The Philosophy of Film

Organized around a series of philosophic questions about film, The Philosophy of Film: Introductory Text and Readings offers an accessible and engaging overview of the discipline. Provides thorough selection of readings drawn from philosophy, film studies, and film criticism Multiple points of view highlighted in discussion of film theory, narration, authorship, film and emotion, and the social values of cinema Presents thought-provoking reading questions as well as clear and helpful introductions for each section More information about this text along with further resources are available from the accompanying website at: http://www.mtholyoke.edu/omc/phil-film/index.html

Acknowledgments viii General Introduction 1 Part I: Do We Need Film Theory? 5 Introduction 5 Study Questions 8 1 Prospects for Film Theory: A Personal Assessment 11 Noël Carroll 2 Can Scientific Models of Theorizing Help Film Theory? 21 Malcolm Turvey 3 Philosophy of Film as the Creation of Concepts 33 Gilles Deleuze Part II: What Is the Nature of Film? 39 Introduction 39 Study Questions 41 4 Defining the Photoplay 43 Hugo Münsterberg 5 The Artistry of Silent Film 50 Rudolf Arnheim 6 Cinematic Realism 59 André Bazin 7 Film, Photography, and Transparency 70 Kendall L. Walton 8 Non-fictional Cinematic Artworks and Knowledge 77 Trevor Ponech Part III: Do Films Have Authors? 91 Introduction 91 Study Questions 94 9 La Politique des Auteurs 95 François Truffaut 10 Auteur Theory and Film Evaluation 99 Andrew Sarris 11 The Idea of Film Criticism 108 Pauline Kael 12 Against Authorship 118 Stephen Heath 13 DVDs and the Director’s Intentions 123 Deborah Parker and Mark Parker Part IV: How Do Films Engage Our Emotions? 133 Introduction 133 Study Questions 136 14 Narrative Desire 139 Gregory Currie 15 Spectator Emotion and Ideological Film Criticism 148 Carl Plantinga 16 Engaging Characters 160 Murray Smith 17 The Paradox of Horror 170 Noël Carroll Part V: Must Films Have Narrators? 179 Introduction 179 Study Questions 181 18 Principles of Film Narration 183 David Bordwell 19 The Cinematic Narrator 190 Seymour Chatman 20 Narration as Showing 198 George M. Wilson Part VI: Can Films Be Socially Critical? 209 Introduction 209 Study Questions 212 21 The Politics of Representation 213 Michael Ryan and Douglas Kellner 22 But Would You Want Your Daughter To Marry One? Politics and Race in Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner 225 Thomas E. Wartenberg 23 Stella at the Movies: Class, Critical Spectatorship, and Melodrama in Stella Dallas 235 Angela Curran Part VII: What Can We Learn From Films? 247 Introduction 247 Study Questions 250 24 Knowledge as Transgression: It Happened One Night 253 Stanley Cavell 25 Realist Horror 260 Cynthia A. Freeland 26 Philosophy Screened: Experiencing The Matrix 270 Thomas E. Wartenberg 27 Virtue and Happiness in Groundhog Day 284 Joseph H. Kupfer Suggestions for Further Reading 295 Index 298