Projecting Illusion: Film Spectatorship and the Impression of Reality (Cambridge Studies in Film) - Hardcover

Allen, Richard

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0521470153 ISBN 13: 9780521470155

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 1995

Synopsis

Projecting Illusion offers a systematic analysis of the impression of reality in the cinema and the pleasure it gives to the film spectator. Film provides a compelling experience that can be considered as a form of illusion akin to the experience of day-dream and dream. Examining the concept of illusion and its relationship to fantasy in the experience of visual representation, Richard Allen situates his explanation within the context of an analytical criticism of contemporary film and critical theory. He argues that many contemporary film theorists correctly identify the significance of the impression of reality, although their explanation of it is incorrect because of an invalid philosophical understanding of the relationship between the mind, representation and reality. Offering a clear presentation and critique of the central arguments of contemporary film and critical theory, Allen also touches on fundamental issues in current discourses of philosophy, art history and feminist theory.

About this title

Book Description

Projecting Illusion offers a systematic analysis of the impression of reality in the cinema and the pleasure it gives to the film spectator. It also touches on basic issues in current discourses of philosophy, art history and feminist theory.

From the Back Cover

Projecting Illusion offers a systematic analysis of the impression of reality in the cinema and the pleasure it provides the film spectator. Film affords an especially compelling aesthetic experience that can be considered as a form of illusion akin to the experience of daydream and dream. Examining the concept of illusion and its relationship to fantasy in the experience of visual representation, Richard Allen situates his explanation within the context of an analytical criticism of contemporary film theory. Contrary to many critics, he argues that many contemporary film theorists correctly identify the significance of the impression of reality, although their explanation of it is incorrect because of an invalid philosophical understanding of the relationship between the mind, representation, and reality. Offering a clear presentation and critique of central arguments of contemporary film and critical theory, Projecting Illusion also touches on fundamental issues in the current discourses of philosophy, art history, and feminist theory.

Edition details

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 1995
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0521470153
• ISBN 13: 9780521470155
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 188