Counter-imagination as interpretive practice: Futuristic fantasy and the fifth element

Brian L. Ott; Eric Aoki

doi:10.1080/07491409.2004.10162471

Counter-imagination as interpretive practice: Futuristic fantasy and the fifth element

Brian L. Ott, Eric Aoki

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3 Scopus citations

Abstract

This essay concerns the relationship between popular cinematic visions of the future and present day identity politics. We argue that despite its futuristic setting celebrating technological progress and multiculturalism. Luc Besson's 1997 film The Fifth Element constructs sexual and racial difference in a manner that privileges and naturalizes White heterosexual masculinity. The essay offers counter-imagination as an interpretive practice that destabilizes the categories of sexual and racial difference as they are negotiated within appeals to popular imagination.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	149-176
Number of pages	28
Journal	Women's Studies in Communication
Volume	27
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/07491409.2004.10162471
State	Published - 2004

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10.1080/07491409.2004.10162471

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Counter-imagination as interpretive practice: Futuristic fantasy and the fifth element

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