The Sex of the Author: On Authorship, copyright and the individual

This article explores the meaning of “authorship” and “author” on the basis of female authorship in the early Swedish film history as well as in contemporary film productions. Film, as a new protectable subject-matter raised fundamental questions as to the meaning and origin of authorship as a copyright concept. The need to identify an author was closely related to its recognition as an art form. The role of female authors in film, as well as how these rights were and are claimed and recognized are central questions discussed in the article.

Keywords: authorship, film, Selma Lagerlöf, film production