Gertrud Koch Book order

The book features 99 individual images from 99 Austrian filmmakers since 1945, presenting a unique interplay of history and storytelling. Each image is accompanied by descriptions from 100 international writers and critics, offering insights from various fields such as film theory and science. This Lese- und Bildbuch invites readers to explore the concept of capturing cinematic time, blending visual art with literary interpretation.

Breaking Bad is known for its grim and gritty outbursts of anger and violence. In the chaotic story of a meth-dealing high school chemistry teacher, time seems to collapse, and we feel as though the lives of the characters are moving inevitably closer to their ends. This warped perspective wends its way through virtually every aspect of the story, intensifying the meaning we attach to the characters’ precarious lives. Hoping to cultivate a deeper understanding of the series, Breaking Bad, Breaking Out, Breaking Even offers a new way of approaching its course though its complex treatment of time. With its grotesque portrayal of life on the brink of death, argues Gertrud Koch, we can best view Breaking Bad as a black comedy between Chaplin’s Monsieur Verdoux and film noir. Koch takes readers through the ways in which this is accomplished through the show’s various visual elements and masterful temporal and narrative structuring.

This book examines the rise of screens in both private and public spaces, challenging the notion of cinema's decline. It explores the viewer's position, cinema's transformations due to digital distribution, and the influence of experimental film on installation art. Additionally, it analyzes cinema's interactions with other arts and media, addressing current challenges for film theory.

Siegfried Kracauer emerges as a pivotal figure in cultural criticism, transcending misconceptions of him as merely a naïve realist or a peripheral figure among Frankfurt School theorists. Gertrud Koch's critical assessment highlights his contributions as a philosopher, sociologist, and film theorist, revealing the depth and relevance of his writings. This exploration not only reassesses his legacy but also positions him as one of the most significant cultural critics of the twentieth century, inviting a renewed appreciation of his work.