Subjectivity: Filmic Representation and the Spectator’s Experience

With the rise of French and Italian New Wave cinema, the concept of subjectivity came to the forefront of film criticism and theory. The subjective camera allows for the audience to experience film in a wholly different way, manipulating or enriching viewers and forcing them to engage with film as a medium. Subjectivity advances the debate over its role in the history, philosophy, and culture of cinema. This engaging, multifaceted study of a single, controversial concept addresses the New Wave movement and also expands its focus to include a variety of genres within the rapidly changing medium of film. With a diverse array of contributors including Vivian Sobchack, Francesco Casetti, Laura Marcus, Jose Moure, and many other prominent film theorists, this engaging collection of essays both challenges and enhances our understanding of film history. Subjectivity is essential reading for film scholars, media theorists, and fans of the French and Italian new wave.

Dominique Chateau is professor of aesthetics and film at the Panthéon-Sorbonne University in Paris.