The Art of Cinema. An Introduction to the History and Theory of Cinematography

The book is based on a systematic study of cinema as an art form, technology, and narrative method. The authors sequentially analyze the main stages of film production: from concept development and shooting to editing and sound design. Special attention is paid to how individual artistic decisions come together to form a cohesive work. The historical section is dedicated to the emergence of cinematography and its development during different periods. Readers will learn about the era of silent films, the advent of sound and color, classic Hollywood, European artistic movements, and contemporary filmmaking. It covers feature films, documentaries, and animated films, as well as the characteristics of popular genres. The theoretical sections help to understand the structure of screen storytelling. Why does one editing transition create tension, while another allows for a seamless shift of action to a new location? How does lighting change the atmosphere of a scene, and what role does the positioning of characters in the frame play? The authors support their answers with specific examples from the history of cinema.