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Philosophy, Myth and Epic Cinema

Beyond Mere Illusions
  • ISBN-13: 9781783482504
  • Publisher: ROWMAN & LITTLEFIELD PUBLISHERS
    Imprint: ROWMAN & LITTLEFIELD INTERNAT.
  • By Sylvie Magerstadt
  • Price: AUD $323.00
  • Stock: 0 in stock
  • Availability: This book is temporarily out of stock, order will be despatched as soon as fresh stock is received.
  • Local release date: 13/02/2015
  • Format: Hardback 212 pages Weight: 0g
  • Categories: Philosophy [HP]
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Philosophy, Myth and Epic Cinema looks at the power of cinema in creating ideas that inspire our culture. Sylvie Magerstadt discusses the relationship between art, illusion and reality, a theme that has been part of philosophical debate for centuries. She argues that with the increase in use of digital technologies in modern cinema, this debate has entered a new phase. She discusses the notion of illusions as a system of stories and values that inspire a culture similar to other grand narratives, such as mythology or religion. Cinema thus becomes the postmodern "mythmaking machine" par excellence in a world that finds it increasingly difficult to create unifying concepts and positive illusions that can inspire and give hope. The author draws on the work of Friedrich Nietzsche, Siegfried Kracauer, and Gilles Deleuze to demonstrate the relevance of continental philosophy to a reading of mainstream Hollywood cinema. The book argues that our longing for illusion is particularly strong in times of crisis, illustrated through an exploration of the recent revival of historic and epic myths in Hollywood cinema, including films such as Troy, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, and Clash of the Titans.
Acknowledgments / Abbreviations / Introduction: Philosophy, Myth, Spectacle / Part I: How Real is Reality? - A Review on the Relation of Reality, Art and Illusions / 1. From Dream Factory to Cathedrals of Pop Culture: Mythological, Religious and Ideological Approaches to Cinema / 2. The Realm of the Real: Reality, Images and Cinematic Realism / 3. Back to the Future? Contemporary Cinema and the Challenges for Theorists / Part II: May We Really Believe in Hollywood? - The Creation of Modern Myths / 4. Redemption Through Illusion: Cinematic Myths / 5. Healthy illusions: Hollywood's Realism and the Return of the Epics / 6. Possible Worlds, Impossible Narratives?: The Potentials and Limits of Digital Storytelling / Epilogue: Further Reflections and Further Directions / Bibliography / Filmography / Index
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