The Argento Syndrome

The Argento Syndrome

Author: Derek Botelho

Publisher:

Published: 2014-04

Total Pages: 262

ISBN-13: 9781593935672

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A retrospective of Italian auteur Dario Argento's films; The Argento Syndrome is an examination of a career marked by such genre classics as Suspiria, Deep Red, Tenebrae, The Bird with the Crystal Plumage and Opera. The Argento Syndrome is part academic study, with essays on every film, and part personal memoir, detailing the author's time in Italy on a trip to visit the set of Sleepless. Also included are several full-length interviews with such personalities as John Carpenter, Tony Musante, Luciano Tovoli, Leigh McCloskey and Asia Argento. Derek Botelho holds a B.A. in Cinema from Columbia College, and is a regular contributor to dailydead.com and has had work published with Dark Discoveries, Little Shoppe of Horrors, Moviement, and Fangoria.


Book Synopsis The Argento Syndrome by : Derek Botelho

Download or read book The Argento Syndrome written by Derek Botelho and published by . This book was released on 2014-04 with total page 262 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A retrospective of Italian auteur Dario Argento's films; The Argento Syndrome is an examination of a career marked by such genre classics as Suspiria, Deep Red, Tenebrae, The Bird with the Crystal Plumage and Opera. The Argento Syndrome is part academic study, with essays on every film, and part personal memoir, detailing the author's time in Italy on a trip to visit the set of Sleepless. Also included are several full-length interviews with such personalities as John Carpenter, Tony Musante, Luciano Tovoli, Leigh McCloskey and Asia Argento. Derek Botelho holds a B.A. in Cinema from Columbia College, and is a regular contributor to dailydead.com and has had work published with Dark Discoveries, Little Shoppe of Horrors, Moviement, and Fangoria.


ARGENTO SYNDROME

ARGENTO SYNDROME

Author: Derek Botelho

Publisher: BearManor Media

Published: 2014-04-22

Total Pages: 262

ISBN-13: 9781629330495

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A retrospective of Italian auteur Dario Argento's films; The Argento Syndrome is an examination of a career marked by such genre classics as Suspiria, Deep Red, Tenebrae, The Bird with the Crystal Plumage and Opera. The Argento Syndrome is part academic


Book Synopsis ARGENTO SYNDROME by : Derek Botelho

Download or read book ARGENTO SYNDROME written by Derek Botelho and published by BearManor Media. This book was released on 2014-04-22 with total page 262 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A retrospective of Italian auteur Dario Argento's films; The Argento Syndrome is an examination of a career marked by such genre classics as Suspiria, Deep Red, Tenebrae, The Bird with the Crystal Plumage and Opera. The Argento Syndrome is part academic


A Complex of Carnage

A Complex of Carnage

Author: Jack Hunter

Publisher: Cult Movie Files

Published: 2012

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9781902588230

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Dario Argento is the visionary Italian giallo director whose films such as Bird With The Crystal Plumage, Four Flies On Grey Velvet, Deep Red, Suspiria, and Inferno have shocked and disturbed audiences since the 1970s. Argento's films assault the eye with incredible colour schemes, transgressive twists, and bloody human carnage -- but that is merely the surface. In-depth analysis of Argento's narratives reveals an occult undercurrent seething with abjection, compulsion, paranoia, schizophrenia and sexual psychosis; Ae ^COMPLEXe ^OFe ^CARNAGE reveals and explores this buried syndrome of manias in four separate essays, and is illustrated with over 80 illuminating photographic images, including 40 in stunning full colour.


Book Synopsis A Complex of Carnage by : Jack Hunter

Download or read book A Complex of Carnage written by Jack Hunter and published by Cult Movie Files. This book was released on 2012 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Dario Argento is the visionary Italian giallo director whose films such as Bird With The Crystal Plumage, Four Flies On Grey Velvet, Deep Red, Suspiria, and Inferno have shocked and disturbed audiences since the 1970s. Argento's films assault the eye with incredible colour schemes, transgressive twists, and bloody human carnage -- but that is merely the surface. In-depth analysis of Argento's narratives reveals an occult undercurrent seething with abjection, compulsion, paranoia, schizophrenia and sexual psychosis; Ae ^COMPLEXe ^OFe ^CARNAGE reveals and explores this buried syndrome of manias in four separate essays, and is illustrated with over 80 illuminating photographic images, including 40 in stunning full colour.


