Rethinking Brechtian Film Theory and Cinema

‘Brecht’s experiences with film were not always happy, but the Brechtian influence on film and its theory is colossal. Koutsourakis’ book masterfully sets out the wide scope of Brecht’s aesthetics, from his 1923 venture with slapstick to the Brechtian footprints in the essay film, Realist and post-Deleuzian cinema theory and contemporary media archaeology’Esther Leslie, Birkbeck, University of LondonMaking a compelling argument for the continuing relevance of Brechtian film theory and cinema, this book offers new research and analysis of Brecht the film and media theorist, placing his scattered writings on the subject within the lively film theory debates that took place in Europe between the 1920s and 1960s. Furthermore, Angelos Koutsourakis identifies key points of convergence between Brecht’s ‘unfinished project’ and contemporary film and media theory.With case studies of films ranging from Robert Roberto Rossellini’s Paisà to Bernardo Bertolucci’s 1900 and Joshua Oppenheimer’s The Act of Killing amongst others, this study challenges many existing preconceptions about Brecht’s theoretical position and invites readers to discover new ways of apprehending and making use of Brecht in film studies.ANGELOS KOUTSOURAKIS is a University Academic Fellow in World Cinema at the Centre for World Cinemas and Digital Cultures, University of Leeds. He is the author of Politics as Form in Lars von Trier (2013) and the co-editor of The Cinema of Theo Angelopoulos (Edinburgh University Press, 2015). –This text refers to the hardcover edition.

‘Brecht’s experiences with film were not always happy, but the Brechtian influence on film and its theory is colossal. Koutsourakis’ book masterfully sets out the wide scope of Brecht’s aesthetics, from his 1923 venture with slapstick to the Brechtian footprints in the essay film, Realist and post-Deleuzian cinema theory and contemporary media archaeology’ Esther Leslie, Birkbeck, University of London Making a compelling argument for the continuing relevance of Brechtian film theory and cinema, this book offers new research and analysis of Brecht the film and media theorist, placing his scattered writings on the subject within the lively film theory debates that took place in Europe between the 1920s and 1960s. Furthermore, Angelos Koutsourakis identifies key points of convergence between Brecht’s ‘unfinished project’ and contemporary film and media theory. With case studies of films ranging from Robert Roberto Rossellini’s Paisà to Bernardo Bertolucci’s 1900 and Joshua Oppenheimer’s The Act of Killing amongst others, this study challenges many existing preconceptions about Brecht’s theoretical position and invites readers to discover new ways of apprehending and making use of Brecht in film studies. ANGELOS KOUTSOURAKIS is a University Academic Fellow in World Cinema at the Centre for World Cinemas and Digital Cultures, University of Leeds. He is the author of Politics as Form in Lars von Trier (2013) and the co-editor of The Cinema of Theo Angelopoulos (Edinburgh University Press, 2015). –This text refers to the hardcover edition.