Anatomy of Film

Anatomy of Film Review

The strength of this book is that it covers all main bases of film criticism except for film history, which does, however, enjoy a few passing references. Besides the usual chapters on the basic elements of film--the shot, scene, mise-en-scene, lighting, sound, and etc.--there are also chapters on film genres, film subtext, directors, film and literature, film theory, and a chapter of sample analyses of important films. There is an appendix with a couple of sample student essays, but there isn't really any writing instruction. That's left up to your class instructor. About half the size (same thickness, however) of most film introductions, with some but not a lot of black and white photos, this is convenient to read in bed or wherever. The organization seems rather weak in some respects: after a rather scattered introductory chapter, there is a chapter on graphics (credits and subtitles) and sound, which doesn't seem like a very logical start for a film textbook. After that, things fall into place. The field of film textbooks is quite crowded, and there are many other books that give more in-depth coverage of various aspects, but if you want a book that covers all the basics, this does the job.

Anatomy of Film Overview

Combining a student-friendly approach with in-depth coverage, this book gives an enthusiastic and thoroughly contemporary examination of all the key elements of film studies. It: offers practical guidance on essay-writing, including analysis of sample essays; covers hot topics and new trends, from digital film to YouTube; and, is packed with new examples in visual and text format. This brief, jargon-free introduction to film appreciation and analysis helps students develop a critical awareness of cinema without overwhelming them. Including new features, updated examples and greater attention to growing trends, the new edition provides deeper coverage of key theory, concepts and terminology for all film students.

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