The Two Truths

The Two Truths

Author: Gino C Mongelli

Publisher:

Published: 2020-04-02

Total Pages: 420

ISBN-13:

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The Two Truths: Of Dario Argento's Opera and Satoshi Kon's Perfect Blue is a wide-ranging exploration of the remarkable connections between the film-works of two seemingly disparate directors through discussions of psychology, philosophy East (from which this book takes its title) and West (including integral theory), physics, film theory and other systems related to reality, thought and consciousness. Art-horror director Dario Argento and animated fantasy film director Satoshi Kon receive treatment of comprehensive scale and astounding breadth and depth in this whirlwind analysis of their filmographies (and many other directors' works including Frank Capra, Alfred Hitchcock and David Lynch).Fans of Dario Argento will enjoy the meticulous investigation of Opera and its connections to other Argento films, including Tenebrae, Phenomena and The Stendhal Syndrome. The book starts out with an elucidation of some of the major themes in Argento's often-overlooked Trauma to set the stage for drawing out further connections to the films of other directors, starting with Magnetic Rose written by Satoshi Kon.For fans of Satoshi Kon, The Two Truths marks a first, including not only analyses of Kon's films at the high level of resolution they warrant but also in-depth summaries of both the Japanese source novel, Perfect Blue: Complete Metamorphosis, and the Japanese-only companion audio drama Double Bind -The Looking Glass of Perfect Blue-.Author Gino C. Mongelli brings together diverse concepts and systems to present an important work in terms of both analysis of Argento's and Kon's filmographies and attending to our human abilities to think, self-reflect and grow.Themes specific to The Two Truths were heavily researched over three years, including poring over academic, filmic and other sources in five languages (especially English and Japanese). There are over 200 references cited including, among many others, Joseph Campbell, Freeman Dyson, Mircea Eliade, Richard P. Feynman, Sigmund Freud, Douglas Hofstadter, William James, Carl Jung, Hayao Kawai, R.D. Laing, Marshall McLuhan, Friedrich Nietzsche, P.D. Ouspensky, Jordan B. Peterson, Chögyam Trungpa, Ken Wilber and Slavoj Zizek.The Two Truths is an augmented spin-off of the previously released The Delicate War: Knowing in oneself the angel from the beast through the films of Dario Argento. In that volume, discussion of Argento's Opera received one chapter. Here, that chapter and many other elements are remixed and expanded by over five times in length to bring out the similarly fractal qualities of Kon's Perfect Blue and to use those two films as a foundational hologram through which to explore most of the other films in these two directors' brilliant oeuvres.


Book Synopsis The Two Truths by : Gino C Mongelli

Download or read book The Two Truths written by Gino C Mongelli and published by . This book was released on 2020-04-02 with total page 420 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Two Truths: Of Dario Argento's Opera and Satoshi Kon's Perfect Blue is a wide-ranging exploration of the remarkable connections between the film-works of two seemingly disparate directors through discussions of psychology, philosophy East (from which this book takes its title) and West (including integral theory), physics, film theory and other systems related to reality, thought and consciousness. Art-horror director Dario Argento and animated fantasy film director Satoshi Kon receive treatment of comprehensive scale and astounding breadth and depth in this whirlwind analysis of their filmographies (and many other directors' works including Frank Capra, Alfred Hitchcock and David Lynch).Fans of Dario Argento will enjoy the meticulous investigation of Opera and its connections to other Argento films, including Tenebrae, Phenomena and The Stendhal Syndrome. The book starts out with an elucidation of some of the major themes in Argento's often-overlooked Trauma to set the stage for drawing out further connections to the films of other directors, starting with Magnetic Rose written by Satoshi Kon.For fans of Satoshi Kon, The Two Truths marks a first, including not only analyses of Kon's films at the high level of resolution they warrant but also in-depth summaries of both the Japanese source novel, Perfect Blue: Complete Metamorphosis, and the Japanese-only companion audio drama Double Bind -The Looking Glass of Perfect Blue-.Author Gino C. Mongelli brings together diverse concepts and systems to present an important work in terms of both analysis of Argento's and Kon's filmographies and attending to our human abilities to think, self-reflect and grow.Themes specific to The Two Truths were heavily researched over three years, including poring over academic, filmic and other sources in five languages (especially English and Japanese). There are over 200 references cited including, among many others, Joseph Campbell, Freeman Dyson, Mircea Eliade, Richard P. Feynman, Sigmund Freud, Douglas Hofstadter, William James, Carl Jung, Hayao Kawai, R.D. Laing, Marshall McLuhan, Friedrich Nietzsche, P.D. Ouspensky, Jordan B. Peterson, Chögyam Trungpa, Ken Wilber and Slavoj Zizek.The Two Truths is an augmented spin-off of the previously released The Delicate War: Knowing in oneself the angel from the beast through the films of Dario Argento. In that volume, discussion of Argento's Opera received one chapter. Here, that chapter and many other elements are remixed and expanded by over five times in length to bring out the similarly fractal qualities of Kon's Perfect Blue and to use those two films as a foundational hologram through which to explore most of the other films in these two directors' brilliant oeuvres.


