Empire of dreams : the science fiction and fantasy films of Steven Spielberg / Andrew M. Gordon.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Gordon, Andrew, 1945-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Spielberg, Steven, 1946---Criticism and interpretation.

Spielberg, Steven.

Spielberg, Steven, 1946-.

Criticism and interpretation.

Physical Description:

x, 291 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Lanham, Md. : Rowman & Littlefield, [2008]

Summary:

Empire of Dreams is the first definitive look at all of the science fiction (SF), fantasy, and horror films directed by Steven Spielberg, one of the most popular and influential filmmakers in the world today. In the 1970s and 1980s, Spielberg, along with George Lucas, helped spark the renaissance of American SF and fantasy film, and he has remained highly productive and prominent in these genres ever since. SF, fantasy, and horror films form the bulk of his work for over thirty years-accounting for sixteen of the twenty-six theatrical features he directed from 1971 to 2005. His films have become part of a global consciousness and his cinematic style part of the visual vocabulary of world media.

Spielberg's SF, fantasy, and horror films are often cinematic fairytales. "I dream for a living," Spielberg says. And, "I interpret my dreams one way and make a movie out of them, and people see my movies and make them part of their dreams." Following not only a large part of Spielberg's body of work but also the reactions of audiences and critics, Empire of Dreams shows that Spielberg's appeal as a storyteller is primarily visceral and emotional-for he has found ways to tap into his own feelings and to evoke profound emotion in audiences.

Contents:

Introduction: "I dream for a living" 1

1 Duel (1971): Paranoid Style 13

2 Jaws (1975): Hydrophobia 29

3 Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977; Rev. 1980): Unidentified Flying Object Relations 55

4 E.T. (1982) as Fairy Tale 75

5 Poltergeist (1982): Divorce American Style 93

6 Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981): Totem and Taboo 109

7 Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984): Bad Medicine 125

8 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989): Raiders of the Lost Father 137

9 Always (1989) and the Eternal Triangle 151

10 Short Films: "Kick the Can" (1983) and "The Mission" (1986) 169

11 Hook (1991): The Peter Pan Syndrome 183

12 Jurassic Park (1993) and The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997): Jaws on Land 203

13 A.I. (Artificial intelligence) (2001): Separation Anxiety 227

14 Minority Report (2002): Oedipus Redux 243

15 War of the Worlds (2005) and Trauma Culture 253

Conclusion: Moving Toward the Light 267.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780742555778

0742555771

9780742555785

074255578X

OCLC:

144570924