In Focus: Routledge Film Readers – serie

From the kinetoscope, used by one viewer at a time, to the lavish movie palaces of Hollywood's golden era, the experience of watching films has varied enormously across film. Exhibition, The Film Reader traces the emergence of a culture of moviegoing, exploring the range of venues in which films have been shown and following the fluctuating status of film and the continuning struggle over audiences.

From the kinetoscope, used by one viewer at a time, to the lavish movie palaces of Hollywood's golden era, the experience of watching films has varied enormously across film. Exhibition, The Film Reader traces the emergence of a culture of moviegoing, exploring the range of venues in which films have been shown and following the fluctuating status of film and the continuning struggle over audiences.

Hollywood Comedians, The Film Reader brings together key writings on one of the most consistently popular genres of Hollywood cinema. Despite the cult reputations enjoyed by star performers such as Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, the Marx Brothers and Woody Allen, comedians and the contexts within which they worked have not always received their due in scholarly discussions of cinema culture. Hollywood Comedians, The Film Reader seeks to fill this gap, combining distinguished work on comedian comedy produced since the early 1980s together with more recent material that explores the genre's contemporary revival.This reader provides a comprehensive guide to a range of comedians, contexts and issues: from the silent films of Chaplin and Keaton to the early sound comedy of Mae West and the Marx Brothers, and from the gender dynamics of Hope and Crosby, Lucille Ball and Jerry Lewis to contemporary comedians such as Jim Carrey and Chris Rock. In addition to exploring issues of genre, narrative, stardom and performance, the reader also traces how comedian films manage representations of otherness that are defined through ethnicity, race, class, gender and the body.Articles are grouped in thematic sections, each exploring a central issue to the study of comedian comedy, and featuring an editor's introduction outlining the context of issues and debates. Sections include:*Genre, narrative and performance*Approaches to silent comedy*Sound comedy, the vaudeville aesthetic and ethnicity*Comedian comedy and gender*Post-classical comedian comedy

Hollywood Comedians, The Film Reader brings together key writings on one of the most consistently popular genres of Hollywood cinema. Despite the cult reputations enjoyed by star performers such as Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, the Marx Brothers and Woody Allen, comedians and the contexts within which they worked have not always received their due in scholarly discussions of cinema culture. Hollywood Comedians, The Film Reader seeks to fill this gap, combining distinguished work on comedian comedy produced since the early 1980s together with more recent material that explores the genre's contemporary revival.This reader provides a comprehensive guide to a range of comedians, contexts and issues: from the silent films of Chaplin and Keaton to the early sound comedy of Mae West and the Marx Brothers, and from the gender dynamics of Hope and Crosby, Lucille Ball and Jerry Lewis to contemporary comedians such as Jim Carrey and Chris Rock. In addition to exploring issues of genre, narrative, stardom and performance, the reader also traces how comedian films manage representations of otherness that are defined through ethnicity, race, class, gender and the body.Articles are grouped in thematic sections, each exploring a central issue to the study of comedian comedy, and featuring an editor's introduction outlining the context of issues and debates. Sections include:*Genre, narrative and performance*Approaches to silent comedy*Sound comedy, the vaudeville aesthetic and ethnicity*Comedian comedy and gender*Post-classical comedian comedy

Articles examine the musical in relation to its generic form and conventions, the relationship between narrative and spectacle, gender and feminist analysis, camp production and reception, stardom, and the representation of race and ethnicity.Includes essays by: Rick Altman, Lucie Arbuthnot and Gail Seneca, Carol Clover, Steven Cohan, Richard Dyer, Jane Feuer, Patricia Mellencamp, Linda Mizejewski, Shari Roberts, Pamela Robertson, Michael Rogin, Martin Rubin and Matthew Tinkcom.

Articles examine the musical in relation to its generic form and conventions, the relationship between narrative and spectacle, gender and feminist analysis, camp production and reception, stardom, and the representation of race and ethnicity.Includes essays by: Rick Altman, Lucie Arbuthnot and Gail Seneca, Carol Clover, Steven Cohan, Richard Dyer, Jane Feuer, Patricia Mellencamp, Linda Mizejewski, Shari Roberts, Pamela Robertson, Michael Rogin, Martin Rubin and Matthew Tinkcom.

Horror, The Film Reader brings together key articles to provide a comprehensive resource for students of horror cinema. Mark Jancovich's introduction traces the development of horror film from The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari to The Blair Witch Project, and outlines the main critical debates. Combining classic and recent articles, each section explores a central issue of horror film, and features an editor's introduction outlining the context of debates.

Horror, The Film Reader brings together key articles to provide a comprehensive resource for students of horror cinema. Mark Jancovich's introduction traces the development of horror film from The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari to The Blair Witch Project, and outlines the main critical debates. Combining classic and recent articles, each section explores a central issue of horror film, and features an editor's introduction outlining the context of debates.

This volume provides a comprehensive guide to the long tradition of American avant-garde cinema, from its origins in the 1920s to the work of contemporary film and video artists. The Reader addresses major movements and key figures of the avant-garde, including filmmakers such as Andy Warhol, Kenneth Anger, Isaac Julien and Julie Dash, investigates how underground films have explored issues of gender, sexuality and race, and foreground technical innovations such as the use of Super 8mm and video.

