Philosophy, Myth and Epic Cinema: Beyond Mere Illusions

Philosophy, Myth and Epic Cinema looks at the power of cinema in creating ideas that inspire our culture.Sylvie Magerst�dt discusses the relationship between art, illusion and reality, a theme that has been part of philosophical debate for centuries. She argues that with the increase in use of digital technologies in modern cinema, this debate has entered a new phase. She discusses the notion of illusions as a system of stories and values that inspire a culture similar to other grand narratives, such as mythology or religion. Cinema thus becomes the postmodern �mythmaking machine� par excellence in a world that finds it increasingly difficult to create unifying concepts and positive illusions that can inspire and give hope. The author draws on the work of Friedrich Nietzsche, Siegfried Kracauer, and Gilles Deleuze to demonstrate the relevance of continental philosophy to a reading of mainstream Hollywood cinema. The book argues that our longing for illusion is particularly strong in times of crisis, illustrated through an exploration of the recent revival of historic and epic myths in Hollywood cinema, including films such as Troy, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, and Clash of the Titans. Additional ISBNs 1783482516, 9781783482511Philosophy, Myth and Epic Cinema: Beyond Mere Illusions 1st Edition is written by Sylvie Magerst�dt and published by Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. ISBNs for Philosophy, Myth and Epic Cinema are 9781783482528, 1783482524 and the print ISBNs are 9781783482504, 1783482508. Additional ISBNs include 1783482516, 9781783482511.