A Companion to Early Cinema - by André Gaudreault & Nicolas Dulac & Santiago Hidalgo (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

"This collection of essays by early cinema scholars from Europe and North America offers manifold perspectives on early cinema fiction which perfectly reflect the state of international research."

- Martin Loiperdinger, Universitaet Trier

"A fabulous selection of first-rate articles!"

- Rick Altman, University of Iowa

"One of the most challenging books in recent film studies: in it, early cinema is both a historical object and a contemporary presence. As in a great novel, we can retrace the adventures of the past - the films, styles, discourses, and receptions that made cinema the breakthrough reality it was in its first decades. But we can also come to appreciate how much of this reality is still present in our digital world."

- Francesco Casetti, Yale University

A Companion to Early Cinema is an authoritative reference on the field of early cinema. Its 30 peer-reviewed chapters offer cutting-edge research and original perspectives on the major concerns in early cinema studies, and take an ambitious look at ideas and themes that will lead discussions about early cinema into the future.

Including work by both established and up-and-coming scholars in early cinema, film theory, and film history, this will be the definitive volume on early cinema history for years to come and a must-have reference for all those working in the field.

From the Back Cover

"This collection of essays by early cinema scholars from Europe and North America offers manifold perspectives on early cinema fiction which perfectly reflect the state of international research."

- Martin Loiperdinger, Universitaet Trier

"A fabulous selection of first-rate articles!"

- Rick Altman, University of Iowa

"One of the most challenging books in recent film studies: in it, early cinema is both a historical object and a contemporary presence. As in a great novel, we can retrace the adventures of the past - the films, styles, discourses, and receptions that made cinema the breakthrough reality it was in its first decades. But we can also come to appreciate how much of this reality is still present in our digital world."

- Francesco Casetti, Yale University

A Companion to Early Cinema is an authoritative reference on the field of early cinema. Its 30 peer-reviewed chapters offer cutting-edge research and original perspectives on the major concerns in early cinema studies, and take an ambitious look at ideas and themes that will lead discussions about early cinema into the future.

Including work by both established and up-and-coming scholars in early cinema, film theory, and film history, this will be the definitive volume on early cinema history for years to come and a must-have reference for all those working in the field.

Review Quotes

"This book is an authoritative reference on the field of early cinema.It includes work by established and up-and-coming scholars that offers the cutting-edge research and original perspectives. Its 30 chapters are a must-have reference for those working in field." (Wonderpedia, 19 September 2013)

"It goes without saying that it deserves to be on the library shelves of institutions where the subject forms part of the academic curriculum." (Reference Reviews, 1 June 2013)

"One of the strengths of this substantial 'companion' is that it raises the issue of definition in a variety of provocative ways." (Sight & Sound, 1 February 2013)

"The essays are well researched and display a refreshing diversity of approaches. Even as the discipline of cinema and media studies turns to newer media, early cinema continues to posses a certain allure." (Nineteenth Century Theatre and Film, Summer 2013)

About the Author

André Gaudreault is Professor in Film Studies at the Université de Montréal, where he heads the research group GRAFICS (Groupe de recherche sur l'avènement et la formation des institutions cinématographique et scénique). He is also director of the bilingual journal Cinémas, published in Montreal. He has presented numerous scholarly papers and published extensively on film narration and early cinema.

Nicolas Dulac is Lecturer in Film Studies at the Université de Montréal. He has published on early cinema and turn-of-the-century popular culture in journals such as 1895 Revue d'Histoire du Cinéma, Cinema & Cie, and Early Popular Visual Culture.

Santiago Hidalgo is Lecturer in Film Studies at the Université de Montréal. He has published on early cinema, film criticism, and film historiography in Cinémas and in conference proceedings for events in Udine, Italy and Cerisy, France.