Weekly Theme

Weekly Theme for January 26: Female Hysteria

Did anyone listen to this week's Filmcouch?................ No?? Well, I did. It was good. They talked quite a bit about horror movies and they actually touched on something I've been thinking about using for a Weekly Theme for a while now. They mentioned women in horror films and the stereotypical shriek so often heard at the moment of their imminent peril.

Well, I'd like to talk about a broader topic.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

That's right, I wanna hear about all those "GET A HOLD OF YOURSELF" moments that have somehow become a part of film culture in general. Do any women actually act like this?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

How about Betty Davis in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? Or one can't forget Mia Farrow in Rosemary's Baby.

Also, the third act of a very old film called Häxan takes a very interesting turn that fits this theme. If you haven't watched it, I highly recommend it.

OK your turn. Do you have a favorite moment. Or do y'all just hate this whole idea? I wanna hear it.

Re:Weekly Theme for January 26: Female Hysteria

Now, Voyager

I love this film. Bette Davis plays the hysterical, woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown like no other.

Desperate Living

THE CHILDREN ARE HAVING SEX! Mink Stole is incredible as the insane housewife in constant need of slaps in the face by her obese maid Grizelda. Pretty much every John Waters movie has a great hysterical woman character. Serial Mom, Cry-Baby, Pink Flamingos, Hairspray, and especially Polyester.

Re:Weekly Theme for January 26: Female Hysteria

Two that come to mind are two of my favorite horror classics.  I can't really say where exactly there is a hysterical female shreik, but I'm nearly positive that there is at *least* one in each.

The Omen (1976)

The Exorcist (1973)

Re:Weekly Theme for January 26: Female Hysteria

Okay, I randomly remembered this from my Greek class in college. But wikipedia says it better than I can: "The term originates with the Greek medical term, hysterikos. This referred to a medical condition, thought to be particular to women, caused by disturbances of the uterus, hystera in Greek. The term hysteria was coined by Hippocrates, who thought that suffocation and madness arose in women whose uteri had become too light and dry from lack of sexual intercourse and, as a result, wandered upward, compressing the heart, lungs, and diaphragm." It just gets better from there. For more reading check it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hysteria

Re:Weekly Theme for January 26: Female Hysteria

Some solid, scientific reasoning.  Next time my girlfriend gets upset, I'll ask her if her uterus is too light and dry.  That should go over well and smooth things right out...  ...right?

csprague:

Okay, I randomly remembered this from my Greek class in college. But wikipedia says it better than I can: "The term originates with the Greek medical term, hysterikos. This referred to a medical condition, thought to be particular to women, caused by disturbances of the uterus, hystera in Greek. The term hysteria was coined by Hippocrates, who thought that suffocation and madness arose in women whose uteri had become too light and dry from lack of sexual intercourse and, as a result, wandered upward, compressing the heart, lungs, and diaphragm." It just gets better from there. For more reading check it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hysteria

Re:Weekly Theme for January 26: Female Hysteria

Hey if you are interested and you didn't happen to find it already, there is actually a group on spout devoted to this topic:

Female Hysteria

Beyond that I'd say Una O'Connor in The Invisible Man gives a good little hysterical performance.

Re:Weekly Theme for January 26: Female Hysteria

Su much exageration...I don't think women act like that a all...Maybe even worse, lol.