Jean-pierre Boule

Existentialism and Contemporary Cinema: A Beauvoirian Perspective Jean-pierre Boule

Marc Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.; At the heart of this volume is the assertion that Sartean existentialism, most prominent in the 1940s, particularly in France, is still relevant as a way of interpreting the world today. Film, by reflecting philosophical concerns in the actions and choices of characters, continues and extends a tradition in which art exemplifies the understanding of existentialist philosophy. In scholarly yet accessible style, the contributors exploit the rich interplay between Sartean's philosophy, plays and novels, and a number of contemporary films including 'No Country for Old Men', 'Lost in Translation' and 'The Truman Show', with film-makers including the Dardenne brothers, Michael Haneke, and Mike Leigh. Publisher Marketing:"The volume convincingly demonstrates the enduring value of Beauvoir's work, and makes a very distinctive contribution to contemporary French film studies." . Modern and Contemporary France "[The editors] accomplish this genre's most important task: framing the collection with an urgency that leads a reader to wonder how such a book didn't already exist... By the time I'd reached the end of the book, I wanted more [which] suggests the strength of this book, its provocative existential claims a compelling reason for its own existence." . H-France Review "This collection of essays on the relationship between Simone de Beauvoir's philosophy and film studies is very welcome and long overdue... The book achieves the [editors'] stated aim and demonstrates beyond question the potential for exciting and illuminating film thinking that lies in the bringing together of Beauvoir's work and cinema.... The alignment between Beauvoir and films may not always be so direct, but the possibilities for what the relationship might yield are excitingly indicated by this collection." . Journal of Contemporary European Studies "This book makes an original and valuable contribution to film studies and to French studies ... . Its intellectual agenda is innovative and worthwhile." . Diana Holmes, University of Leeds "This is an excellent volume of essays which addresses a relatively neglected topic and conceptual approach, and is of relevance across a range of interrelated areas, specifically film studies, French studies, existentialist studies, philosophy, modern cultural and media studies." . Edmund Smyth, Manchester Metropolitan University Simone de Beauvoir's work has not often been associated with film studies, which appears paradoxical when it is recognized that she was the first feminist thinker to inaugurate the concept of the gendered 'othering' gaze. This book is an attempt to redress this balance and reopen the dialogue between Beauvoir's writings and film studies. The authors analyse a range of films, from directors including Claire Denis, Michael Haneke, Lucille Hadzihalilovic, Sam Mendes, and Sally Potter, by drawing from Beauvoir's key works such as "The Second Sex" (1949), "The Ethics of Ambiguity" (1947) and "Old Age" (1970). Jean-Pierre Boule is Professor of Contemporary French Studies at Nottingham Trent University and the author of a number of books, notably on Sartre, including Sartre mediatique (1992) and Sartre, Self-Formation and Masculinities (2005). He is the co-founder of the U. K. Sartre Society and executive editor of Sartre Studies International. His most recent books include Jean-Paul Sartre: Mind and Body, Word and Deed, co-edited with Benedict O'Donohoe (2011) and a companion volume to the present one, Existentialism and Contemporary Cinema: A Sartrean Perspective, co-edited with Enda McCaffrey (2011). Ursula Tidd is Senior Lecturer in French Studies at the University of Manchester. She is the author of three monographs: "Simone de Beauvoir, Gender and Testimony" (1999); "Simone de Beauvoir," Routledge 'Critical Thinkers' series (2004) and "Simone de Beauvoir" Reaktion 'Critical Lives' series (2009) as well as articles and chapters on Beauvoir's autobiographies, fiction, and philosophy. She is currently writing a monograph on the Francophone Spanish Holocaust writer Jorge Semprun (forthcoming with Legenda/MHRA 2013). Review Citations:

Choice 04/01/2012 (EAN 9780857453211, Hardcover)

Choice 04/01/2012 (EAN 9780857453204, Hardcover)

Contributor Bio:  Tidd, Ursula Tidd is a lecturer at the Department of Modern Languages, University of Salford.