Tarja Laine – författare

This is a scholarly study of cinematic emotions, highlighting the relationship between spectator and film, and thematically divided into chapters including Love, Hate, Shame and Fear. There is an upsurge of interest in contemporary film theory towards cinematic emotions. Tarja Laine's innovative study proposes a methodology for interpreting affective encounters with films, not as objectively readable texts, but as emotionally salient events. Laine argues convincingly that film is not an immutable system of representation that is meant for (one-way) communication, but an active, dynamic participant in the becoming of the cinematic experience. Through a range of chapters that include Horror, Hope, Shame and Love - and through close readings of films such as "The Shining", "American Beauty" and "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind", Laine demonstrates that cinematic emotions are more than mere indicators of the properties of their objects. They are processes that are intentional in a phenomenological sense, supporting the continuous, shifting, and reciprocal exchange between the film's world and the spectator's world.Grounded in continental philosophy, this provocative book explores the affective dynamics of cinema as an interchange between the film and the spectator in a manner that transcends traditional generic patterns.

There is an upsurge of interest in contemporary film theory towards cinematic emotions. Tarja Laine's innovative study proposes a methodology for interpreting affective encounters with films, not as objectively readable texts, but as emotionally salient events. Laine argues convincingly that film is not an immutable system of representation that is meant for (one-way) communication, but an active, dynamic participant in the becoming of the cinematic experience.Through a range of chapters that include Horror, Hope, Shame and Love - and through close readings of films such as The Shining, American Beauty and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Laine demonstrates that cinematic emotions are more than mere indicators of the properties of their objects. They are processes that are intentional in a phenomenological sense, supporting the continuous, shifting, and reciprocal exchange between the film's world and the spectator's world. Grounded in continental philosophy, this provocative book explores the affective dynamics of cinema as an interchange between the film and the spectator in a manner that transcends traditional generic patterns.

The films of Darren Aronofsky invite emotional engagement by means of affective resonance between the film and the spectator's lived body. Aronofsky's films are often considered "cerebral" because they explore topics like mathematics, madness, hallucinations, obsessions, social anxiety, addiction, psychosis, schizophrenia, and neuroscience. Yet this interest in intelligence and mental processes is deeply embedded in the operations of the body, shared with the spectator by means of a distinctively corporeal audiovisual style. Bodies in Pain looks at how Aronofsky's films engage the spectator in an affective form of viewing that involves all the senses, ultimately engendering a process of (self) reflection through their emotional dynamics.

The films of Darren Aronofsky invite emotional engagement by means of affective resonance between the film and the spectator’s lived body. Aronofsky’s films, which include a rich range of production from Requiem for a Dream to Black Swan, are often considered “cerebral” because they explore topics like mathematics, madness, hallucinations, obsessions, social anxiety, addiction, psychosis, schizophrenia, and neuroscience. Yet this interest in intelligence and mental processes is deeply embedded in the operations of the body, shared with the spectator by means of a distinctively corporeal audiovisual style. Bodies in Pain looks at how Aronofsky’s films engage the spectator in an affective form of viewing that involves all the senses, ultimately engendering a process of (self) reflection through their emotional dynamics.

In Reframing Trauma in Contemporary Fiction Film, Tarja Laine provides insights into how cinema engages its spectator emotionally with the pathology of memory that lies at the heart of trauma. By arguing that cinema communicates the inability to process a traumatic event by means of its aesthetic specificity, Laine demonstrates that traumatic cinema can be an important source of ethical knowledge, both within and beyond the cinematic world. The films discussed in this book do not necessarily narrate trauma but embody that aspect of trauma which resists narrativization. This is why there are modes of affective engagement beyond storytelling by which spectators can meaningfully relate to trauma. Scholars of film studies, media studies, and philosophy will find this book of particular interest.

Emotional Ethics of The Hunger Games expands the ‘ethical turn’ in Film Studies by analysing emotions as a source of ethical knowledge in The Hunger Games films. It argues that emotions, incorporated in the thematic and aesthetic organization of these films, reflect a crisis in moral standards. As such they cultivate ethical attitudes towards such phenomena as totalitarianism, the culture of reality television, and the society of spectacle. The focus of the argument is on cinematic aesthetics, which expresses emotions in a way that highlights their ethical significance, running the gamut from fear through guilt and shame, to love, anger and contempt. The central claim of the book is that these emotions are symptomatic of some moral conflict, which renders The Hunger Games franchise a meaningful commentary on the affective practice of cinematic ethics. ‘’The Hunger Games movies have become iconic symbols for resistance across the globe. Tarja Laine proposes that this is not caused by their status as exciting cinematic spectacles, but by their engaging our emotions. Laine uses The Hunger Games as key texts for understanding our world, demonstrating that ethics do not originate from rational considerations, far removed from those mucky things called emotions. But rather that emotions are at the core of cinematic ethics.”—William Brown, Author of Supercinema: Film-Philosophy for the Digital Age ‘’In this elegantly written exploration of the relationship between aesthetics and emotion in The Hunger Gamestrilogy, Tarja Laine illuminates the power of film to embody ethical conflict. Deftly interweaving film-philosophy and close analysis, Laine traces how these films mobilise complex emotions, nuancing our thinking about cinema and the spectator. Laine’s book takes The Hunger Games films seriously, demonstrating with verve why they matter.”—Catherine Wheatley, Senior Lecturer in Film Studies, King’s College London, UK ''In this fresh, engaging, and insightful study of The Hunger Games film trilogy, Tarja Laine explores the crucial role that emotions play in appreciation of the ethical qualities of the movies. She forges productive dialogues between a range of film theory, scholarship on moral philosophy, and debates on ethics, as she performs a multi-layered investigation of the aesthetic qualities of the trilogy, the multiple emotions embodied in these qualities, and the philosophical-ethical insights that are in turn embedded in these emotions. The cinematic connection between emotions and ethics that emerges through Laine’s detailed textual analyses confronts us with complex moral dilemmas while enriching our aesthetic experience.'' —Sarah Cooper, Professor, Film Studies Department, King's College London,  UK

