Overview

"Initially regarded as a cult figure with a strong following amongst sci-fi and horror film fans, Canadian filmmaker David Cronenberg emerged as a major and commercially viable film director with mainstream hits such as A History of Violence (2005) and Eastern Promises (2007). With his unique ability to present imagery that is both disturbing and provocative, Cronenberg creates striking films, noteworthy not just for their cinematic beauty but also for the philosophical questions they raise. The Philosophy of David Cronenberg examines Cronenberg's body of work, from his breakthrough Scanners (1981) through his most recognizable films such as The Fly (1986) and more recent works. Editor Simon Riches and a collaboration of scholars introduce the filmmaker's horrific storylines and psychologically salient themes that reveal his pioneering use of the concept of ""body horror,"" as well as his continued aim to satirize the modern misuse of science and technology. The Philosophy of David Cronenberg also explores the mutation of self, authenticity and the human mind, as well as language and worldviews. While Cronenberg's films have moved from small-market cult classics to mainstream successes, his intriguing visions of humanity and the self endure."

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9780813136042

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Reviews

-Cronenberg is one of the most versatile auteurs working in cinema today, which is why a book dedicated to his work is a welcome arrival. This book has something both for serious scholars and general interest audiences as well.- -- Journal of the Fantastic in the Arts

Keith Allen is Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of York. He was a Research Fellow at the Institute of Philosophy, London, and studied philosophy at University College London and the University of Cambridge. His research interests include the philosophy of perception, the nature of color, and the history of philosophy.Cynthia Freeland is professor and chair of the Philosophy Department at the University of Houston. She is author of The Naked and the Undead: Evil and the Appeal of Horror (Westview, 1999) and co-editor (with Thomas Wartenberg) of Philosophy and Film (Routledge, 1991). Her articles Feminist Frameworks for Horror Films, and Realist Horror have been anthologized several times. Other film articles include Horror and Art-Dread, in The Horror Film (Rutgers, 2004), and The Sublime in Cinema, in Passionate Views (Johns Hopkins University Press, 1999). Freeland has also authored books on topics in ancient philosophy, feminism, and art theory.Jones Irwin is a Lecturer in Philosophy and Education at St Patrick's College, Dublin City University. He has previously taught at the University of Warwick and at Mary Immaculate College, Limerick. His research interests are in philosophy of education, political philosophy and aesthetics. He is the editor of War and Virtual War (2004) and with Diane Powell of Interculturalism: Theoretical and Empirical Perspectives (forthcoming). In 2008/09, he is Visiting Fellow at the Centre for Philosophy, Literature and the Arts at University of Warwick, UK.Peter Ludlow is a professor of philosophy at Northwestern University. He has done much interdisciplinary work on the interface of linguistics and philosophy and has also established a research program on conceptual issues in cyberspace, particularly questions about cyber-rights and the emergence of laws and governance structures in and for virtual communities. He has also written on topics in aesthetics that intersect with popular culture, including fan

<p> Keith Allen is Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of York. He was a Research Fellow at the Institute of Philosophy, London, and studied philosophy at University College London and the University of Cambridge. His research interests include the philosophy of perception, the nature of color, and the history of philosophy.<p>Cynthia Freeland is professor and chair of the Philosophy Department at the University of Houston. She is author of The Naked and the Undead: Evil and the Appeal of Horror (Westview, 1999) and co-editor (with Thomas Wartenberg) of Philosophy and Film (Routledge, 1991). Her articles Feminist Frameworks for Horror Films, and Realist Horror have been anthologized several times. Other film articles include Horror and Art-Dread, in The Horror Film (Rutgers, 2004), and The Sublime in Cinema, in Passionate Views (Johns Hopkins University Press, 1999). Freeland has also authored books on topics in ancient philosophy, feminism, and art theory.<p>Jones Irwin i

Author Information

Simon Riches is a researcher at the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London. He previously taught philosophy at University College London and Heythrop College, University of London. He holds a PhD in philosophy from University College London and has also studied philosophy at the University of Southampton and psychology at the University of East London. His research interests lie in epistemology and the philosophy of psychology. He is a contributing author in UPKY's The Philosophy of David Lynch.

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