Torturous Etiquettes

<p><b>Explores the torture of mannered behavior and the prevalence of etiquette as a theme in classical and contemporary Hollywood and European cinema.</b></p><p>Etiquette as noted toastmaster Herbert V. Prochnow once pointed out is knowing how to yawn with your mouth closed-that is to spare the feelings of the other person one must stifle one's own. To be polite therefore is to perform. Onscreen closeups often reveal the effort that goes into maintaining that performance: with a fleeting frown or a slight scowl an actor reveals the torture of mannered behavior. In <i>Torturous Etiquettes</i> Daniel Varndell examines such gestures to reveal the difficulties of the social encounter. Drawing on the history of etiquette the book deconstructs an array of examples from classical and contemporary Hollywood and European cinema taking a close look at onscreen representations of rudeness ridiculing racist and sexist etiquettes hospitality table manners and more. In doing so it reveals etiquette to be a persistent theme in cinema and questions the role it plays in either upholding or denying the basic humanity of others.</p>