, and political landscape into which the film was first released-and condemned-but also examining how it is has inadvertently become ground zero for the rape-revenge genre because of its countless imitators. The book explores how academic study has reevaluated the film’s importance as a cultural statement on gender, the conflicting readings that it throws up, the timeless appeal of its story as examined through folklore and mythology, and its updating to reflect contemporary issues in a post-9/11 world of vengeance and retaliation.”

DAVID MAGUIRE is a programmer for the Leeds International Film Festival’s fantasy/horror strand, with an MA in Film Studies from the University of Bradford.

The book can be bought direct from Columbia University Press at the following link. If you use the code ‘CUP30’ at checkout you get 30% off:

cup.columbia.edu/book/i-spit-on-your-grave/9780231188753

The book is also available from Amazon.com at:

https://www.amazon.com/I-Spit-Your-Grave-Cultograpies/dp/0231188757/

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