Todd McGowan analyzes film through the lenses of psychoanalysis and philosophy, exploring how cinematic narratives and aesthetics shape our understanding of desire, reality, and subjectivity. His work often delves into the oeuvres of prominent filmmakers to uncover the deeper psychological and philosophical underpinnings of their creations. McGowan's approach is marked by an interdisciplinary examination that bridges film theory, Lacanian psychoanalysis, and critical theory. His aim is to offer fresh insights into how cinema helps us navigate the complexities of the human psyche and societal structures.
Exploring capitalism through a fresh lens, the book presents a theory centered on the concept of excess—producing beyond basic needs. Todd McGowan delves into how this surplus shapes economic dynamics and influences societal behavior, challenging traditional views on consumption and production. By examining the implications of excess, the work invites readers to rethink the foundations of capitalist systems and their impact on contemporary life.
The left views alienation as something to be resisted or overcome,but could it actually form the basis of our emancipation?
Exploring the connection between pleasure, desire, and political division, Todd McGowan argues that understanding enjoyment's excessive nature is essential for addressing contemporary crises. He advocates for a universal enjoyment that can bridge ideological divides, promoting an egalitarian project. McGowan, a professor at the University of Vermont, draws on his previous works to support his thesis, emphasizing the transformative potential of shared experiences in a polarized world.
This book develops a new conception of universality that helps us rethink political thought and action. Through a wide range of examples in contemporary politics, film, and history, Universality and Identity Politics offers an antidote to the impasses of identity and an inspiring vision of twenty-first- century collective struggle.
Simultaneously an introduction to Hegel and a fundamental reimagining of Hegel's project, this book presents a radical Hegel for the twenty-first century. Todd McGowan contends that the revolutionary core of Hegel's thought is contradiction.
Understanding capitalism as a psychic strategy.
Psychoanalytic Film Theory and The Rules of the Game offers a concise introduction to psychoanalytic film theory in jargon-free language and shows how this theory can be deployed to interpret Jean Renoir's classic film--
Since the release of Do the Right Thing in 1989, Spike Lee has established himself as a cinematic icon. Lee's mostly independent films garner popular audiences while at the same time engaging in substantial political and social commentary. This book presents an examination of Spike Lee's oeuvre.
The formal structure of a typical Nolan film deceives spectators about the events that occur and the motivations of the characters. Here, Todd McGowan discovers in Nolan's films an exploration of the role that fiction plays in leading to truth
Focusing on the evolution of cinematic experiences, Todd McGowan explores how the digital era has fostered a temporal aesthetic in film. He connects this transformation to contemporary philosophical discussions, arguing that films altering viewers' perceptions of time represent a novel genre he terms atemporal cinema. Through this lens, McGowan examines the implications of this shift for both cinema and philosophy.