From
Barbarella to
Barb Wire, the book surveys public reception and interest in the "warrior-woman" and the
Amazon archetype in media.
The Modern Amazons is written from Mainon's perspective and balanced with academic analysis from James Ursini. The book explores representations of warrior women in film, television, and pop culture including: •
Raquel Welch in the prehistoric adventure fantasy
One Million Years B.C. (1966) •
Pam Grier in the
blaxploitation genre (including films like
Coffy, Foxy Brown, and
Sheba, Baby) •
Lucy Lawless as
Xena in
Xena: Warrior Princess •
Lara Croft, as portrayed by
Angelina Jolie, in the
Tomb Raider series •
Ellen Ripley, as portrayed by Sigourney Weaver, in the
Alien franchise • Martial arts warriors,, as portrayed by
Angela Mao (
Enter the Dragon),
Zhang Ziyi (
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), and
Cynthia Rothrock • Sexploitation films, including the controversial
Ilsa trilogy • Women as vampire slayers, superheroes, and supervillains • Assorted television, cartoon, comics, and video game characters • Relevant trends, style, and trivia Ursini and Mainon also examine feminist readings and
sapphic text and subtext in media such as:
the Powerpuff Girls,
Tank Girl,
G.I. Jane,
La Femme Nikita,
Alien, Pippi Longstocking, Pepper from
Police Woman, and Clarice in
The Silence of the Lambs. ==Reception==