Editors Carilli (communications, Purdue University) and Campbell (English, Purdue University) have assembled 19 contributions arranged in four sections on commodifying and exoticizing the female body, stereotypical depictions, portrayals of political activism, and media pioneers. All but two of the scholarly contributors are based in the US, but coverage includes studies of media in India, Israel, Japan, and China. A sampling of topics, to indicate their range: the construction of Black women's sexuality in Essence magazine; propaganda posters in post-liberation China; images of gender in Super Bowl adertising, and locating italianita in True Love and Riding in Cars with Boys. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)