On Film (Thinking in Action) (Thinking in Action)
Editorial Reviews
Review
"On Film presents an always engaging, often provocative, and frequently brilliant philosophical investigation of the 'Alien' quartet of science-fiction/action/horror films...the book achieves the rare distinction of having something interesting and important to say to philosophers, fans and cinema studies scholars simultaneously."
-American Society of Aesthetics Newsletter
"A new and noteworthy addition to Routledge's high-profile "Thinking in Action" series, Stephen Mulhall's On Film presents an always engaging, often provocative, and frequently brilliant philosophical investigation of the 'Alien' quartet of science-fiction/action/horror films initiated in 1979 with Ridley Scott's eponymous classic...the book achieves the rare distinction of haiving something interesting and important to say to philosophers, fans, and cinema studies scholars simultaneously."
-Film and Philosophy
"This is clearly an important series. I look forward to reading future volumes."
-Frank Kermode
"As a study showing how this particular film quartet thematizes deep metaphysical and existential eissues the book succeeds in an admirable manner, and makes for a thought-provoking read. It is clear, accessible and engaging, and thus certainly fulfills the aims of the series it appears in."
-Simo Saatela, Uppsala University, Philosophy in Review
Book Description
Few movies of recent times have caught and shocked our imagination as the Alien cinematic quartet and the quest of Sigourney Weaver's Flight Lieutenant Ellen Ripley. In this gripping and lucidly written book, Mulhall shows why these films fascinate us, by showing that they are compelling examples of philosophy in action.
Bringing a philosopher's eye to cinema, he argues that the Alien films take us deep into the question of what it is to be human. By developing the sexual significance of the aliens themselves and of Ripley's resistance to them, these films explore the relation of human identity to the body, in the context of a hyper-Darwinian universe which both sharpens and subverts the distinction between the natural and the technological, and which pits the hope of redemption against nihilism.
The book also considers the nature of "sequeldom" in contemporary cinema. What is the relation between each Alien movie's distinctive plot and the overarching narrative of the Alien universe? How does the work of each director who has contributed to the series relate to the themes of their other films, such as Ridley Scott's Blade Runner, James Cameron's Terminator and David Fincher's Se7en?
On Film (Thinking in Action) (Thinking in Action)
On Film (Thinking in Action) (Thinking in Action),S. Mulhall,Routledge,0415247969,Alien (Motion picture),Cinema/Film: Book,Film & Video - General,History and criticism,Performing Arts,Pop Arts / Pop Culture,Science fiction films,Films, cinema,Western philosophy, from c 1900 -
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