What are the consequences of how Jews are depicted in movies and television series? Drawing on a host of movies and television series from the 1970s to present day,
Jews in Contemporary Visual Entertainment
explores how the media sexualize and racialize American Jews. Race and sexuality frequently intersect in the depiction of Jewish characters in such shows as
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
,
UnREAL
The Expanse
, and
Breaking Bad
, and in films such as
Hester Street
Once Upon a Time in America
Casino
Radio Days
Inglourious Basterds
Barton Fink
. When they do, American sexual norms are invariably challenged or outright broken by these anti-Semitic representations of Jewishness.Insightful and provocative,
disturbingly reveals the far-reaching influence of popular visual media in shaping how American Jews are perceived today.