4th Edition

Introduction to Film Studies




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ISBN 9780415409285
Published March 26, 2007 by Routledge
512 Pages

GBP £24.99

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Book Description

Introduction to Film Studies is a comprehensive leading textbook for students of cinema. This completely revised and updated fourth edition guides students through the  key issues and concepts in film studies, traces the historical development of film and introduces some of the worlds key national cinemas. A range of theories and theorists are presented from Formalism to Feminism, from Eisenstein to Deleuze. Each chapter is written by a subject specialist, including four new authors, and a wide range of films are analysed and discussed. It is  lavishly illustrated with over 123 film stills and production shots, many of them in colour. Reviewed widely by teachers in the field and with a foreword by Bill Nichols, it will be essential reading for any introductory student of film, media studies or the visual arts worldwide.

Key features of the fourth edition are: 

  • full coverage of important topics for introductory level
  • updated coverage of a wide range of concepts, theories and issues in film studies
  • in-depth discussion of the contemporary film industry
  • new chapters on Rediscovering Film; Ethnicity, Race and Cinema; Documentary; Film, Form and Narrative; British Cinema; Approaches to Cinematic Authorship
  • new case studies on films such as Bamboozled, Wild Strawberries, Run Lola Run, Grey Gardens, Grizzly Man, Boys Don't Cry, Love Actually, and many others
  • marginal key terms, notes, cross-referencing 
  • suggestions for further reading, further viewing and a comprehensive glossary and bibliography
  • website resources including updated popular case studies from previous editions, a chapter on German Cinema and links to supporting sites

Individual chapters introduce: Rediscovering Film Studies · The Industrial Contexts of Film Production · Film Form and Narrative · Approaches to Cinematic Authorship · Genre, Theory and Hollywood Cinema; Stardom and Hollywood Cinema · Spectator, Audience and Response · The Documentary Form · The Language of Animation · Gender and Film · Lesbian and Gay Cinema · Ethnicity, Race and Cinema - African American Film · British Cinema · Indian Cinema ·Soviet Montage Cinema of the 1920s · French New Wave

Contributors include: Chris Darke, Lalitha Gopalan, Terri Francis, Chris Jones, Mark Joyce, Searle Kochberg, Lawrence Napper, Jill Nelmes, Patrick Phillips, Suzanne Speidel, Paul Ward, Paul Watson, Paul Wells.

Table of Contents

Foreword Bill Nichols  Introduction to the Fourth Edition Jill Nelmes  How to Use This Book  Useful Features  New Features of the First Edition  Part 1 Approaches to Studying Cinema  Chapter 1. Rediscovering Film Studies: Some Fresh Starting Points Patrick Phillips  Part 2 Cinema as Institution : Industries, Technologies and Audiences  Chapter 2. The Industrial Contexts of Film Production Searle Kochberg  Part 3 Approaches to Studying Film Texts  Chapter 3. Film Form and Narrative Suzanne Speidel  Chapter 4. Approaches to Cinematic Authorship Paul Watson  Chapter 5. Genre Theory and Hollywood Cinema Paul Watson  Chapter 6. Stardom and Hollywood Cinema Paul Watson  Chapter 7. Spectator, Audience and Response Patrick Phillips  Part 4  Other Genre Forms  Chapter 8. The Documentary Form Paul Ward  Chapter 9. The Language of Animation Paul Wells  Part 5 Cinema, Identities and the Politics of Representation  Chapter 10. Gender and Film Jill Nelmes  Chapter 11. Lesbian and Gay Cinema Chris Jones  Chapter 12. Ethnicity, Race and Cinema - African American Film Terri Francis  Part 6 Cinema, Nationhood and National Identities  Studying National Cinema: Case Studies  Chapter 13. British Cinema Lawrence Napper  Chapter 14. Indian Cinema Lalitha Gopalan  National Cinemas: Art, Politics and the Avant-Garde  Chapter 15. Soviet Montage Cinema of the 1920s Mark Joyce  Chapter 16. The French New Wave Chris Darke  Glossary  Bibliography  Index

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Editor(s)

Biography

Jill Nelmes is a senior lecturer at the University of East London. Her research interests include gender and film and screenwriting. She recently spent two years studying screenwriting at UCLA and working in the film industry in Los Angeles.

Reviews

Praise for previous editions:

First Edition

'Simply the best introductory volume in the field so far.' - Jesus B Sanchez, Castilla La Mongha University, Ciudad Real, Spain

'Indispensable for the A Level, degree student or lay reader in film, communications or media courses...will indisputably be the standard text for many years to come...close to the perfect film studies textbook you are likely to see.' - John Lough, Senior Lecturer in Media Theory, University of Humberside, UK

Second Edition

'I highly recommend this text to any student embarking on the study of film...An admirable synthesis of historical, social and theoretical considerations of cinema, presented in an engaging and accessible manner.' - Alan Burton, De Montfort University, UK

'Probably the clearest, most comprehensive and accessible introduction to film studies available.' - Martin Price, Stratford-upon-Avon College, UK

Third Edition

'I know of no other introductory film text that covers so much ground, nor that so readily connects up film theory and discourse with work in mass and popular culture. The revised edition keeps up with changes in technology and the discussions of Hollywood are particularly illuminating...I highly recommend this text.' - Denise Albanese, George Mason University, USA

'The ideal book for anyone starting Film Studies...Illustrations are plentiful and all important concepts and terminology are accessibly explained. I encourage students to make it their top priority reading.' - Jeff Thomas, Coleg Gwent, Pontypool, Wales

Support Material

Companion Website

Please visit our companion website for additional support materials.