In The Rhetoric and Medicalization of Pregnancy and Childbirth in Horror Films, Courtney Patrick-Weber argues that the medicalization of pregnancy and childbirth traumatizes pregnant people in a number of ways, even as many people believe the shift toward medicalization has improved conditions for pregnant people. Patrick-Weber analyzes a selection of horror films, including The Void and Black Christmas, to demonstrate not only evidence of this trauma on a visceral level, but also how horror films can reflect and contribute to cultural conversations surrounding pregnancy and childbirth. While horror films are often neglected as vital sources of intellect and analysis, many of these films use their subversive viewpoints on cultural issues to offer a unique perspective that can ultimately help to shape the way society views them. Patrick-Weber reminds us that pregnancy and childbirth can be traumatic events, both physically and emotionally, as she discusses the current conversations surrounding the issue and critiques the "advancement" of medicalization. Scholars of film studies, gender studies, rhetoric, and medicine may find this book particularly useful.

About the Author
Courtney Patrick-Weber is assistant professor of rhetoric and composition at Bay Path University.

Reviews
Courtney Patrick-Weber offers a welcome new perspective on horror films that deal with the myriad ways that pregnancy and birth are bound up within medicine, law, and politics. By focusing on the rhetorical framing of issues such as risk and choice, and their role in narratives of trauma and loss, Weber highlights how popular culture might interrogate our assumptions about bodies, power and agency. -- Erin Harrington, University of Canterbury



Book Information
ISBN 9781793602800
Author Courtney Patrick-Weber
Format Hardback
Page Count 102
Imprint Lexington Books
Publisher Lexington Books
Weight(grams) 331g
Dimensions(mm) 233mm * 160mm * 14mm