The Mind Screen
Identification Desire and Its Cinematic Arena
Nonfiction, Entertainment, Performing Arts, Film, Health & Well Being, Psychology
| Author: | Georg Schmid | ISBN: | 9783653956320 |
| Publisher: | Peter Lang | Publication: | December 18, 2015 |
| Imprint: | Peter Lang GmbH, Internationaler Verlag der Wissenschaften | Language: | English |
| Author: | Georg Schmid |
| ISBN: | 9783653956320 |
| Publisher: | Peter Lang |
| Publication: | December 18, 2015 |
| Imprint: | Peter Lang GmbH, Internationaler Verlag der Wissenschaften |
| Language: | English |
For well over a century cinema has exerted enormous influence, yet many questions regarding its fascination remain unanswered. Films work so well because the viewers tend to unconsciously identify with the actors/actresses. The desire to become another, substituting identity by identification, can be traced to the illusion that the filmic heroes/heroines are immortal – identifying with them raises the possibility of gaining «deathlessness.» Viewers can, without real life risks, experiment with the existential drafts presented; the power of imagination is mobilized. Based on a multidisciplinary approach (semiotics, psychoanalysis, cultural anthropology, plus a healthy dose of film history), this book presents prolegomena of a philosophy of cinema.
For well over a century cinema has exerted enormous influence, yet many questions regarding its fascination remain unanswered. Films work so well because the viewers tend to unconsciously identify with the actors/actresses. The desire to become another, substituting identity by identification, can be traced to the illusion that the filmic heroes/heroines are immortal – identifying with them raises the possibility of gaining «deathlessness.» Viewers can, without real life risks, experiment with the existential drafts presented; the power of imagination is mobilized. Based on a multidisciplinary approach (semiotics, psychoanalysis, cultural anthropology, plus a healthy dose of film history), this book presents prolegomena of a philosophy of cinema.
