Screening Modernism: European Art Cinema, 1950-1980

by András Bálint Kovács

Casting fresh light on the renowned productions of auteurs like Antonioni, Fellini, and Bresson and drawing out from the shadows a range of important but lesser-known works, Screening Modernism is the first comprehensive study of European art cinema’s postwar heyday.

Spanning from the 1950s to the 1970s, András Bálint Kovács’s encyclopedic work argues that cinematic modernism was not a unified movement with a handful of styles and themes but rather a stunning range of variations on the core principles of modern art. Illustrating how the concepts of modernism and the avant-garde variously manifest themselves in film, Kovács begins by tracing the emergence of art cinema as a historical category. He then explains the main formal characteristics of modern styles and forms as well as their intellectual foundation. Finally, drawing on modernist theory and philosophy along the way, he provides an innovative history of the evolution of modern European art cinema.

Exploring not only modernism’s origins but also its stylistic, thematic, and cultural avatars, Screening Modernism ultimately lays out creative new ways to think about the historical periods that comprise this golden age of film.

Genres: Film, Art

432 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Amirhossein · Rating 5 out of 5]

کتاب از سه بخش اصلی تشکیل شده.
بخش اول کاملا نظریه است. از این‌که مدرن چیه؟ مدرنیسم چیه؟ تفاوتش با آوانگارد چیه و در سینما مراد از این‌ها چیه حرف می‌زنه.

بخش دوم که جالب‌ترین بخش کتابه، فرم‌های مدرنیسم رو بررسی می‌کنه. این‌جا یه تقسیم‌بندی خیلی عالی از انواع فیلم‌های مدرن ارائه می‌ده و کسایی که فیلم مدرن زیاد دیدن، با خوندن این بخش ذهنشون خیلی منسجم خواهد شد.

بخش سوم هم به نوعی ادامه بخش دوم کتابه، اما با رویکردی تاریخی. یعنی سینمای مدرن رو به لحاظ تاریخی بررسی می‌کنه و زمینه‌های ظهور این مدل فیلم‌ها رو ارائه می‌ده.

در تمام این بخش‌ها نویسنده با ارجاع به فیلمساز‌ها و فیلم‌های مهم، تفسیرهای فوق‌العاده نابی رو شرح می‌ده که درک کاملا جدیدی نسبت به این آثار کسب می‌کنین.

در پایان کتاب هم یه پیوست فوق‌العاده عالی آورده که لیستی از شاخص‌ترین فیلم‌های مدرنه. این لیست رو براساس تاریخ و کشورهای سازنده‌شون دسته‌بندی کرده.

[Jimmy Cline · Rating 5 out of 5]

On what is basically the film equivalent of Goodreads, I read a review for Crias Cuervos by Spanish filmmaker Carlos Saura, that used the (make-believe) category of "Post-New-Wave-Surrealism". Artistic categories can be important; they help people, as art spectators, define certain stylistic and thematic sensibilities. At other times they are empty jargon. That said; European Modernism, sure, that's fine by me, it's not that hyperbolic or ridiculous.

Cinematic Modernism, starting with Resnais, Antonioni, Bergman, Godard, etc, is basically my favorite period of film. Mainly made throughout the interval of time listed in the book's subtitle, this was quite possibly the most innovative and revolutionary period of film history. The way that narratives would be approached after the late fifties would never be the same. I'm particularly referring here to Resnais' Hiroshima Mon Amour; a formal masterpiece, one that is integral to both the existence of this book, as well as the filmmakers referenced in it who were unquestionably influenced by Resnais, oh, and Antonioni's L'avventura. Alas, a review of something like Screening Modernism would really just consist of a laundry list of art-house directors. So I'll spare you all that insufferable list, and all of the obscure alienating references, and just say that this is an essential film book. It's dense, erudite, and thoroughly engaging. That is of course, if you've actually seen the films that Kovacs talks about. My suggestion; get a library card, put all of the titles listed in the index on hold, watch them, and read bits and pieces of this book throughout that period of time.

[Tiah Keever · Rating 3 out of 5]

there needs to be another option besides currently reading or read-something that falls in between them, like have read parts of, or will finish reading one day. this book falls into those categories. danDeWeese required us to read certain chapters in this book and I read some of them during the course of the class, but he changed the assignments a couple of times and sometimes I read what had been previously assigned and not the updated schedule.Pfft. I figured if it was assigned in the first place I may as well read it. At times it gets a bit dull, but other times its quite entertaining, as long as your into things like European art cinema, mais oui. I'll finish it at some later date, but currently novels are getting in my way. And by novels I mean War and Peace, which unlike this book can't just be skipped around all willy nilly(well, you could, but that would be a hindrance to you, the reader). This book leans toward the nerdy side of things meaning if you like ot push your glasses up and start blabbing about modernism in art, specifically cinema, you will probably enjoy it. If you wear contacts I don't know what to tell you. If you have perfect vision you probably haven't read enough or watched enough movies in the dark, so you're not reading this book anyhow.

[Meraj Dhir · Rating 4 out of 5]

SCREENING MODERNISM is a must read for anyone seriously interested in the diversity of Post-War International Art Cinema movements. András Bálint Kovács sets himself up with the formidable task of historically defining the various sub-genres or movements: minimalism, the picaresque, the spiral plot etc.. within what we broadly call the art cinema "mode of production". He defines conventions of narration and style that define these diverse art cinema genres with elucidating analyses of filmmakers such Fellini, Bergman, Antonioni and Bela Tarr. The first part of the book contains some great historiography refining our sense of the multiple meanings of the terms "modernity" and "modernism" --something film scholars often confuse and is a much needed analyses of the various nuances of the term "modernism". I would have liked a bit more formal analysis but as it is the book is a true tour de force of film history and analysis and after reading it twice I can't recommend it highly enough.

[Dimitar Kutmanov · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing piece of academic literature. It's profoundly informing and thought-provoking, yet accessible and pleasant to read. An absolute gem for those interested in art cinema.

[Omid · Rating 4 out of 5]

یک کتاب فوق‌العاده و بنیادی با ترجمه‌ای افتضاح و شلخته.

[Tim Wilder]

Systematic and informative, unlike most books on the topic.

[Hasan Hüseyin Toydemir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect collection of writing about cinema history. Movements, directors, critics etc...