MURDER BY DESIGN

MURDER BY DESIGN

Author: Troy Howarth

Publisher:

Published: 2020-11-25

Total Pages: 432

ISBN-13: 9781644301166

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An in-depth look at the films of Dario Argento, Italy's acknowledged master of horror and suspense, has made a career out of exploring the macabre poetry of images of violent death. He did not, however, set out to be a filmmaker. He established himself early on as a progressive voice in film criticism-lavishing praise on directors like Sergio Leone, who had yet to receive their due from the Italian critical establishment. His efforts attracted the attention of Leone himself, who invited the young critic to help develop the story for his next feature. The end result, Once Upon a Time in the West, is often cited as a masterpiece-and from there, Argento went on to enjoy success as a screenwriter before making the all-important switch to directing. His directorial debut, The Bird with the Crystal Plumage, became a major hit and helped to popularize the floundering genre of Italian thrillers, also known as gialli. In the years since, Argento has established a high profile as one of Italian cinema's most commercially successful artists, earning a level of celebrity which is almost unheard of among film directors. His filmography includes such beloved gems as Deep Red, Suspiria, Inferno, and Phenomena, as well as more hotly-debated titles like The Stendhal Syndrome, The Phantom of the Opera, Sleepless, and Mother of Tears. Murder by Design: The Unsane Cinema of Dario Argento explores the full scope of his work as a writer, a producer, and a director. Lavishly illustrated and with newly conducted interviews with Dario Argento, as well as such colleagues as actress (and daughter) Fiore Argento, actress Sally Kirkland, actress Irene Miracle, composer Claudio Simonetti, and cinematographer Luciano Tovoli, the book provides a comprehensive overview of Argento's life, career, and rich cinematic legacy.


Book Synopsis MURDER BY DESIGN by : Troy Howarth

Download or read book MURDER BY DESIGN written by Troy Howarth and published by . This book was released on 2020-11-25 with total page 432 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An in-depth look at the films of Dario Argento, Italy's acknowledged master of horror and suspense, has made a career out of exploring the macabre poetry of images of violent death. He did not, however, set out to be a filmmaker. He established himself early on as a progressive voice in film criticism-lavishing praise on directors like Sergio Leone, who had yet to receive their due from the Italian critical establishment. His efforts attracted the attention of Leone himself, who invited the young critic to help develop the story for his next feature. The end result, Once Upon a Time in the West, is often cited as a masterpiece-and from there, Argento went on to enjoy success as a screenwriter before making the all-important switch to directing. His directorial debut, The Bird with the Crystal Plumage, became a major hit and helped to popularize the floundering genre of Italian thrillers, also known as gialli. In the years since, Argento has established a high profile as one of Italian cinema's most commercially successful artists, earning a level of celebrity which is almost unheard of among film directors. His filmography includes such beloved gems as Deep Red, Suspiria, Inferno, and Phenomena, as well as more hotly-debated titles like The Stendhal Syndrome, The Phantom of the Opera, Sleepless, and Mother of Tears. Murder by Design: The Unsane Cinema of Dario Argento explores the full scope of his work as a writer, a producer, and a director. Lavishly illustrated and with newly conducted interviews with Dario Argento, as well as such colleagues as actress (and daughter) Fiore Argento, actress Sally Kirkland, actress Irene Miracle, composer Claudio Simonetti, and cinematographer Luciano Tovoli, the book provides a comprehensive overview of Argento's life, career, and rich cinematic legacy.


