The Shape of Motion: Cinema and the Aesthetics of Movement

Jordan Schonig's book "The Shape of Motion: Cinema and the Aesthetics of Movement" explores the unique motion forms in cinema, such as flickering leaves, swirling dust, and digital video compression, and argues that these motion forms transform our perception of motion rather than reproduce it.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 16 June 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

In his groundbreaking work, "The Shape of Motion: Cinema and the Aesthetics of Movement," author Jordan Schonig offers a novel perspective on cinematic motion by delving into the diverse motion forms that define the moving image. Schonig explores a wide range of motion forms, from the chaotic and unpredictable movements of flickering leaves and swirling dust that captivated early viewers to the pulsating abstractions that emerge from rapid lateral tracking shots and the pixel-formations caused by glitches in digital video compression. Through meticulous close analyses of onscreen movement in narrative and experimental films, coupled with concepts from Maurice Merleau-Ponty, Henri Bergson, and Immanuel Kant, Schonig challenges longstanding assumptions within film studies. He questions indexical accounts of photographic images and analogies between the camera and the human eye, proposing that cinema's motion forms go beyond mere reproduction of the movements observed in the world. Instead, they undergo a transformative process that alters the very essence of motion itself.

In his exploration, Schonig argues that cinema's motion forms do not simply transpose the movements of the world in front of the camera but rather transform them. He draws upon the work of Merleau-Ponty, who emphasized the embodied nature of perception, to argue that cinema's motion forms engage the viewer's body and senses in a unique way. By analyzing the spatial and temporal relationships between objects and characters on screen, Schonig reveals how cinema creates a sense of movement that goes beyond the mere reproduction of physical reality.

Furthermore, Schonig explores the relationship between cinema's motion forms and the concept of time. He argues that cinema's ability to manipulate time allows it to create a sense of movement that is both linear and non-linear, creating a dynamic and immersive cinematic experience. By examining the temporal patterns and rhythms of onscreen movement, Schonig demonstrates how cinema can evoke a range of emotions and sensations, from tension and excitement to melancholy and introspection.

In conclusion, "The Shape of Motion: Cinema and the Aesthetics of Movement" is a seminal work that offers a fresh and innovative approach to theorizing cinematic motion. By examining the diverse motion forms that define the moving image, Schonig challenges longstanding assumptions within film studies and opens up new avenues for inquiry. Through his close analyses of onscreen movement and his integration of concepts from various philosophical and theoretical frameworks, Schonig demonstrates how cinema's motion forms transform the very essence of motion itself, creating a dynamic and immersive cinematic experience that engages the viewer's body and senses in unique ways.

Dimension: 235 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780190093891