Product Description

An introduction to popular film and the way in which it is studied, this book brings together the critical approaches and issues that have sought to define popular film from the 1950s to the present day. It inlcudes discussion of mass culture theory and political economy; autuer theory; genre theory; star studies; historical poetics; screen theory; feminism; and cultural studies.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #113176 in Books
• Published on: 1995-03-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

Customer Reviews

If only everything in life came with one of these!
This book is probably one of the most accessible film readers ever. I was new to film and didn't have a clue where or how to start learning about it. After reading this book I now have a confident grasp of how film theories work. The book maps the various ways of looking at films today, dealing with all kinds of popular films and how we can understand them. It explains how each film theory came about, how it has changed and what it has come to mean. The different authors of each chapter don't assume we know about film already, neither do they offer us a watered-down version of a theory. They explain each approach, offering the debates surrounding it, giving examples and fully exploring the pros and cons of using that theory. It is an excellent book, uncomplicated and very thorough - essential if you want a decent knowledge of all the important theories. If only everything in life I want to understand would come with a book like this!