Authorship and Aesthetics in the Cinematography of Gregg Toland

Philip Cowan's book explores co-authorship in collaborative filmmaking, challenging the director-centered auteur approach and developing a comprehensive taxonomy of functional and aesthetic elements. It re-examines Gregg Toland's work, highlighting the historical neglect of the cinematographers artistic contribution to filmmaking.

Format: Hardback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 15 October 2022
Publisher: Lexington Books

In this comprehensive three-part book-length study, Philip Cowan delves into the realm of collaborative filmmaking, exploring innovative approaches to co-authorship in the field of cinematography. Part one of the study takes a bold stance by challenging the prevailing director-centered auteur approach to film studies, critiquing the historical evolution of authorship theory and offering a fresh contemporary analysis of the cinematographers' authorial role in shaping images that convey meaning through content and construction.

To accomplish this, Cowan skillfully synthesizes and updates the work of previous film theorists, elucidating the intricate complexities of composition, movement, and lighting within the moving image. In part two, he presents a groundbreaking taxonomy of functional and aesthetic elements, providing a comprehensive framework for understanding the visual language of cinema.

However, the true essence of this study lies in part three, where Cowan employs the co-author approach and the analytical tools developed in part two to undertake an in-depth re-examination of the work of renowned cinematographer Gregg Toland. By highlighting the historical neglect of the cinematographers' artistic contribution to filmmaking, Cowan proposes a fresh and invigorating approach to analyzing contemporary cinematography in film.

Through his meticulous research and insightful analysis, Philip Cowan not only sheds light on the creative processes of collaborative filmmaking but also contributes to the ongoing dialogue surrounding authorship and the appreciation of the cinematographers' artistic vision. This book is a valuable resource for scholars, students, and enthusiasts alike, as it offers a profound exploration of the complex interplay between directors, cinematographers, and the visual language of cinema.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781793638953