Dr. Lisa Funnell

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As the final film of the Daniel Craig era, No Time To Die (2021) is deeply referential to Bond tradition. Yet one of its most surprising achievements lies in its treatment of the Bond Girl. Drawing on both the literary and cinematic versions of The Spy Who Loved Me, the film shifts attention away from James Bond and toward the women whose stories have traditionally existed at the margins of the franchise…. Read More

By Dr. Lisa Funnell For decades, disability activism has existed at the margins of broader social justice movements. Even within institutions, accessibility is frequently siloed — treated as an add-on rather than a core pillar of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) initiatives. This separation has shaped not only our social and political landscapes, but also our cultural ones. Nowhere is this more visible than in popular film. Blockbuster cinema plays a powerful… Read More

As a character, James Bond is not only defined by his actions (i.e. what he does), but also by his social privilege (i.e. who he is) as relayed through his encounters with other characters and especially women. The heroic identity of Bond is rooted in the British lover literary tradition (Hawkins 29-30) which relies on the ‘lover’ stereotype of masculinity and is conveyed through virility. As a result, seducing and sexually satisfying… Read More