Eisenstein on the Audiovisual: The Montage of Music, Image and Sound in Cinema (International Library of Cultural Studies)

The pioneering film director and theorist Sergei Eisenstein is known for the unequalled impact his handful of films have had on the development of cinema. Less is known about his remarkable & extensive writings, which present a continent of ideas about film. Here Robert Robertson explores a significant area of Eisenstein’s thought: his ideas about the audiovisual in cinema, which are more pertinent today than ever before with the advent of digital technology--music & sound now act as independent variables combined with the visual medium to produce a truly audiovisual result. Eisenstein explored in his writings this complex exciting subject with more depth & originality than any other practitioner. Eisenstein on the Audiovisual is essential reading for anyone who deals with the audiovisual in cinema & related audiovisual forms, including theatre, opera, dance & multimedia. Robert Robertson is a composer & filmmaker. He has an MFA in Film Production from the Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema, Montreal. His music/films include Oserake & the River that Walks, Doors of the Spirits & I’m Back, and he has composed the operas The Kingdom, The Cathars, & Enoedickes. He has been influenced by Eisenstein’s ideas since 1977, & this book is the result of his doctoral research at King’s College London, UK. The pioneering film director and theorist Sergei Eisenstein is known for the unequalled impact his films have had on the development of cinema. Less is known about his remarkable and extensive writings, which present a continent of ideas about film. Robert Robertson presents a lucid and engaging introduction to a key area of Eisenstein's thought: his ideas about the audiovisual in cinema, which are more pertinent today than ever before. With the advent of digital technology, music and sound now act as independent variables combined with the visual medium to produce a truly audiovisual result. Eisenstein explored in his writings this complex, exciting subject with more depth and originality than any other practitioner, and this is an accessible and original exploration of his ideas. Winner of the Kraszna Krausz Foundations'And/Or Award for Best Moving Image Book of 2009,'Eisenstein on the Audiovisual'is essential reading for students and practitioners of the audiovisual in cinema and related audiovisual forms, including theatre, opera, dance and multimedia. The pioneering film director and theorist Sergei Eisenstein is known for the unequalled impact his films have had on the development of cinema. Less is known about his remarkable and extensive writings, which present a continent of ideas about film. Robert Robertson presents a lucid and engaging introduction to a key area of Eisenstein's his ideas about the audiovisual in cinema, which are more pertinent today than ever before. With the advent of digital technology, music and sound now act as independent variables combined with the visual medium to produce a truly audiovisual result. Eisenstein explored in his writings this complex, exciting subject with more depth and originality than any other practitioner, and this is an accessible and original exploration of his ideas. Winner of the Kraszna Krausz Foundation's And/Or Award for Best Moving Image Book of 2009, "Eisenstein on the Audiovisual" is essential reading for students and practitioners of the audiovisual in cinema and related audiovisual forms, including theatre, opera, dance and multimedia. The pioneering film director and theorist Sergei Eisenstein is known for the unequalled impact his handful of films have had on the development of cinema. Less is known about his remarkable and extensive writings, which present a continent of ideas about film. Here Robert Robertson explores a significant area of Eisenstein’s thought: his ideas about the audiovisual in cinema, which are more pertinent today than ever before with the advent of digital technology--music and sound now act as independent variables combined with the visual medium to produce a truly audiovisual result. Eisenstein explored in his writings this complex exciting subject with more depth and originality than any other practitioner. Eisenstein on the Audiovisual is essential reading for anyone who deals with the audiovisual in cinema and related audiovisual forms, including theatre, opera, dance and multimedia. Contents......Page 9 List of illustrations......Page 11 Acknowledgements......Page 13 Preface......Page 15 Introduction......Page 17 1. Audiovisual Counterpoint......Page 29 2. Organic Unity......Page 63 3. Nonindifferent Nature......Page 96 4. Synasthesia......Page 156 Notes......Page 218 Bibliography......Page 242 A note on the versions of Eisenstein's films consulted......Page 247 Index......Page 249 Robert Robertson. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [202]-230) And Index.