Lucy Fischer is a distinguished scholar whose work delves into the intricate relationship between film, consciousness, and desire. Her wide-ranging interests span international cinema from both silent and sound eras, encompassing narrative and experimental forms. Fischer critically examines cultural and feminist perspectives, film theory, and aesthetics, revealing how visual narratives shape our perception of the world and ourselves. Her essays offer profound insights into the interconnectedness of film history, theory, and cultural context.
Focusing on a selection of exceptional films, this book delves into how specific emotions—such as pity, lust, grief, and anxiety—are portrayed and explored in depth. It offers valuable insights for academics and practitioners across various psychology disciplines, including social work, psychiatry, and therapy, highlighting the intersection of cinema and emotional experience.
René Magritte Within the Frame of Film History, Theory, and Practice
Exploring the interplay between René Magritte's surrealist art and cinema, this book delves into a largely overlooked area of film and art criticism. Author Lucy Fischer reinterprets Magritte's perspective on cinema as a source of inspiration, using his works to provoke a deeper understanding of film history, theory, and practice. By framing Magritte's art within the context of cinema, the text uncovers new insights into both his artistic vision and the broader cinematic landscape.
A leading scholar in so many fields within cinema and media studies, Lucy Fischer demonstrates and celebrates here - intellectually and passionately - a topic that she owns: the architectural and design world of cinematic art nouveau. Timothy Corrigan, coeditor of Essays on the Essay Film
Exploring the metaphor of motherhood in film, Lucy Fischer examines its representation across various genres beyond traditional "women's" cinema like melodramas and musicals. She highlights how motherhood often embodies crisis, with mothers frequently held responsible for their children's troubles. Fischer also analyzes how different genres uniquely depict social and psychological aspects of maternity, challenging conventional classifications and revealing the profound impact of motherhood on the cinematic landscape.
Exploring the concept of "counter-cinema," this book delves into the distinct vision presented by women filmmakers, as argued by feminist film critics. Lucy Fischer connects this idea to intertextuality and situates it within contemporary feminist film and art criticism. Each chapter highlights a specific theme or genre, contrasting feminist works with mainstream cinema. Through this critical dialogue, the book reveals a rich tradition of women's cinema that challenges and reshapes dominant cinematic narratives.
"Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927) is one of the most historically pivotal of all films. The first American film of the celebrated German director F.W. Murnau, Sunrise tells the story of a love triangle between characters named only as The Man, The Wife, and The Woman From the City. Lucy Fischer's compelling study of the film shows how it mediates between German expressionism and American melodrama, the avant-garde and popular fiction, silent cinema and 'talkies'. A lavish and sumptuous production famous for its vast, specially-constructed sets, and one of the first feature films with a synchronized musical score and sound effects soundtrack, Sunrise was one of early Hollywood's most ambitious undertakings. In her foreword to this new edition, Lucy Fischer considers the film as an abiding classic of world cinema"-- Provided by publisher
