Product Description

Comprehensive, authoritative, and unique, The Oxford Guide to Film Studies is the up-to-date critical volume on the theories, debates, and approaches to the study of film. A host of international experts provide an overview of the main disciplinary approaches to film studies, an explanation of the main concepts and methods involved in film analysis, a survey of the main issues and debates in the study of film, and critical discussion of key areas. The Guide features: * Comprehensive coverage suitable for any course on cinema or film studies * Organized into three sections: Approaches; Hollywood and the World; World Cinema * An emphasis throughout on critical concepts, methods, and debates * Specially commissioned chapters on such varied topics as film music, the Hollywood Star System, and the idea of national cinema * Coverage dedicated to important new areas in film studies: gay and lesbian criticism, postcolonial theory, audience studies, post-classical Hollywood cinema, and cultural studies * Chapters discussing exciting new developments in classical topics, such as Early Hollywood Cinema, Film History, and the avant-garde * Illustrated throughout, and complete with `readings' designed to demonstrate the variety of theoretical approaches, chapter headings and summaries, guides to further reading, and `highlight' quotes With its uniquely comprehensive coverage, The Oxford Guide to Film Studies is an indispensable aide and reference source for the student of film and media, and anyone interested in the study of cinema.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #20528 in Books
• Published on: 1998-02-05
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 648 pages

The Times Higher Education Supplement, May 1999
"Prominence is given to the politics of gender and sexuality, an accurate reflection of the balance of debates within the discipline over the past two decades at least."

Review
"One of the first things that strikes you about The Oxford Guide to Film Studies is the number of contributors, nearly 70 in all representing a fair cross-section of leading scholarship mainly (though not exclusively) from the United Kingdom and the United States. This is a great strength." (The Times Higher Education Supplement, May 1999 )

"Prominence is given to the politics of gender and sexuality, an accurate reflection of the balance of debates within the discipline over the past two decades at least." (The Times Higher Education Supplement, May 1999 )

"In its coverage of major theoretical issues, provides a sound introduction for undergraduate film-studies students and perhaps even more usefully, for students on courses on which film is only a part." (The Times Higher Education Supplement, May 1999 )

"Featuring entries from most of the reigning luminaries in the field, this solid, exhaustive volume is possibly the best all-in-one guide currently available. The contributors supply skilful overviews of the major critical approaches, and there are a few surpises --- for instance, pornography is firmly ensconced as a respectable academic subject." (Sight and Sound, May 1998 )

substantial book that, particularly in its coverage of major theoretical issues, provides a sound introduction for undergraduate film-studies students and, perhaps even more usefully, for students on courses of which film is only a part. (Steve Blandford, The Times Higher Education Supplement )

The Times Higher Education Supplement, May 1999
"In its coverage of major theoretical issues, provides a sound introduction for undergraduate film-studies students and perhaps even more usefully, for students on courses on which film is only a part."

Customer Reviews

Thoroughly thrilling theory.
The Oxford Guide to Film Studies succeeds where most other film studies textbooks fail, by making the material it is focusing on accessible and engaging. Although clearly aimed at the Undergraduate Film or Media Studies student, there is much here to interest even the casual reader.
The book covers almost every important area of film studies in some detail, ranging from semiotics to feminism, post-modernism to pornography, film and cultural identity to film history. This range is not only exhaustive, but each essay is written by a top lecturer or researcher in the field. Along with informed commentary and well-placed case studies/film readings, this book just can't help but educate you. Quite simply, much more than your average textbook.

A must have book for anyone interested in film
This book is a God-send.

Whether you are a film/media student or just interested in cinema this book is for you. Too often are academic essays and textbook inaccessable to anyone other than the author but The Oxford Guide to Film Studies is so easy to read, and take in, that you'll be using it as bedtime reading for children.

It is packed full of everything you need or want to know, from the history of cinema to analysis of individual films and film movement and, at under £20 is incredibly good value for money.

Buy it today!