Refocus: The Films of Steve McQueen - (Refocus: The International Directors) by Thomas Austin (Hardcover)

About the Book

Explores British director Steve McQueen's diverse output, from video installations to independent cinema to Hollywood to the BBC

Book Synopsis

Working across a range of formats, from video art and gallery installations to independent cinema to Hollywood to the BBC, Steve McQueen's prodigious output has been marked by formal ambition and political urgency. This vital collection interrogates his body of work, its political, aesthetic and institutional dimensions, and the interfaces between them. It offers critical insights into McQueen's engagements with race, gender, the body, love and pain, and his abiding self-reflexive interest in the potential of multiple audio-visual forms. The first director to win both the Turner Prize and an Oscar for best picture, McQueen is probably the most important working British film maker. This book explores the controversies as well as the achievements in his stellar career so far.

From the Back Cover

Working across a range of formats, from video art and gallery installations to independent cinema, Hollywood and the BBC, Steve McQueen's prodigious output has been marked by formal ambition and political urgency. ReFocus: The Films of Steve McQueen interrogates the director's body of work, its political, aesthetic and institutional dimensions, and the interfaces between them. It offers critical insights into McQueen's engagements with race, gender, the body, love and pain, and his abiding self-reflexive interest in the potential of multiple audio-visual forms. The first director to win both the Turner Prize and an Oscar for best picture, McQueen is probably the most important working British filmmaker. This vital collection explores the controversies as well as the achievements in McQueen's stellar career to date. Thomas Austin is Professor of Film Studies at the University of Sussex, UK.

Review Quotes

This book shines a spotlight on the visual brilliance of Steve McQueen's films. Backed by original research that blends textual analysis with socio-cultural exploration, each chapter offers insights into how McQueen has navigated diverse mediums, aesthetics, and politics. A primary reference point for those interested in the significance of McQueen in contemporary art and culture.--Sarita Malik, Brunel University London

About the Author

Thomas Austin is Professor of Film Studies at the University of Sussex, UK.