Description
Book SynopsisGlobal Cinema takes a new approach to world cinema through critical theory. Instead of taking a world tour of national cinemas or displaying their transnational exchanges, Seung-hoon Jeong here sheds light on contemporary films' reflections of global phenomena related to conflicting biopolitical and ethical facets of globalization.
Trade ReviewFinally, a 'Global Cinema' book that has a point of view and a point to make— a powerful point that is driven home through ingenious analyses of films that have been harbingers of our recent dark past. This most intelligent, unblinking exploration of popular as well as art films radiates confidence in the cinema that walks with us, and, better, a belief in the world. * Dudley Andrew, Yale University *
This is a most fascinating study of what world cinema reveals about our globalized world. This exceptionally comprehensive book provides insightful analysis of a wide variety of the most high-profile films from both Global Hollywood and Global Auteurs. From Skyfall to Jia Zhangke there is something here for anybody curious about how cinema illuminates the global nature of contemporary everyday life. Most crucially, Jeong expertly uncovers how an "abject agency" is revealed on screen which may yet gesture towards a hopeful and inclusive politics even for catastrophic times. * David Martin-Jones, University of Glasgow *
Table of ContentsPreface Acknowledgments Introduction: World Cinema in a Global Frame Part I. Abjection and Agency Chapter 1. Multicultural Conflicts in Post-Political Double Ethics Chapter 2. The Narrative of Double Death with Abject Agency Chapter 3. Sovereign Agents' Biopolitical Abjection in the Spy Film Part II. Catastrophe and Revelation Chapter 4. Law, Divine Violence, and the Sanctity of Life Chapter 5. From the Disaster Genre to the Cinema of Catastrophe Chapter 6. Human History in (Post-)Apocalyptic Cinema Chapter 7. The Time Loop of Catastrophe in the Mind-Game Film Part III. Community and Network Chapter 8. Narrative Formations of Community and Network Chapter 9. Nation, Transnationality, and Global Community as Totalized Network Part IV. Gift and Atopia Chapter 10. Alternative Ethics through the Paradox of the Gift Chapter 11. The Abject as Neighbor beyond Cultural Mediation Chapter 12. Atopian Networking and Positive Nihilism References Index
