Philosophy, Myth and Epic Cinema
eBook - PDF

Philosophy, Myth and Epic Cinema

Beyond Mere Illusions

  1. 213 pages
  2. English
  3. PDF
  4. Available on iOS & Android
eBook - PDF

Philosophy, Myth and Epic Cinema

Beyond Mere Illusions

About this book

Philosophy, Myth and Epic Cinema looks at the power of cinema in creating ideas that inspire our culture. Sylvie Magerstädt 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.

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Yes, you can access Philosophy, Myth and Epic Cinema by Sylvie Magerstädt in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in Philosophy & Film & Video. We have over one million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.

Information

Table of contents

  1. Contents
  2. Acknowledgements
  3. Abbreviations
  4. Introduction: Philosophy, Myth and Spectacle
  5. I: How Real Is Reality?—A Review on the Relation of Reality, Art and Illusion
  6. Chapter One: From Dream Factory to Cathedrals of Pop Culture
  7. Chapter Two: The Realm of the Real
  8. Chapter Three: Back to the Future?
  9. II: May We Really Believe in Hollywood?—The Creation of Modern Myths
  10. Chapter Four: Redemption Through Illusion
  11. Chapter Five: Healthy Illusions
  12. Chapter Six: Possible Worlds, Impossible Narratives?
  13. Epilogue
  14. Bibliography
  15. Filmography
  16. Index