Jill Watts

Mae West: an Icon in Black and White

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ISBN 13:: 9780195161120
author:: Jill Watts
format:: Paperback
publisher:: Oxford University Press
language:: English
Publication Year:: 2003
Pages:: 400
Genre:: Biographies & True Stories
Condition:: New
Availability:: Item usually sent within 10 working days

£23.06

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Description

Description

Mae West: An Icon in Black and White by Jill Watts is a fascinating study that reveals a beloved icon as a radically subversive artist. Through previously untapped sources, author Jill Watts unravels the enigmatic life of Mae West, tracing her journey from her early years in Brooklyn to her rise as one of Hollywood's most popular stars. West's career was marked by controversy and censorship, but Watts convincingly argues that she borrowed heavily from African American culture, music, dance, and humor, creating a subversive voice for herself. By appropriating black traditions such as double-speak and "signifying," West may have hinted at her own African-American ancestry and the phenomenon of a black woman passing for white. This comprehensive account is the first to explore Mae West's life and work in depth, offering a fresh perspective on this iconic figure.

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