Looseleaf For The Art Of Watching Films

"Never before have movies been so readily available to those who wish to watch them. When the first edition of this book was published, students' viewing opportunities were mostly limited to local theaters, classrooms with 16mm projection capabilities, or television. Since then, cable, satellite, VCRs, laserdisc players, and DVRs (beginning with TiVo) have dramatically widened our choice of films to see and ways to see them. DVDs and streaming video via the Internet and Wi-Fi have offered home viewers both improved visual and sound quality, and content extras such as commentaries by directors, actors, writers, editors, cinematographers, and other filmmakers, as well as extended "making of" documentaries. Perhaps most helpfully for the study of film, these technologies allow direct digital entry to individual scenes so that we can now scrutinize a film sequence by sequence, shot by shot, and even frame by frame. What are we to make of this greater access to movies? What purpose does it serve? This textbook is informed by the belief that making films is an art-and that watching films is also an art. Most students come into an introductory film course having watched plenty of movies, but during the semester, they develop ways to engage in the experience on a deeper, more meaningful level"--

This introduction to film appreciation uses examples from contemporary and popular American films to help students sharpen their powers of observation and establish habits of perceptive watching. The fifth edition adds 100 new photos and an expanded discussion of genre films, and reintroduces the ch

With an emphasis on the narrative film, The Art of Watching Films challenges students to take their film experience further by sharpening their powers of observation, developing the skills and habits of perceptive watching, and discovering complex aspects of film art that they might otherwise overlook. The Art of Watching Films introduces the formal elements and production process of films, and helps students analytically view and understand films within their historical, cultural and social contexts. The text presents an analytical framework that can be applied to all movies, as distinctly different as Avatar, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Vertigo, Iron-Man, Man on Wire, and The Hurt Locker. Instructors and students can now access their course content through the Connect digital learning platform by purchasing either standalone Connect access or a bundle of print and Connect access. McGraw-Hill Connect® is a subscription-based learning service accessible online through your personal computer or tablet. Choose this option if your instructor will require Connect to be used in the course. Your subscription to Connect includes the following: • SmartBook® - an adaptive digital version of the course textbook that personalizes your reading experience based on how well you are learning the content. • Access to your instructor’s homework assignments, quizzes, syllabus, notes, reminders, and other important files for the course. • Progress dashboards that quickly show how you are performing on your assignments and tips for improvement. • The option to purchase (for a small fee) a print version of the book. This binder-ready, loose-leaf version includes free shipping. Complete system requirements to use Connect can be found here: http://www.mheducation.com/highered/platforms/connect/training-support-students.html

With an emphasis on the narrative film, The Art of Watching Films challenges students to take their film experience further by sharpening their powers of observation, developing the skills and habits of perceptive watching, and discovering complex aspects of film art that they might otherwise overlook. The Art of Watching Films introduces the formal elements and production process of films, and helps students analytically view and understand films within their historical, cultural and social contexts. The text presents an analytical framework that can be applied to all movies, as distinctly different as Avatar, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Vertigo, Iron-Man, Man on Wire, and The Hurt Locker.

This introduction to film appreciation uses contemporary and popular American movies to help students develop critical skills in the analysis and evaluation of film. By suggesting what to look for and how to look for it, this text challenges students to sharpen their powers of observation, establish habits of perceptive watching, and discover complex aspects of film art that will further enhance their enjoyment of watching films.