Film Art: An Introduction

Written to help students develop a more critical eye in analyzing and appreciating cinema, Film Art: An Introduction has remained the leading reference for film appreciation courses since its first publication way back in 1979. Reinforced with a more up to date survey of the film industry, this book retains the traditional skill-building approach but has been enhanced with practical examples taken from a wide variety of eras and periods and from many countries. The main aim of the book is to help students develop a strong critical and analytical foundation to appreciate good movies, whatever the genre. Authors Kristin Thompson and David Bordwell also added images and screen shots directly taken from different films to illustrate various concepts. The accompanying CD-ROM contains film clips. The latest edition even offers access to Bordwell and Thompson's weblog, which provides updated examples and additional references. Film Art: An Introduction (ISBN 9780073386164) features a total of 12 chapters and is divided into 6 parts. The first part talks about the art of filmmaking. Other topics covered include film forms and their significance, film styles (ranging from cinematography to shot-to-shot editing, sound, etc.), film types and genres, as well as documentaries, experimental films, and animations. The last part of the book goes into the critical analysis of films and how to write a critique (complete with samples). The book also discusses film history. This critically acclaimed reference was formulated for film students as well as those who simply want to learn more about motion pictures.