Description
Book SynopsisTopics covered by the essays in this volume include: documentary film pioneer Robert Flaherty; a discussion of Holland's role in Western civilization; accounts of pioneers of camera obscura and magic lantern phantasmagoria; and a history of communication breakthroughs.
Trade Review“It is always a joy to come upon a new book by Erik Barnouw. Among film and media historians his writing stands out for the elegance of its prose and the steely clarity of the thinking—there is never a word wasted. Barnouw is remarkable for his ability to keep focused on the big picture, to relate his subject to the wider society and the sweep of history.
---—William Sloan, The Museum of Modern Art“Erik Barnouw, the guru of media scholars, teachers, and practitioners, once again instructs and challenges us to construct new views on both old and new issues. He uniquely combines personal experience, theory, and even-handed objective judgments as bases for the practical application of knowledge to make the world a better place. In a field that is increasingly technologically oriented, Barnouw continues to focus on humanity.”
---— Robert L. Hilliard, Emerson College“This wonderful collection proves again and again with insight and quiet humor that Erik Barnouw is our keenest observer of the frighteningly complicated world of media. No one has seen more, no one sees more, no one understands more than Barnouw. I am a huge admirer.”
---—Ken Burns, Filmaker
