Richard Dyer studied French at the University of St. Andrews and Cultural Studies in Birmingham and he is currently Professor in Film Studies at King's College London. His books include Nino Rota: Film, Music and Feeling (2010), Pastiche (2006), Heavenly Bodies (2nd edition 2004), Now You See It (2nd edition 2003), Only Entertainment (2nd edition, 2002), The Matter of Images (2nd edition 2002), The Culture of Queers (2002), Seven (1999), Stars (2nd edition 1998), White (1997) and Brief Encounter (1993).

Songs in a film take up space and time and the way that they do so indicates a great deal about the songs themselves, the nature of the feelings they present, and who is allowed to present feelings how, when and where. In the Space of a Song explores this perception through examples ranging from classic MGM musicals to blaxploitation cinema, with the career of Lena Horne providing a turning point in the cultural dynamics of the feeling.

Chapter 1. Introduction Something about singing; No musicals: Italian cinema; All musicals: Hindi cinema Chapter 2. The Perfection of Meet Me in St. Louis Chapter 3. A Star Is Born and the Construction of Authenticity Chapter 4. 'I Seem to Find the Happiness I Seek': Heterosexuality and Dance in the Musical Chapter 5. The Space of Happiness in the Musical Chapter 6. Singing Prettily: Lena Horne in Hollywood Chapter 7. Is Car Wash a Musical? Chapter 8. Music and Presence in Blaxploitation Cinema