Necronomicon

Necronomicon

Author: Andy Black

Publisher: Noir Publishing

Published: 2007

Total Pages: 192

ISBN-13: 0953656454

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Continuing from the success of the first four Necronomicon books, volume five again seeks out controversial and transgressive cinema from around the globe. The dark underbelly of this tome reveals yet more perverse delights within cult, horror and erotic cinema. the cult film genre is still very popular with big budget releases such as Grindhouse 28, 28 Weeks Later and Hostel 2 showing with Residents Evil: Extinction, Rogue & Doomsday, all due at cinemas by December 07.


Book Synopsis Necronomicon by : Andy Black

Download or read book Necronomicon written by Andy Black and published by Noir Publishing. This book was released on 2007 with total page 192 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Continuing from the success of the first four Necronomicon books, volume five again seeks out controversial and transgressive cinema from around the globe. The dark underbelly of this tome reveals yet more perverse delights within cult, horror and erotic cinema. the cult film genre is still very popular with big budget releases such as Grindhouse 28, 28 Weeks Later and Hostel 2 showing with Residents Evil: Extinction, Rogue & Doomsday, all due at cinemas by December 07.


Sports-Related Concussions in Youth

Sports-Related Concussions in Youth

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2014-02-04

Total Pages: 215

ISBN-13: 0309288037

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In the past decade, few subjects at the intersection of medicine and sports have generated as much public interest as sports-related concussions - especially among youth. Despite growing awareness of sports-related concussions and campaigns to educate athletes, coaches, physicians, and parents of young athletes about concussion recognition and management, confusion and controversy persist in many areas. Currently, diagnosis is based primarily on the symptoms reported by the individual rather than on objective diagnostic markers, and there is little empirical evidence for the optimal degree and duration of physical rest needed to promote recovery or the best timing and approach for returning to full physical activity. Sports-Related Concussions in Youth: Improving the Science, Changing the Culture reviews the science of sports-related concussions in youth from elementary school through young adulthood, as well as in military personnel and their dependents. This report recommends actions that can be taken by a range of audiences - including research funding agencies, legislatures, state and school superintendents and athletic directors, military organizations, and equipment manufacturers, as well as youth who participate in sports and their parents - to improve what is known about concussions and to reduce their occurrence. Sports-Related Concussions in Youth finds that while some studies provide useful information, much remains unknown about the extent of concussions in youth; how to diagnose, manage, and prevent concussions; and the short- and long-term consequences of concussions as well as repetitive head impacts that do not result in concussion symptoms. The culture of sports negatively influences athletes' self-reporting of concussion symptoms and their adherence to return-to-play guidance. Athletes, their teammates, and, in some cases, coaches and parents may not fully appreciate the health threats posed by concussions. Similarly, military recruits are immersed in a culture that includes devotion to duty and service before self, and the critical nature of concussions may often go unheeded. According to Sports-Related Concussions in Youth, if the youth sports community can adopt the belief that concussions are serious injuries and emphasize care for players with concussions until they are fully recovered, then the culture in which these athletes perform and compete will become much safer. Improving understanding of the extent, causes, effects, and prevention of sports-related concussions is vitally important for the health and well-being of youth athletes. The findings and recommendations in this report set a direction for research to reach this goal.


Book Synopsis Sports-Related Concussions in Youth by : National Research Council

Download or read book Sports-Related Concussions in Youth written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2014-02-04 with total page 215 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the past decade, few subjects at the intersection of medicine and sports have generated as much public interest as sports-related concussions - especially among youth. Despite growing awareness of sports-related concussions and campaigns to educate athletes, coaches, physicians, and parents of young athletes about concussion recognition and management, confusion and controversy persist in many areas. Currently, diagnosis is based primarily on the symptoms reported by the individual rather than on objective diagnostic markers, and there is little empirical evidence for the optimal degree and duration of physical rest needed to promote recovery or the best timing and approach for returning to full physical activity. Sports-Related Concussions in Youth: Improving the Science, Changing the Culture reviews the science of sports-related concussions in youth from elementary school through young adulthood, as well as in military personnel and their dependents. This report recommends actions that can be taken by a range of audiences - including research funding agencies, legislatures, state and school superintendents and athletic directors, military organizations, and equipment manufacturers, as well as youth who participate in sports and their parents - to improve what is known about concussions and to reduce their occurrence. Sports-Related Concussions in Youth finds that while some studies provide useful information, much remains unknown about the extent of concussions in youth; how to diagnose, manage, and prevent concussions; and the short- and long-term consequences of concussions as well as repetitive head impacts that do not result in concussion symptoms. The culture of sports negatively influences athletes' self-reporting of concussion symptoms and their adherence to return-to-play guidance. Athletes, their teammates, and, in some cases, coaches and parents may not fully appreciate the health threats posed by concussions. Similarly, military recruits are immersed in a culture that includes devotion to duty and service before self, and the critical nature of concussions may often go unheeded. According to Sports-Related Concussions in Youth, if the youth sports community can adopt the belief that concussions are serious injuries and emphasize care for players with concussions until they are fully recovered, then the culture in which these athletes perform and compete will become much safer. Improving understanding of the extent, causes, effects, and prevention of sports-related concussions is vitally important for the health and well-being of youth athletes. The findings and recommendations in this report set a direction for research to reach this goal.


