Becoming Cleopatra

FRANCESCA ROYSTER is Associate Professor of English at DePaul University, where she teaches courses on Shakespeare, film, and black feminism. She is one of the leading young African American feminist Shakespeare scholars.

• Introduction Part I: Cleopatra in Hollywood-Constructing and Deconstructing Whiteness African Dreams, Egyptian Nightmares: Cleopatra and Becoming England Cleopatra and the Birth of Film: Staging Perpetual Motion Egyptian Sandals: Elizabeth Taylor's Cleopatra and the White Grotesque Part II: Cleopatra and Counter-narratives of Adoption Cleopatra Jones (1973): Blaxploitation and Tactical Alliances with Shakespeare Queering Cleo: Set it Off and Queen Latifah's 'Butch-in-the-Hood'

'...a dense but readable book, especially appropriate for 'Women in Film' courses.' - Publishers Weekly Annex