Cinema: A Visual Anthropology

Cinema: A Visual Anthropology provides a clear and concise summary of the key ideas, debates, and texts of the most important approaches to the study of fiction film from around the world. The book examines ways to address film and film experience beyond the study of the audience. Cross-disciplinary in scope, Cinema uses ideas and approaches both from within and outside of anthropology to further students' knowledge of and interest in fiction film. Including selected, globally based case studies to highlight and exemplify important issues, the book also contains suggested Further Reading for each chapter, for students to expand their learning independently. Exploring fundamental methods and approaches to engage this most interesting and vibrant of media, Cinema will be essential reading for students of anthropology and film.

Table of Contents:
1. Series Editor's Preface (Marcus Banks) 2. Introduction 3. History of Fiction Film i. Introduction ii. Precursors iii. Early cinema iv. The 'Golden' Era of Fiction Film v. Auteurs, Independents, and Global Blockbusters 4. Film Theory i. Introduction ii. Early film theory Formalism and Ciné-Art Expressionism Kracauer and the Frankfurt School Montage and Editing iii. Critical film theories Neo-Realism and the French New Wave Marxism Structuralism Semiotics Psychoanalsysis iv. Literary theories v. Film Theory 5. Context of Production i. Introduction ii. National cinema iii. Third Cinema iv. An Anthropology of Fiction Film 6. Context of Viewing i. Introduction ii. Reception studies iii. Audience studies 7. Conclusion

About the Author :
Gordon Gray is a Visiting Lecturer in the Department of Anthropology, Temple University. The author has conducted research on Malaysian cinema and teaches classes on fiction film as part of Temple University's Visual Anthropology program.

Review :
"Gordon Gray's Cinema: A Visual Anthropology strikes a perfect note for the contemporary exploration of visual culture. Clearly written, comprehensive, and laced with stunning images, this is a text for which professors of visual anthropology, film studies and visual culture have been waiting. "-Paul Stoller, author of The Power of the Between: An Anthropological Odyssey and The Cinematic Griot: The Ethnography of Jean Rouch