Controversies

'This is a remarkable and highly unusual book. Kramer turns aside from the endlessly repeated queries about whether a film like A Clockwork Orange might 'cause people to go out and rape', and asks instead: how does this film participate in that very debate? What philosophy of human nature drove Kubrick to construct the film? Kramer takes us into the film's detailed construction, so we can judge its contribution for ourselves.' - Martin Barker, Aberystwyth University, UK 'A well-constructed and easy to follow journey through the film's themes, production and reception...a real passion for cinema is evident (as you might expect from a film lecturer and an established film author) - Kramer's selection and analysis of 'key' scenes lets us know this is more than a solid piece of research. He is not just familiar with this film, he is in tune with it...the book isbalanced, fair and in-depth. Peter Kramer is the ultimate tour guide on a walk through the film's motivations, making eventual consequences. It's a must have for any fans of the film; anyone who ever wondered if it's ok to enjoy it; or anyone who wants to understand how such a twisted tale can have such mass appeal.' - Lauren Felton, Filmwerk 'Does the world really need another book on Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange (1971)? Perhaps not, but the world of film and media definitely needs Peter Kramer's new book on it. Published as part of the Controversies series edited by Julian Petley and Stevie Simkin, this book is a detailed case study of Kubrick's stylish and endlessly-discussed 1971 offering...By effectively demonstrating the many different strands of film and media studies analysis which can be utilised when studying a particular text, Kramer offers a great blueprint which students could use to structure their own work.' - British Universities Film and Video Council 'Both books throw out so many insights and new ideas concerning these two examples of cinema maudites that they are studies valuable both to cineastes and students of the way in which popular culture works. This is proving to be a most valuable series.' - Crime Time, on Straw Dogs and A Clockwork Orange