This volume provides a comprehensive guide to the long tradition of American avant-garde cinema, from its origins in the 1920s to the work of contemporary film and video artists. The Reader addresses major movements and key figures of the avant-garde, including filmmakers such as Andy Warhol, Kenneth Anger, Isaac Julien and Julie Dash, investigates how underground films have explored issues of gender, sexuality and race, and foreground technical innovations such as the use of Super 8mm and video.

From two distinguished academics, Stars: The Film Reader brings together key writings and new perspectives on stars and stardom in cinema including coverage of stars and star systems from Europe and Asia as well as Hollywood, such as Mario Lanza, Oprah Winfrey and Roseanne Barr.Including contributions from top scholars such as Richard Dyer, the book addresses questions of production, labour and circulation, and examines neglected areas of study such as the Avant-Garde star, the non-American stars, and the question of ethnicity.Grouped in thematic sections, the articles explore key issues and developments in the study of stardom, providing a comprehensive overview of stardom across the world and in different genres and media.

From two distinguished academics, Stars: The Film Reader brings together key writings and new perspectives on stars and stardom in cinema including coverage of stars and star systems from Europe and Asia as well as Hollywood, such as Mario Lanza, Oprah Winfrey and Roseanne Barr.Including contributions from top scholars such as Richard Dyer, the book addresses questions of production, labour and circulation, and examines neglected areas of study such as the Avant-Garde star, the non-American stars, and the question of ethnicity.Grouped in thematic sections, the articles explore key issues and developments in the study of stardom, providing a comprehensive overview of stardom across the world and in different genres and media.

Bringing together material from the areas of documentary, fandom and animation, Movie Music, the Film Reader comprises an important first collection of writings about film music. It is divided into four sections, each with an introduction by the editor. Essays in The Meanings of the Score look at instrumental scores, their production and reception, and questions the onscreen power of the nineteenth century classical genre. The Place of the Song turns to popular music, asking how the pop score supports the film narrative. Formal Politics of Music on Film considers the subversive power of film music, and in Crossing Over Into the Narrative articles address the use of musicians within film narratives, from rockumentaries to pop-stars-as-movie-stars, such as Madonna in Desperately Seeking Susan.

Bringing together material from the areas of documentary, fandom and animation, Movie Music, the Film Reader comprises an important first collection of writings about film music. It is divided into four sections, each with an introduction by the editor. Essays in The Meanings of the Score look at instrumental scores, their production and reception, and questions the onscreen power of the nineteenth century classical genre. The Place of the Song turns to popular music, asking how the pop score supports the film narrative. Formal Politics of Music on Film considers the subversive power of film music, and in Crossing Over Into the Narrative articles address the use of musicians within film narratives, from rockumentaries to pop-stars-as-movie-stars, such as Madonna in Desperately Seeking Susan.

Movie Acting: The Film Reader explores one of the most central but often overlooked aspects of cinema: film acting. Combining classic and recent essays, it examines key issues such as:What constitutes film acting? How is film acting different from stage acting?How has film acting changed over time?What signifies realism in film acting?How is acting different in different genres?What is the role of the character actor? In addition to theoretical essays, contributors provide detailed analyses of specific actors such as Lillian Gish, Marlon Brando and Sidney Poitier. Styles of acting discussed include silent film pantomime, 1930s comedic acting, the Method and acting in avant-garde films. Articles are grouped into thematic sections, each with an introduction by the editor. Any student of film studies and acting will find this an essential part of their research and reading.

Movie Acting: The Film Reader explores one of the most central but often overlooked aspects of cinema: film acting. Combining classic and recent essays, it examines key issues such as:What constitutes film acting? How is film acting different from stage acting?How has film acting changed over time?What signifies realism in film acting?How is acting different in different genres?What is the role of the character actor? In addition to theoretical essays, contributors provide detailed analyses of specific actors such as Lillian Gish, Marlon Brando and Sidney Poitier. Styles of acting discussed include silent film pantomime, 1930s comedic acting, the Method and acting in avant-garde films. Articles are grouped into thematic sections, each with an introduction by the editor. Any student of film studies and acting will find this an essential part of their research and reading.

Technology and Culture: The Film Reader brings together key theoretical texts from more than a century of writing on film and technology. It begins by exploring the intertwined technologies of cinematic representation, reproduction, distribution and reception, before locating the technological history of cinema as one component of an increasingly complex technological culture.The selected articles encompass a range of disciplines, perspectives and methodologies, reflecting the multiplicity of contemporary approaches to technology. They are grouped into four thematic sections, each with an introduction by the editor.Origins and Evolution - examines the lineage of cinema's machines, while challenging the received notion that cinema began with a discrete moment of inventionDefinitions and Determinism - redefines technology, moving beyond an isolated description of cinema's physical tools to consider the forces that play a part in shaping their form and functionProjections and Aesthetics - analyzes the exchange between cinematic and other technologies, in terms of cinema's capacity to reflect on and negotiate technologies other than its ownContexts and Consequences - situates the technologies of cinema within a broader framework, charting their engagement with the spheres of discourse at work within society

