Film Theory: The Basics, 2nd Edition

5 THEORY AFTER FILM THEORY

DOI: 10.4324/9781003171379-6

Over the course of the twentieth century, film theory underwent a dramatic evolution. It started with an eclectic mixture of writers, thinkers, and artists curious about a still new medium but quickly expanded to encompass broader cultural, aesthetic, and intellectual debates that were themselves intertwined with the historical contingencies – the social, political, economic, and ideological calamities – that were reshaping modern life. By mid-century, the medium had gained significant ground, serving as the paradigmatic model for contemporary popular entertainment and, increasingly, as an avenue for avant-garde experimentation and an accoutrement of cultural sophistication. With ...