The Giallo Canvas

The Giallo Canvas

Author: Alexandra Heller-Nicholas

Publisher: McFarland

Published: 2021-01-22

Total Pages: 237

ISBN-13: 1476640769

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Beloved among cult horror devotees for its signature excesses of sex and violence, Italian giallo cinema is marked by switchblades, mysterious killers, whisky bottles and poetically overinflated titles. A growing field of English-language giallo studies has focused on aspects of production, distribution and reception. This volume explores an overlooked yet prevalent element in some of the best known gialli--an obsession with art and artists in creative production, with a particular focus on painting. The author explores the appearance and significance of art objects across the masterworks of such filmmakers as Dario Argento, Lucio Fulci, Sergio Martino, Umberto Lenzi, Michele Soavi, Mario Bava and his son Lamberto.


Book Synopsis The Giallo Canvas by : Alexandra Heller-Nicholas

Download or read book The Giallo Canvas written by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and published by McFarland. This book was released on 2021-01-22 with total page 237 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Beloved among cult horror devotees for its signature excesses of sex and violence, Italian giallo cinema is marked by switchblades, mysterious killers, whisky bottles and poetically overinflated titles. A growing field of English-language giallo studies has focused on aspects of production, distribution and reception. This volume explores an overlooked yet prevalent element in some of the best known gialli--an obsession with art and artists in creative production, with a particular focus on painting. The author explores the appearance and significance of art objects across the masterworks of such filmmakers as Dario Argento, Lucio Fulci, Sergio Martino, Umberto Lenzi, Michele Soavi, Mario Bava and his son Lamberto.


La Dolce Morte

La Dolce Morte

Author: Mikel J. Koven

Publisher: Scarecrow Press

Published: 2006-10-02

Total Pages: 207

ISBN-13: 1461664160

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With the exception of die-hard aficionados of European or Italian horror cinema, most people may not have heard of giallo cinema or have seen many films in this subgenre of horror. Most academic film studies tend to ignore horror cinema in general and the giallo specifically. Critics often deride these films, which reveal more about the reviewers' own prejudices than any problem with the works themselves. As a counter to such biases, Mikel J. Koven argues for an alternative approach to studying these films, by approaching them as vernacular cinema—distinct from "popular cinema." According to Koven, to look at a film from a vernacular perspective removes the assumptions about what constitutes a "good" film and how a particular film is in some way "artistic." In La Dolce Morte: Vernacular Cinema and the Italian Giallo Film, Koven explores the history and evolution of this aspect of cinema, and places these films within the context of Italian popular filmmaking. He addresses various themes, motifs, and tropes in these films: their use of space, the murders, the role of the detective, the identity of the killer, issues of belief, excess, and the set-piece. In addition to being the first academic study of the giallo film in English, this book surveys more than fifty films of this subgenre. In addition to filmmakers like Mario Bava and Dario Argento, Koven also looks at the films of Lucio Fulci, Sergio Martino, Pupi Avati, Umberto Lenzi, and others. In all, the works of twenty-five different filmmakers are considered in this book. Also explored are the inter-relationships between these films: how one influences others, how certain filmmakers take ideas and build off of them, and how those ideas are further transformed by other filmmakers. Koven also explores the impact of the giallo on the later North American slasher genre.


