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The Major Film Theories: An Introduction (Galaxy Books)
 
 
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The Major Film Theories: An Introduction (Galaxy Books) [Paperback]

J. D. Andrew

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Product details

  • Paperback: 288 pages
  • Publisher: OUP USA; Underlining edition (19 Aug 1976)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0195019911
  • ISBN-13: 978-0195019919
  • Product Dimensions: 20.1 x 13.4 x 1.4 cm
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 479,849 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Product Description

Review


"This history of film theory will enrich our discipline and remain an important source of both information and understanding for some time to come."--Quarterly Review of Film Studies


"Andrew's guidebook...is the first in English to cover a relatively broad range of figures."--Sight and Sound


"Sure to whet one's appetite for the contemporary French film theory of Mitry, Metz, Ayfre and Agel."--Film Criticism


"The book is excellent."--Ivan Pedro Murily, Southern Illinois University


Product Description

Dudley Andrew is a master at making the world of film theory accessible to a largely mystified public. Since the publication of his Major Film Theories, a classic in the field, the sophistication of the debate concerning the proper approach to film has grown. It is now the province of critics and universities instead of directors and artists, and this book concentrates on the main areas of the debate rather than on the individual figures. Andrew provides lucid explanations of theories which involve perceptual psychology and structuralism; semiotics and psychoanalysis; hermeneutics and genre study. Throughout he presents his own strong views on the relationship of film theory to criticism, history, and analysis. His clear approach to often obscure theories goes a long way towards bringing an important area of cultural discussion out of its academic exile.

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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Amazon.com:  7 reviews
32 of 38 people found the following review helpful
A bit inaccessible for an introduction 12 Jan 2004
By Hairy Lime - Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
My main issue with this book is that the title ("An Introduction") implies that the book is for anyone with an interest in film theory. However, the author sometimes goes into nearly-impenetrable technical jargon. I would disagree with the assertion that this book is easy to understand.

For instance, from page 57 comes the sentence: "In Piaget's terms, he [Eisenstein] wanted cinema to become or to produce a 'global syncretism of individual transductive inferences.'" And this is supposed to be an introduction? (You may be able to view page 57 through Amazon.com's "Search inside the book" feature.) I found myself re-reading paragraphs a few times to try to comprehend what was being said. I would recommend this book as a good survey of film theory for readers who have already had exposure to film theory and have some background in philosophy, psychology, and linguistics.

Another problem is that the book was published in 1976, so roughly 25% of film theory history is missing. An updated or revised edition is needed. It would be interesting to see if/how the recent Dogme 95 movement fits into film theory history.

This book might be valuable to film students or film geeks who've read other books about film theory, but for the average reader, this isn't the best "introduction" on the subject.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Film philosophies 26 Jan 2002
By Pumpkin King - Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
J. Dudley Andrew covers the ideas of 10 major theoreticians of film in this readable introduction (Hugo Munsterberg, Rudolf Arnheim, Sergei Eisenstein, Bela Balazs, Siegfried Kracauer, Andre Bazin, Jean Mitry, Christian Metz, Amedee Ayfre, Henri Agel). It is great for readers who are interested in the development of film theory and want a manageable book that follows it through in a structured way, and discusses each person's views in the context of previous thinkers'. Each chapter considers four topics of each theorist: The basic material of film, the process that gives the material significance, the forms, and the purpose or value of film. It doesn't cover much beyond the 1970s, but as an introduction, it sufficiently covers giant figures like Eisenstein, Kracauer, and Bazin.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
exceptional introduction! 16 Jun 2001
By Eduardo Navas - Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
D.Andrew has done an excellent job explaining the major film theories that have helped legitimize film as an art form. Not only does he explain the different ideological camps of the early twentieth century, but most importantly he clearly connects them to contemporary structural french theorists. it is an excellent introduction for the film theorist novice.

I also strongly recommend reading "The subject of Semiotics" by Kaja Silverman and "Superstructuralism" by Richard Harland. Both of these books will help understand why cinema is probably the most powerful medium through which art and mass consumerist culture are able to collide effectively thereby creating a powerful arena to experience meaning.

It is truly an essential book that should be read by anyone who is interested in thinking, period.


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