Major Film Theories
J. Dudley AndrewOverview of Key Theories
The text categorizes film theories into several major schools of thought:
Formalist Theory: Focuses on the aesthetic aspects of film, analyzing how film form contributes to meaning. This includes the works of theorists like Arnheim and Eisenstein, who emphasize visual composition and editing techniques.
Realist Theory: Centers on the representation of reality in film. Kracauer and Bazin are notable figures here, advocating for a cinema that reflects the real world and its complexities.
Structuralist and Semiotic Approaches: These theories, represented by Metz, explore how films communicate meaning through signs and structures, drawing parallels with linguistic theories.
Andrew's work not only summarizes these theories but also situates them within broader cultural and historical contexts, illustrating how they influence and reflect societal views on cinema.