Critical theory and film : rethinking ideology through film noir / Fabio Vighi.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

1 The dialectic's narrow margin: Film noir between Adorno and Hegel -- Self-limitation in film noir -- The noir panorama beyond spectatorship -- Adorno goes to Hollywood -- The negative and the whole -- Ontology of self-deception in film noir -- The Narrow Margin and double visions -- A detour on ideology -- 2 Critical Theory's dialectical dilemma -- Horkheimer's method -- The Kantian subtext -- Hegel: Contradiction (not) resolved -- From mimesis to utopia -- Critical Theory's fetishistic disavowal -- 3 A configuration pregnant with tension: Fritz Lang for Critical Theory -- Beyond the doubt of appearances -- On photos and truth -- Framing the subject -- Sublimation in The Blue Gardenia -- From paranoia to repetition -- The gaze in the frame -- The art of excremental painting -- Coda: The enjoyment of film in theory.

Critical Theory and Film brings together critical theory and film to enhance the critical potential of both. The book focuses on the Frankfurt School, most notably the works of Adorno and Horkheimer, as well as associated thinkers. It seeks to demonstrate that cinema can help critical theory repoliticize culture and society and affirm the theoretical and political impact of cinematic knowledge. After discussing how the Frankfurt School saw cinema as an instrument of capitalism use to promote the cultural and political regimentation of the masses, Vighi then proceeds to demonstrate that critical theory can in fact suggest a different verdict on the progressive potential of cinema. Each chapter focuses on a key critical theory concept that is explained and redefined through film analysis to unravel the hidden presuppositions and most radical consequences of critical theory. A unique contribution to the literature, this volume in the Critical Theory and Contemporary Society series offer an innovative reading of film as a critical tool, drawing on the latest developments in Lacanian theory.

Print version record.

eBooks on EBSCOhost EBSCO eBook Subscription Academic Collection - Worldwide