Technology and Culture: The Film Reader brings together key theoretical texts from more than a century of writing on film and technology. It begins by exploring the intertwined technologies of cinematic representation, reproduction, distribution and reception, before locating the technological history of cinema as one component of an increasingly complex technological culture.The selected articles encompass a range of disciplines, perspectives and methodologies, reflecting the multiplicity of contemporary approaches to technology. They are grouped into four thematic sections, each with an introduction by the editor.Origins and Evolution - examines the lineage of cinema's machines, while challenging the received notion that cinema began with a discrete moment of inventionDefinitions and Determinism - redefines technology, moving beyond an isolated description of cinema's physical tools to consider the forces that play a part in shaping their form and functionProjections and Aesthetics - analyzes the exchange between cinematic and other technologies, in terms of cinema's capacity to reflect on and negotiate technologies other than its ownContexts and Consequences - situates the technologies of cinema within a broader framework, charting their engagement with the spheres of discourse at work within society

Queer Cinema, The Film Reader examines the relationship between cinematic representations of sexuality and their social, historical, and industrial contexts. Clearly divided into an introductory overview and four topic areas, the Reader explores how recent critical thinking has approached queer sexualities in relation to the cinema. The four sections discuss:Authorship - examining the role of sexuality in the work of queer filmmakers such as George Cukor, Dorothy Arzner, Barbara Hammer, and the directors of New Queer CinemaForms - exploring how genres such as the horror film, the musical, film noir, and the animated film construct queer cinematic spacesCamp - looking at how this reception strategy and mode of textual production, initially practised by pre-Stonewall queers, retains its critical charge even in contemporary mainstream popular cultureReception - considering three specific historical case-studies of how queer fans have interacted with media texts from Judy Garland to Star Trek.The Reader concludes with an essay that queerly rethinks classical gaze theory and allows students and scholars of the subject to draw their own conclusions in their studies.

Queer Cinema, The Film Reader examines the relationship between cinematic representations of sexuality and their social, historical, and industrial contexts. Clearly divided into an introductory overview and four topic areas, the Reader explores how recent critical thinking has approached queer sexualities in relation to the cinema. The four sections discuss:Authorship - examining the role of sexuality in the work of queer filmmakers such as George Cukor, Dorothy Arzner, Barbara Hammer, and the directors of New Queer CinemaForms - exploring how genres such as the horror film, the musical, film noir, and the animated film construct queer cinematic spacesCamp - looking at how this reception strategy and mode of textual production, initially practised by pre-Stonewall queers, retains its critical charge even in contemporary mainstream popular cultureReception - considering three specific historical case-studies of how queer fans have interacted with media texts from Judy Garland to Star Trek.The Reader concludes with an essay that queerly rethinks classical gaze theory and allows students and scholars of the subject to draw their own conclusions in their studies.

This is the first anthology devoted exclusively to the subject of colour in film and its history, production and technology.Set out in thematic sections, the book addresses key issues in the field including: the development of colour technologyhow visual stule was affected by the shift from black and white to colourcolour in film theory and the writings of authors such as Bresson, Eisenstein and Oshimacolour in the films of Godard, Hitchcock, Almodovar and many more.Including case studies too, this is the perfect introductory guide to a key element in film form and theory. A must for any student starting a film studies course.

This is the first anthology devoted exclusively to the subject of colour in film and its history, production and technology.Set out in thematic sections, the book addresses key issues in the field including: the development of colour technologyhow visual stule was affected by the shift from black and white to colourcolour in film theory and the writings of authors such as Bresson, Eisenstein and Oshimacolour in the films of Godard, Hitchcock, Almodovar and many more.Including case studies too, this is the perfect introductory guide to a key element in film form and theory. A must for any student starting a film studies course.

Discussing such classic films as Sergeant York, Air Force, and All Quiet on the Western Front, as well as more modern blockbusters like Apocalypse Now and Saving Private Ryan, this outstanding volume focuses on Hollywood and its production of war films.Topics covered include:the early formation of war cinemathe apotheosis of the Hollywood war filmthe ascendancy of ambivalenceHollywood and the war since Vietnamwar as a way of seeing. For any student of film studies or American cultural studies, this is a valuable companion.

Discussing such classic films as Sergeant York, Air Force, and All Quiet on the Western Front, as well as more modern blockbusters like Apocalypse Now and Saving Private Ryan, this outstanding volume focuses on Hollywood and its production of war films.Topics covered include:the early formation of war cinemathe apotheosis of the Hollywood war filmthe ascendancy of ambivalenceHollywood and the war since Vietnamwar as a way of seeing. For any student of film studies or American cultural studies, this is a valuable companion.

Transnational Cinema: The Film Reader provides an overview of the key concepts and debates within the developing field of transnational cinema. Bringing together seminal essays from a wide range of sources, this volume engages with films that fashion their narrative and aesthetic dynamics in relation to more than one national or cultural community. The reader is divided into four sections: From National to Transnational Cinema Global Cinema in the Digital Age Motion Pictures: Film, Migration and Diaspora Tourists and Terrorists.