Speaking, Singing, Screaming: Controlling the Female Voice in American Cinema

Abstract

Feminist film scholars have long argued that there is a visual bias as to how the female body is represented on screen. This article explores the extension of this bias to include sound: how sound is used to represent women in American cinema. It explores sonic representation in several key films including Singin' in the Rain, Mulholland Drive, Blue Velvet and Citizen Kane.