Emotional Ethics of The Hunger Games expands the ‘ethical turn’ in Film Studies by analysing emotions as a source of ethical knowledge in The Hunger Games films. It argues that emotions, incorporated in the thematic and aesthetic organization of these films, reflect a crisis in moral standards. As such they cultivate ethical attitudes towards such phenomena as totalitarianism, the culture of reality television, and the society of spectacle. The focus of the argument is on cinematic aesthetics, which expresses emotions in a way that highlights their ethical significance, running the gamut from fear through guilt and shame, to love, anger and contempt. The central claim of the book is that these emotions are symptomatic of some moral conflict, which renders The Hunger Games franchise a meaningful commentary on the affective practice of cinematic ethics. 

‘’The Hunger Games movies have become iconic symbols for resistance across the globe. Tarja Laine proposes that this is not caused by their status as exciting cinematic spectacles, but by their engaging our emotions. Laine uses The Hunger Games as key texts for understanding our world, demonstrating that ethics do not originate from rational considerations, far removed from those mucky things called emotions. But rather that emotions are at the core of cinematic ethics.”

—William Brown, Author of Supercinema: Film-Philosophy for the Digital Age 

‘’In this elegantly written exploration of the relationship between aesthetics and emotion in The Hunger Gamestrilogy, Tarja Laine illuminates the power of film to embody ethical conflict. Deftly interweaving film-philosophy and close analysis, Laine traces how these films mobilise complex emotions, nuancing our thinking about cinema and the spectator. Laine’s book takes The Hunger Games films seriously, demonstrating with verve why they matter.”

—Catherine Wheatley, Senior Lecturer in Film Studies, King’s College London, UK 

''''In this fresh, engaging, and insightful study of The Hunger Games film trilogy, Tarja Laine explores the crucial role that emotions play in appreciation of the ethical qualities of the movies. She forges productive dialogues between a range of film theory, scholarship on moral philosophy, and debates on ethics, as she performs a multi-layered investigation of the aesthetic qualities of the trilogy, the multiple emotions embodied in these qualities, and the philosophical-ethical insights that are in turn embedded in these emotions. The cinematic connection between emotions and ethics that emerges through Laine’s detailed textual analyses confronts us with complex moral dilemmas while enriching our aesthetic experience.'''' 

—Sarah Cooper, Professor, Film Studies Department, King''s College London,  UK

Emotional Ethics of The Hunger Games expands the ‘ethical turn’ in Film Studies by analysing emotions as a source of ethical knowledge in The Hunger Games films. It argues that emotions, incorporated in the thematic and aesthetic organization of these films, reflect a crisis in moral standards. As such they cultivate ethical attitudes towards such phenomena as totalitarianism, the culture of reality television, and the society of spectacle. The focus of the argument is on cinematic aesthetics, which expresses emotions in a way that highlights their ethical significance, running the gamut from fear through guilt and shame, to love, anger and contempt. The central claim of the book is that these emotions are symptomatic of some moral conflict, which renders The Hunger Games franchise a meaningful commentary on the affective practice of cinematic ethics. ‘’The Hunger Games movies have become iconic symbols for resistance across the globe. Tarja Laine proposes that this is not caused by their status as exciting cinematic spectacles, but by their engaging our emotions. Laine uses The Hunger Games as key texts for understanding our world, demonstrating that ethics do not originate from rational considerations, far removed from those mucky things called emotions. But rather that emotions are at the core of cinematic ethics.”—William Brown, Author of Supercinema: Film-Philosophy for the Digital Age ‘’In this elegantly written exploration of the relationship between aesthetics and emotion in The Hunger Gamestrilogy, Tarja Laine illuminates the power of film to embody ethical conflict. Deftly interweaving film-philosophy and close analysis, Laine traces how these films mobilise complex emotions, nuancing our thinking about cinema and the spectator. Laine’s book takes The Hunger Games films seriously, demonstrating with verve why they matter.”—Catherine Wheatley, Senior Lecturer in Film Studies, King’s College London, UK ''In this fresh, engaging, and insightful study of The Hunger Games film trilogy, Tarja Laine explores the crucial role that emotions play in appreciation of the ethical qualities of the movies. She forges productive dialogues between a range of film theory, scholarship on moral philosophy, and debates on ethics, as she performs a multi-layered investigation of the aesthetic qualities of the trilogy, the multiple emotions embodied in these qualities, and the philosophical-ethical insights that are in turn embedded in these emotions. The cinematic connection between emotions and ethics that emerges through Laine’s detailed textual analyses confronts us with complex moral dilemmas while enriching our aesthetic experience.'' —Sarah Cooper, Professor, Film Studies Department, King's College London,  UK