How to Read a Film Movies, Media, and Beyond [Paperback]

Richard Gilman referred toHow to Read a Filmas simply the best single work of its kind. And Janet Maslin inThe New York Times Book Reviewmarveled at James Monaco's ability to collect an enormous amount of useful information and assemble it in an exhilaratingly simple and systematic way. Indeed, since its original publication in 1977, this hugely popular book has become the definitive source on film and media.

Now, James Monaco offers a special anniversary edition of his classic work, featuring a new preface and several new sections, including an Essential Library: One Hundred Books About Film and Media You Should Read and One Hundred Films You Should See. As in previous editions, Monaco once again looks at film from many vantage points, as both art and craft, sensibility and science, tradition and technology. After examining film's close relation to other narrative media such as the novel, painting, photography, television, and even music, the book discusses the elements necessary to understand how films convey meaning, and, more importantly, how we can best discern all that a film is attempting to communicate. In addition, Monaco stresses the still-evolving digital context of film throughout--one of the new sections looks at the untrustworthy nature of digital images and sound--and his chapter on multimedia brings media criticism into the twenty-first century with a thorough discussion of topics like virtual reality, cyberspace, and the proximity of both to film.

With hundreds of illustrative black-and-white film stills and diagrams,How to Read a Filmis an indispensable addition to the library of everyone who loves the cinema and wants to understand it better.

Introduction
I. Film as Art
The Nature of Art
Ways of Looking at Art
Film, Recording, and the Other Arts
The Structure of Art
II. Technology: Image and Sound
Art and Technology
The Lens
The CalãÑ