Poetics of Cinema

<p>Bringing together twenty-five years of work on what he has called the historical poetics of cinema David Bordwell presents an extended analysis of a key question for film studies: how are films made in particular historical contexts in order to achieve certain effects? For Bordwell films are <em>made</em> things existing within <em>historical </em>contexts and aim to create determinate <em>effects</em>. Beginning with this central thesis Bordwell works out a full understanding of how films channel and recast cultural influences for their cinematic purposes. With more than five hundred film stills <em>Poetics of Cinema</em> is a must-have for any student of cinema. </p>