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Hooked: Drug War Films in Britain, Canada, and the United States
The first film about drugs, chinese Opium Den, was made in 1894 as a half-minute-long silent film (Kinetograph). Featured at penny arcades, and produced by Thomas Edison's film studio called Black Maria, it sparked a host of other "opium"; movies. Today only stills of Chinese Opium Den exist.
Despite the plethora of films since 1894, only three books on drugs and cinema have been published prior to Susan Boyd's Hooked: Drug War Films in Britain, Canada, and the United States (Routledge $95), a survey that includes Canadian "drug"; films, as well as British and U.S. productions, from 1912 to the present.
Boyd is keenly aware that widespread drug prohibition emerged at the same time as the discovery of film. "Their histories intersect in interesting ways,"; says Boyd, who focuses on war-on-drugs narratives and how cinematic representations of illegal drug use and trafficking (regardless of drug type) are linked to discourses about fears of 'the Other,' nation building, law and order, and punishment.
"I also write about alternative films and stoner flicks,"; she says, "and I include a chapter on women and maternal drug use."; According to Boyd, some of the most significant Canadian drug films are: High (1967) directed by L. Kent; The Barbarian Invasions (2003) directed by D. Arcand; On the Corner (2003) directed by N. Geary; and Trailer Park Boys (2006) directed by M. Clattenburg. Her favorites are The Barbarian Invasions and Trailer Park Boys (and their Showcase episode titled Trailer Park Boys Xmas Special (2004).
Some of the stills included in her book are from Broken Blossoms (1919); Narcotic (1933); Reefer Madness (1936); Valley of the Dolls (1967); Drugstore Cowboy (1989); Postcards from the Edge (1990) and Trainspotting (1996).
978-0-415 95706-9
[BCBW 2008] "Drugs" "Film"
Despite the plethora of films since 1894, only three books on drugs and cinema have been published prior to Susan Boyd's Hooked: Drug War Films in Britain, Canada, and the United States (Routledge $95), a survey that includes Canadian "drug"; films, as well as British and U.S. productions, from 1912 to the present.
Boyd is keenly aware that widespread drug prohibition emerged at the same time as the discovery of film. "Their histories intersect in interesting ways,"; says Boyd, who focuses on war-on-drugs narratives and how cinematic representations of illegal drug use and trafficking (regardless of drug type) are linked to discourses about fears of 'the Other,' nation building, law and order, and punishment.
"I also write about alternative films and stoner flicks,"; she says, "and I include a chapter on women and maternal drug use."; According to Boyd, some of the most significant Canadian drug films are: High (1967) directed by L. Kent; The Barbarian Invasions (2003) directed by D. Arcand; On the Corner (2003) directed by N. Geary; and Trailer Park Boys (2006) directed by M. Clattenburg. Her favorites are The Barbarian Invasions and Trailer Park Boys (and their Showcase episode titled Trailer Park Boys Xmas Special (2004).
Some of the stills included in her book are from Broken Blossoms (1919); Narcotic (1933); Reefer Madness (1936); Valley of the Dolls (1967); Drugstore Cowboy (1989); Postcards from the Edge (1990) and Trainspotting (1996).
978-0-415 95706-9
[BCBW 2008] "Drugs" "Film"
Submitted on June 3, 2008 in By David.
