The Cinema in Flux
The Evolution of Motion Picture Technology from the Magic Lantern to the Digital Era
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Springer-Verlag New York Inc.
Published:8th Apr '21
Should be back in stock very soon
The first of its kind, this book traces the evolution of motion picture technology in its entirety. Beginning with Huygens' magic lantern and ending in the current electronic era, it explains cinema’s scientific foundations and the development of parallel enabling technologies alongside the lives of the innovators. Product development issues, business and marketplace factors, the interaction of aesthetic and technological demands, and the patent system all play key roles in the tale.
The topics are covered sequentially, with detailed discussion of the transition from the magic lantern to Edison’s invention of the 35mm camera, the development of the celluloid cinema, and the transition from celluloid to digital. Unique and essential reading from a lifetime innovator in the field of cinema technology, this engaging and well-illustrated book will appeal to anyone interested in the history and science of cinema, from movie buffs to academics and members of the motion picture industry.
“The book features a beautiful iconographic apparatus that, together with its author’s wide-ranging knowledge of technology and material- oriented approach to the evolution of the medium, make it particularly well suited as a companion to more traditional cinema histories for teachers of film courses and scholars of film technology in general.” (Sabrina Negri, Technology and Culture, Vol. 63 (4), October, 2022)
“If you’re studying computer science with a view to working in animation or movie production, you absolutely should read it. And if you’re not, you will find that the pictures and descriptions of the devices that led to what we see in our cinemas today are absolutely fascinating.” (G. K. Jenkins, Computing Reviews, July 4, 2022)
“His point of view is both authoritative and fascinating … . Lenny Lipton's The Cinema in Flux is richly illustrated, and also contains a bibliography, a list of patents, and an index. It is a most pleasurable read, as the author moves joyfully, eruditely, and eloquently between eras, personalities, and systems. An instant classic, no less.” (Laurent Mannoni, Journal of Film Preservation, Issue 105, November, 2ISBN: 9781071609507
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
795 pages
2021 ed.