The Pulse in Cinema: The Aesthetics of Horror

Sharon Jane Mee

Published by Edinburgh University Press 2020

The Pulse in Cinema

The Aesthetics of Horror

Sharon Jane Mee

https://doi.org/10.1515/9781474475860

Overview
Contents

About this book

A philosophical enquiry into the pulse as the affective force in cinema

Develops a concept of the pulse and argues for the importance of its use in cinema spectatorship theory
Builds on ideas of rhythm in early and experimental cinema to develop a progressive theory that is valuable for a cinematic understanding of body horror
Analyses five body horror films - Le Sang des bêtes/Blood of the Beasts, The Tingler, Dawn of the Dead, L’aldilà/The Beyond and Possession - using aspects of the pulse
Provides an innovative approach to the economy of cinema to rethink the energetic relation between the image and the spectator
Integrates concepts from theorists Jean-François Lyotard, Gilles Deleuze, and Georges Bataille into the study of cinema spectatorship

When we think of the pulse in cinema, we may think of the heartbeat of the spectator as they respond to affective or moving scenes in the film, or how fast-paced and shocking images exacerbate this affective response. Conceptually extending cinema spectatorship, The Pulse in Cinema contends that cinema is an energetic arrangement of affective and intense forces, where the image and the spectator are specific components. Analysing body horror films such as The Tingler (1959), Dawn of the Dead (1978) and The Beyond (1981), this book builds on Lyotard’s concept of the dispositif, Deleuze’s work on sensation and Bataille’s economic theory to conceptualise a pulse in cinema, arguing for its importance in cinema spectatorship theory.

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	v
Figures Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
Acknowledgements Publicly Available Download PDF	ix
Introduction Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
1. The Rhythm of Life: The Pulse in the Image Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	25
2. The Rhythm of Life: The Pulse in the Spectator Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	63
3. Aisthesis and Dispositif: The Pulse and Its Analogues Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	97
4. Automutilation and Metonymy: The Economy of the Pulse Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	130
5. Blood and Convulsive Affect: Vectors of the Pulse as Sovereign Operations Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	166
Bibliography Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	202
Filmography Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	213
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	215

(Deutsch)

Language: English
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press
Audience: College/higher education;
Pages
- Main content: 232
Illustrations
- Other: 26 B/W illustrations
Keywords: Film, Media & Cultural Studies

eBook

Published: March 24, 2022
ISBN: 9781474475860