How To Read A Film

Richard Gilman referred to How to Read a Film as simply the best single work of its kind." And Janet Maslin in The New York Times Book Review marveled at James Monacos 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 films 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 ever-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 Film
is an indispensable addition to the library of everyone who loves the cinema and wants to understand it better."