Book Synopsis La Dolce Morte by : Mikel J. Koven

Download or read book La Dolce Morte written by Mikel J. Koven and published by Scarecrow Press. This book was released on 2006-10-02 with total page 207 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: With the exception of die-hard aficionados of European or Italian horror cinema, most people may not have heard of giallo cinema or have seen many films in this subgenre of horror. Most academic film studies tend to ignore horror cinema in general and the giallo specifically. Critics often deride these films, which reveal more about the reviewers' own prejudices than any problem with the works themselves. As a counter to such biases, Mikel J. Koven argues for an alternative approach to studying these films, by approaching them as vernacular cinema—distinct from "popular cinema." According to Koven, to look at a film from a vernacular perspective removes the assumptions about what constitutes a "good" film and how a particular film is in some way "artistic." In La Dolce Morte: Vernacular Cinema and the Italian Giallo Film, Koven explores the history and evolution of this aspect of cinema, and places these films within the context of Italian popular filmmaking. He addresses various themes, motifs, and tropes in these films: their use of space, the murders, the role of the detective, the identity of the killer, issues of belief, excess, and the set-piece. In addition to being the first academic study of the giallo film in English, this book surveys more than fifty films of this subgenre. In addition to filmmakers like Mario Bava and Dario Argento, Koven also looks at the films of Lucio Fulci, Sergio Martino, Pupi Avati, Umberto Lenzi, and others. In all, the works of twenty-five different filmmakers are considered in this book. Also explored are the inter-relationships between these films: how one influences others, how certain filmmakers take ideas and build off of them, and how those ideas are further transformed by other filmmakers. Koven also explores the impact of the giallo on the later North American slasher genre.


Dario Argento

Dario Argento

Author: L. Andrew Cooper

Publisher: University of Illinois Press

Published: 2012-11-30

Total Pages: 203

ISBN-13: 0252094387

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Commanding a cult following among horror fans, Italian film director Dario Argento is best known for his work in two closely related genres, the crime thriller and supernatural horror, as well as his influence on modern horror and slasher movies. In his four decades of filmmaking, Argento has displayed a commitment to innovation, from his directorial debut with 1970's suspense thriller The Bird with the Crystal Plumage to 2009's Giallo. His films, like the lurid yellow-covered murder-mystery novels they are inspired by, follow the suspense tradition of hard-boiled American detective fiction while incorporating baroque scenes of violence and excess. While considerations of Argento's films often describe them as irrational nightmares, L. Andrew Cooper uses controversies and theories about the films' reflections on sadism, gender, sexuality, psychoanalysis, aestheticism, and genre to declare the anti-rational logic of Argento's oeuvre. Approaching the films as rhetorical statements made through extremes of sound and vision, Cooper places Argento in a tradition of aestheticized horror that includes De Sade, De Quincey, Poe, and Hitchcock. Analyzing individual images and sequences as well as larger narrative structures, he reveals how the director's stylistic excesses, often condemned for glorifying misogyny and other forms of violence, offer productive resistance to the cinema's visual, narrative, and political norms.


Book Synopsis Dario Argento by : L. Andrew Cooper

Download or read book Dario Argento written by L. Andrew Cooper and published by University of Illinois Press. This book was released on 2012-11-30 with total page 203 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Commanding a cult following among horror fans, Italian film director Dario Argento is best known for his work in two closely related genres, the crime thriller and supernatural horror, as well as his influence on modern horror and slasher movies. In his four decades of filmmaking, Argento has displayed a commitment to innovation, from his directorial debut with 1970's suspense thriller The Bird with the Crystal Plumage to 2009's Giallo. His films, like the lurid yellow-covered murder-mystery novels they are inspired by, follow the suspense tradition of hard-boiled American detective fiction while incorporating baroque scenes of violence and excess. While considerations of Argento's films often describe them as irrational nightmares, L. Andrew Cooper uses controversies and theories about the films' reflections on sadism, gender, sexuality, psychoanalysis, aestheticism, and genre to declare the anti-rational logic of Argento's oeuvre. Approaching the films as rhetorical statements made through extremes of sound and vision, Cooper places Argento in a tradition of aestheticized horror that includes De Sade, De Quincey, Poe, and Hitchcock. Analyzing individual images and sequences as well as larger narrative structures, he reveals how the director's stylistic excesses, often condemned for glorifying misogyny and other forms of violence, offer productive resistance to the cinema's visual, narrative, and political norms.