|
Showing 1 - 4 of
4 matches in All Departments
An incidental pleasure of watching a film is what it tells us about
the society in which it is made. Using a sociological model, The
British working class in postwar film looks at how working-class
people were portrayed in British feature films in the decade after
the Second World War. Though some of the films examined are well
known, others have been forgotten and deserve reassessment.
Original statistical data is used to assess the popularity of the
films with audiences. With its interdisciplinary approach and the
avoidance of jargon, this book seeks to broaden the approach to
film studies. Students of media and cultural studies are introduced
to the skills of other disciplines, while sociologists and
historians are encouraged to consider the value of film evidence in
their own fields. This work should appeal to all readers interested
in social history and in how cinema and society works. -- .
Why are some films regarded as classics, worthy of entry into the
canon of film history? Which sorts of films make the cut and why?"
Movie Greats "questions how cinema is ranked and, in doing so,
uncovers a history of critical conflict, with different aesthetic
positions battling for dominance. The films examined range across
the history of cinema: "The Battleship Potemkin," "The 39 Steps,"
"Modern Times," "Citizen Kane," "It's a Wonderful Life," "Black
Narcissus," " The Night of the Hunter," "Lawrence of Arabia," "8
1/2," "2001: A Space Odyssey," "The Godfather," "Raging Bull," "The
Pi"ano and "Kill Bill: Vol. 1." Each chapter opens with a brief
summary of the film's plot and goes on to discuss the historical
context, the key individuals who made the film, and initial and
subsequent popular and critical responses. Students studying the
history of film, canon formation or film aesthetics will find this
book relevant, provocative and absorbing.
Some films are remembered long after they are released; others are
soon forgotten, but do they deserve oblivion? Are factors other
than quality involved? This book exhumes some of the films released
in Britain over the last seventy years from Daybreak (1948) to 16
Years of Alcohol (2003), and considers the reasons for their
neglect. As well as exploring the contributions of those involved
in making the films, the book examines such issues as marketing and
the response of critics and audiences. Films are grouped loosely
into categories such as "B" films and television films. Some works
were little seen when they were first released and have stayed that
way; others were popular in their day, but have slipped into
obscurity. In some cases, social change has overtaken them, making
the attitudes or subjects they depict seem dated. Even being
released as a DVD does not guarantee that a title will be
rehabilitated. In addition, how significant is the American
market?This book should appeal to lovers of British film, as well
as to film studies students and everybody curious about the
vagaries of success and failure in the arts.
Employing a thematic approach and drawing on disciplines ranging
from neurobiology to philosophy, Film and Morality examines how
morality is presented in films and how films serve as a source of
moral values. While the role of censorship in upholding moral
standards has been considered comprehensively, the presence of
moral dilemmas in films has not attracted the same level of
interest. Film-makers may address moral concerns explicitly, but
moral dilemmas can serve as plot devices, creating dramatic tension
by providing pivotal moments when characters are called upon to
make life-changing decisions. Drawing on a range of well-known and
neglected films mainly from Britain and America, this book provides
numerous examples of how film-makers make use of morality and how
audiences are invited to explore moral issues by following
characters who live with the consequences of their choices.Film and
Morality introduces philosophical debates on such topics as free
will, conscience and the place of moral codes in everyday life,
showing the relevance of film to these issues. The book presents a
distinct approach to how films might be analysed.
|
You may like...
Ab Wheel
R209
R149
Discovery Miles 1 490
Loot
Nadine Gordimer
Paperback
(2)
R398
R330
Discovery Miles 3 300
Loot
Nadine Gordimer
Paperback
(2)
R398
R330
Discovery Miles 3 300
|