Falling Down (1993) caused controversy because of its depiction of violence and vigilantism, and was accused of racism in its portrayal of a Korean shopkeeper. Jude Davies explores the film's production and reception context, arguing that it was marketed as a deliberate provocation to a growing 'uncivility' in American society.

Jude Davis is Professor in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Winchester, UK. She is the author of Diana, A Cultural History: Gender, Race, Nation and the People's Princess (Palgrave, 2001); the co-author with Carol Smith of Gender, Ethnicity and Sexuality in Contemporary American Film (1998); the editor of Theodore Dreiser, Political Writings (2011) and the co-editor with Neil Campbell and George McKay of Issues in Americanisation and Culture (2004).

1. Details of the Film and its Production
2. Press, Audience and Critical Response on its Release
3. An Outline of the Most Important Issues in Assessing its Impact
4. A Survey of the Debates That Have Centred Around the Film
5. Close Analysis of Key Scenes.