The Semiotics of Light and Shadows Modern Visual Arts and Weimar Cinema
| Author/creator | Sadowski, Piotr Author |
| Other author | Bouissac, Paul Contribution by |
| Format | Electronic |
| Publication Info | Bloomsbury Academic [Imprint] London : Bloomsbury Publishing Plc |
| Description | 288 p. 09.240 x 06.380 in. |
| Supplemental Content | Full text available from Ebook Central - Academic Complete |
| Subjects |
| Series | Bloomsbury Advances in Semiotics Ser. |
| Summary | Annotation Lighting and shadows are used within a range of art forms to create aesthetic effects. Piotr Sadowski's study of light and shadow in Weimar cinema and contemporaneous visual arts is underpinned by the evolutionary semiotic theories of indexicality and iconicity. These theories explain the unique communicative and emotive power of light and shadow when used in contemporary indexical media including the shadow theatre, silhouette portraits, camera obscura, photography and film.In particular, Sadowski highlights the aesthetic and emotional significance of shadows. The 'cast shadow', as an indexical sign, maintains a physical connection with its near-present referent, such as a hidden person, stimulating a viewer's imagination and provoking responses including anxiety or curiosity. The 'cinematic shadow' plays a stylistic role, by enhancing image texture, depth of field, and tonal contrast of cinematic moments. Such enhancements are especially important in monochromatic films, and Sadowski interweaves the book with accounts of seminal Weimar cinema moments.Sadowski's book is distinctive for combining historical materials and theoretical approaches to develop a deeper understanding of Weimar cinema and other contemporary art forms. The Semiotics of Light and Shadows is an ideal resource for both scholars and students working in linguistics, semiotics, film, media, and visual arts. |
| Access restriction | Available only to authorized users. |
| Technical details | Mode of access: World Wide Web |
| Genre/form | Electronic books. |
| ISBN | 9781350016149 |
| ISBN | 1350016144 (Trade Cloth) Active Record |
| Standard identifier# | 9781350016149 |
| Stock number | 334763 00309770 |