Cinema (The Arts)

Each volume in "The Arts" series examines a specific branch of creative, non-scientific human knowledge and discusses its history, traditions, social aspects, and specific forms. The series aims to encourage young readers to discover more about the arts for themselves, and take part in all the arts have to offer. This detailed introduction to the cinema covers its history and development, and puts forward the view that films can be seen as the central art form of our time. The author examines the rise of mainstream commercial cinema, from the early silent classics to modern box-office successes, and also surveys art films by such directors as Eisenstein, Fritz Lang and Ingmar Bergman. The book concludes with an examination of contemporary film-makers from around the world.