Film Appreciation Through Genres ― A Genre-Sensitive Approach to Film Appreciation

Our love of film often leads us to discuss the cinema in enthusiastic, if not necessarily sophisticated, conversations. Many moviegoers want a better understanding of what they have seen so that they may articulate their experiences. This midpoint between theorizing and plot summary is not as difficult to achieve as some assume, and “it’s so cool” should only be the starting point for how we talk about film. Since their introduction just before the turn of the 20th century, the vast majority of narrative films have followed the same structure—now known as Classic Hollywood Cinema. This book examines the method, particularly as it is manifested in Westerns, gangster films, film noir, horror, science fiction, slapstick comedy and screwball comedy/romance. It introduces readers to concepts of film theory and equips them with the tools to better appreciate film. A glossary of film terms is included for easy reference.

Michael Patrick Gillespie is a professor of English at Florida International University. He has published books on James Joyce, Oscar Wilde, William Kennedy, Irish Film, and Chaos Theory. He lives in Coconut Grove, Florida.