David Bordwell,
University of Wisconsin - Madison Kristin Thompson,
University of Wisconsin - Madison
ISBN: 0073386162 Copyright year: 2010
Features
Skills-centered approach. The authors strive to help students develop a core set of analytical skills that will deepen their understanding of any film, in any genre.
A logical organization that stresses film form rather than isolated techniques. Chapters 2 and 3 introduce the idea of film form, and Chapters 4-8 explain individual techniques and how they are used as parts of whole films.
Whole film study. Bordwell and Thompson emphasize the study of complete films, rather than excerpts, with an approach that examines how a film is created, how an entire film functions, and how the art of film has developed through time.
"A Closer Look" boxes that examine issues of importance in contemporary cinema. For example, computer generated imagery (CGI) is addressed in a discussion of The Lord of the Rings.
Frame enlargements used instead of "production stills." All film images presented in the text are frame enlargements--magnified photographs taken from an actual strip of film. This enables students to view images that directly correspond to images in the finished films.
Where to Go from Here: At the end of most chapters, this section attempts to raise issues and provoke discussion. It also suggests further reading and research, acting as a bibliographic source for specific issues in the chapter.
A text-specific tutorial CD-ROM helps clarify and reinforce specific concepts addressed in the text with the use of film clips (1-2 per chapter), a corresponding commentary for each film clip, and a quiz for students to take to test their understanding of the material. The CD-ROM is available for separate purchase (ISBN 0-07-732993-7) or packaged with a new text at no additional cost. (To order the package of the text and CD-ROM, use ISBN 0-07-739643-X.)
Author Blog. Updated every two weeks Bordwell and Thompson's popular blog, "Observations on Film Art," blog features film reviews, reports from film festivals, and discussions of a broad variety of film topics that connect ideas in Film Art to the current film scene in an accessible format.
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