Geographies, Genders and Geopolitics of James Bond

This book discusses the representational geographies of the Bond film franchise and how they inform our reading of 007 as a hero. Offering a new and interdisciplinary lens through which the franchise can be analyzed, Funnell and Dodds explore a range of topics that have been largely, if not entirely, overlooked in Bond film scholarship. These topics include: the shifting and gendering of geopolitical relations; the differing depiction and evaluation of vertical/modern and horizontal/pre-modern spaces; the use of classical elements in defining gender, sexuality, heroic competency, and geopolitical conflict; and the ongoing importance of haptics (i.e. touch), kinesics (i.e. movement), and proxemics (i.e. the use of space) in defining the embodied and emotive world of Bond. This book is comprehensive in nature and scope as it discusses all 24 films in the official Bond canon and theorizes about the future direction of the franchise.

“Geographies, Genders and Geopolitics of James Bond is a welcome contribution to the burgeoning field of popular geopolitics, and one that deftly links the realms of world politics and popular culture. Clearly written, cogently argued, and confidently presented, this collaboration exemplifies good research … . This text is suitable for undergraduates at all levels but will certainly not disappoint even the most seasoned specialist.” (Robert A. Saunders, The AAG Review of Books, Vol. 06 (04), 2018)

Lisa Funnell is an Assistant Professor in the Women’s and Gender Studies Program at the University of Oklahoma, USA, where she is also affiliated with the Film and Media Studies Program and the Center for Social Justice. Klaus Dodds is Professor of Geopolitics at Royal Holloway, University of London, UK, and a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences.