Understanding Film Texts: Meaning and Experience (Distributed for the British Film Institute) - Hardcover

Phillips, Patrick

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 085170798X ISBN 13: 9780851707983

Publisher: British Film Inst, 2001

Synopsis

Part of a new introductory series, this book makes accessible and ordinary the ideas and procedures of film studies. Using a variety of critical thought about film texts, the author's approach is grounded in the experience of the student as a cinema-goer.
The book is organized around three accessible, non-specialist experiences of film: story, character, and spectacle. Through these, an introduction is offered to film- specific studies. Each chapter makes detailed references to two films. The choice of films is contemporary and diverse--from E.T. to A Chinese Ghost Story, from Once Were Warriors to Romeo and Juliet, from Sliding Doors to Secrets and Lies. The author uses close study of specific sequences in order to develop an introductory level understanding and appreciation of key elements of film form such as mise-en-scene and editing. Throughout, the emphasis is placed on how meaning is made in the interaction between film "text" and spectator. The close study of specific film text is also used as the basis for opening up broader issues and ideas in film studies.

About this title

About the Author

Patrick Phillips teaches at Middlesex University, is Chief Examiner, WJEC, A level "Film Studies" and is the author of a variety of articles about cinema and how to teach it.

Edition details

• Publisher: British Film Inst
• Publication date: 2001
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 085170798X
• ISBN 13: 9780851707983
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 158