Almost everything you need to know in one essential guide
Seeing a film is only half the fun. The real joy comes from arguing about it afterwards in the pub or on the journey home. But have you ever felt you needed to know a little more?
This book offers a concise introduction to the appreciation and study of film. This second edition begins with an examination of early film theory before analysing how films are put together – framing, performance, setting, costume and editing. It then explores a number of approaches taken to film over the last half century – the auteur theory, structuralism, psychoanalysis, feminism, and queer theory with a new chapter on Marxism. There are also overviews on stars, genres, national cinemas and film movements from around the world.
With this book in your pocket you can gasp as directors break the 30° rule, marvel as Oedipus complexes are resolved, shudder as you become aware of your own voyeurism and tell your metteur en scène from your mise en sccne. Going to the cinema may never be the same again…
Editorial Reviews
Review
A crash course in the language of film studies — Steven Poole ― The Guardian Unlimited
About the Author
Andrew M Butler is Senior Lecturer Media and Cultural Studies at Canterbury Christ Church University College and author of the Pocket Essentials Terry Pratchett, Philip K Dick, Cyberpunk and, with Bob Ford, Postmodernism. He was the winner of the 2004 Pioneer Award and would collect shiny trousers in his spare time if he had any.
Seeing a film is only half the fun. The real joy comes from arguing about it in the pub or on the car journey home afterwards. But have you ever felt you needed to know a little more?
This book offers a concise introduction to the appreciation and study of film. It begins with the nuts and bolts, an examination of how films are put together – framing, performance, setting, costume and editing – and then examines a number of approaches taken to film over the last half century – the auteur theory, structuralism, psychoanalysis, feminism, queer theory and so on. The last three sections offer an overview of genres, national cinemas and film movements from around the world.
The ideas about film are applied to specific examples of cinema – not just to critical favourites like Hitchcock and Welles, but to films you will have seen, like The Usual Suspects and Seven, and directors like Steven Spielberg and Kevin Smith. With this book in your pocket you can gasp as directors break the 30° rule, marvel as Oedipal Complexes are resolved, shudder as you become aware of your own voyeurism and tell your metteur en scène from your mise en scène. Going to the cinema may never be the same again…
Editorial Reviews
Review
A crash course in the language of film studies — Steven Poole ― The Guardian Unlimited
From the Inside Flap
Pocket Essentials is a dynamic series of books that are brief, lively, and easy to read. Packed with facts as well as expert opinions, each book has all the key information you need to know about such popular topics as film, television, cult fiction, history, and more. In addition to an introduction to the subject, each topic is individually analyzed and reviewed, examining its impact on culture or history. There is also a reference section that lists related web sites and weightier (and more expensive) books on the subject. For media buffs, students, and inquiring minds, these are great entry level books that build into an essential library.
About the Author
Andrew M Butler is Senior Lecturer Media and Cultural Studies at Canterbury Christ Church University College and author of the Pocket Essentials Terry Pratchett, Philip K Dick, Cyberpunk and, with Bob Ford, Postmodernism. He was the winner of the 2004 Pioneer Award and would collect shiny trousers in his spare time if he had any.
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