Children in the Films of Steven Spielberg

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To say that children matter in Steven Spielberg's films is an understatement. Think of the possessed Stevie in Something Evil (TV), Baby Langston in The Sugarland Express, the alien-abducted Barry in Close Encounters, Elliott and his unearthly alter-ego in E.T, the war-damaged Jim in Empire of the Sun, the little girl in the red coat in Schindlers List, the mecha child in A.I., the kidnapped boy in Minority Report, and the eponymous boy hero of The Adventures of Tintin. (There are many other instances across his oeuvre). Contradicting his reputation as a purveyor of popcorn entertainment, Spielbergs vision of children/childhood is complex. Discerning critics have begun to note its darker underpinnings, increasingly fraught with tensions, conflicts and anxieties. But, while childhood is Spielbergs principal source of inspiration, the topic has never been the focus of a dedicated collection of essays. The essays in Children in the Films of Steven Spielberg therefore seek to address childhood in the full spectrum of Spielbergs cinema. Fittingly, the scholars represented here draw on a range of theoretical frameworks and disciplinescinema studies, literary studies, audience reception, critical race theory, psychoanalysis, sociology, and more. This is an important book for not only scholars but teachers and students of Spielberg's work, and for any serious fan of the director and his career.

Reviews

A stimulating and original collection. A range of distinguished scholars have been assembled to reflect on the representation of childhood in Spielberg's work, and collectively they challenge the frequent critical accusations of sentimentality, illuminating instead the sensibility of a director whose work has always shown an unusual sensitivity to the traumas and dangers of childhood and how children (and adults) cope with this sense of anxiety and loss. An important contribution to Spielberg studies. -- Neil R. Sinyard, Emeritus Professor of Film Studies, University of Hull
Adrian Schober and Debbie Olsons collection Children in the Films of Steven Spielberg testifies to the potency of the child figure in Spielbergs films. The essays in this collection reveal that Spielbergs depictions of childhood are shaped by social anxieties about the safety of children, their complicated relations with adults, and the pressures that affect modern families. The collection will generate lively discussions of Spielbergs films across studies of childrens literature, childhood and popular cinema. -- Clare Bradford, Alfred Deakin Professor, Deakin University

Author Bio

Adrian Schober serves on the editorial board of Red Feather: An International Journal of Childrens Popular Culture. Debbie Olson is lecturer at the University of Texas at Arlington, and for Dallas County Community College District.