Has any film director had a greater impact on popular culture than Steven Spielberg? Whether filming Holocaust heroes and villains; soldiers; dinosaurs; extraterrestrials; or explorers in search of the Holy Grail; Spielberg has given filmgoers some of the most memorable characters and wrenching moments in the history of cinema. Whatever his subject―war; cloning; slavery; terrorism; or adventure―all of Spielbergs films have one aspect in common: a unique view of the moral fabric of humanity. Dean A. Kowalskis Steven Spielberg and Philosophy is like a remarkable conversation after a night at the movie theater; offering new insights and unexpected observations about the directors most admired films. Some of the nations most respected philosophers investigate Spielbergs art; asking fundamental questions about the nature of humanity; cinema; and Spielbergs expression of his chosen themes. Applying various philosophical principles to the movies; the book explores such topics as the moral demands of parenthood in War of the Worlds; the ultimate unknowability of the "other" in Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Schindlers List; the relationship between nature and morality in Jurassic Park; the notion of consciousness in A.I.: Artificial Intelligence; issues of war theory and ethics in Munich; and the foundation of human rights in Amistad. Impressive in scope; this volume illustrates the philosophical tenets of a wide variety of thinkers from Plato to Aquinas; Locke; and Levinas. Contributors introduce readers to philosophy while simultaneously providing deeper insight into Spielbergs approach to filmmaking. The essays consider Spielbergs movies using key philosophical cornerstones: metaphysics; epistemology; ethics; axiology; aesthetics; and political philosophy; among others. At the same time; Steven Spielberg and Philosophy is accessible to those new to philosophy; using the philosophical platform to ponder larger issues embedded in film and asking fundamental questions about the nature of cinema and how meanings are negotiated. The authors contend that movies do not present philosophy―rather philosophy is something viewers do while watching and thinking about films. Using Spielbergs films as a platform for discussing these concepts; the authors contemplate questions that genuinely surprise the reader; offering penetrating insights that will be welcomed by film critics; philosophers; and fans alike.
#1405882 in eBooks 2009-05-14 2009-05-14File Name: B002RT8AAO
Review
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful. Excellent researchBy RobPowers dissertation comes as many other Tezuka books have; well thought-out. researched into the ground. and with great pictures at that. The books main fault is its beginning which gives a brief (but not too brief) account of manga before WWII. starting with great visual poets like Kakuyu (1053-1140). who Tezuka appropriated and used himself. and moving all the way to post-war Tezuka. as the title states. It was interesting for me. but for anyone but the hardcore collector. it may seem like a slow buildup to our main subject.But when Power starts talking Tezuka. its ON. An in depth analysis covers almost every major work hes done from akaihon like "New Treasure Island" and its wonderful. film-like narrative. all the way to greats like "Black Jack" and "Buddha". Chapter 4 is a look at Tezukas "Star System". his inherent (and fictional) world of stars that make up his manga world. and. like movie stars. appear all over. This is one of the most interesting and memorable things about Tezukas art. and Power does a great job reminding us why this man is worshiped as a god.Power also gives us Tezukas look at animation and his difficulties with it. Chapter 8 focuses on the multiple styles that Tezuka worked in and one begins to wonder how one man put out so many tens of thousands of pages. But Power covers that as well. telling of Tezukas large fan-base (ranging from ages 5 to 80) and his loyal workers who did countless hours of beta and coloring work so that he could complete the massive amount of work he started (though "Phoenix" and a few others were left unfinished at his death in 1989).This is some great research accompanied by untranslated pages of certain Tezuka works. all nicely tied in with each topic. While you may prefer something like The Astro Boy Essays: Osamu Tezuka. Mighty Atom. and the Manga/Anime Revolution. nothing Ive seen has come close to the detail and analysis of works outside of his popular manga. This will tie down any Tezuka fan until they rush back to the store for the newest volume of "Black Jack". Highly recommended for ANYONE who knows (or doesnt know!) who the god of manga was. and how he influenced everything we read in panel form today.
