The Stillness of Solitude - (Traditions in American Cinema) by Michelle Devereaux (Paperback)

About the Book

Michelle Devereaux explores the underlying philosophical and aesthetic Romantic connections between a selection of seven films from four popular filmmakers: Wes Anderson, Sofia Coppola, Spike Jonze and Charlie Kaufman.

Book Synopsis

In the first book-length study of Romanticism in relation to American film, Michelle Devereaux takes established theories of contemporary American independent cinema as a point of entry, exploring the underlying philosophical and aesthetic Romantic connections between a selection of seven films from four popular filmmakers: Wes Anderson, Sofia Coppola, Spike Jonze and Charlie Kaufman.
Primarily dealing with questions of identity, imagination and the relation between self and world, these films also emphasise the anxieties of our own time: the nostalgia for an imaginary past, and the fear of an uncertain future.

From the Back Cover

In the first book-length study of Romanticism in relation to American film, Michelle Devereaux takes established theories of contemporary American independent cinema as a point of entry, exploring the underlying philosophical and aesthetic Romantic connections between a selection of seven films from four popular filmmakers: Wes Anderson, Sofia Coppola, Spike Jonze and Charlie Kaufman. Primarily dealing with questions of identity, imagination and the relation between self and world, these films also emphasise the anxieties of our own time: the nostalgia for an imaginary past, and the fear of an uncertain future. Michelle Devereaux is a film journalist and scholar. She received her doctorate in Film Studies from the University of Edinburgh and has taught film theory, history and criticism at the University of Edinburgh and the University of Birmingham.

Review Quotes

While other thinkers have gestured towards the complementarity of Romanticism and contemporary art, none have done so in such a thorough and thoughtful manner. Michelle Devereaux's monograph breaks new ground by placing Romantic art and philosophy in conversation with cutting-edge American independent cinema, and in so doing presents both in a new light. Rich in detail and beautifully written, Devereaux's readings of films by the likes of Wes Anderson and Sofia Coppola illuminate the connections between the Romantic era and our present moment. But more than this, in deepening our understanding of mankind's enduring feelings of anxiety and isolation, her book offers a first step in its overcoming.--Dr. Catherine Wheatley, King's College London

In this intricately argued and elegantly written book, Michelle Devereaux offers an inventive, original take on American independent film, arguing that works by Wes Anderson, Charlie Kaufman, Sofia Coppola and Spike Jonze exemplify "neoromanticism". [...] The Stillness of Solitude: Romanticism and Contemporary American Independent Film will serve as a valuable resource for researchers interested in the filmmakers she highlights, for each chapter offers a stand-alone analysis of one director's film.--Suzanne Ferriss, Nova Southeastern University "Film-Philosophy Volume 25, Issue 2"

About the Author

Michelle Devereaux is a film journalist and scholar. She received her doctorate in Film Studies from the University of Edinburgh and has taught film theory, history and criticism at the University of Edinburgh and the University of Birmingham. She is a board member of intersectional feminist journal on visual culture MAI and currently lives in British Columbia, Canada.