Choice Review

Macdonald uses Roland Barthes's definition of "myth" to look at popular media (primarily film, magazines, advertisement, and television) representing femininity and to consider why women "collude" with these media myths of femininity. She does not, in fact, answer that question adequately. Still, this is an extremely useful synthesis of examinations of media images, including an unexpected but invaluable chapter analyzing disciplinary approaches to the issue (including sociology, psychology, psychoanalysis, historical analysis, and cultural studies) and a glossary of terms. American readers will find much to learn here, even when the author is relying on British popular media. Not surprisingly, given the nature of her textual evidence, Macdonald's treatment is almost exclusively devoted to representations of white femininity. She mentions aging women, albeit superficially, but her work is relatively uninformed by gerontology. Macdonald is often more descriptive than analytical, but her discussions of film are especially strong. The bibliography is very brief if helpful. A welcome addition to such classics as Kathryn Weibel's Mirror, Mirror (CH, Feb'78), Marjorie Rosen's Popcorn Venus (CH, Apr'74), and Susan Douglas's Where the Girls Are (CH, Mar'95). All levels. J. de Luce Miami University