The semiotics of light and shadows : modern visual arts and Weimar cinema / Piotr Sadowski.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Sadowski, Piotr, 1957- author.

Series:

Bloomsbury advances in semiotics.

Bloomsbury advances in semiotics

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Art, Modern--20th century.

Art, Modern.

Light and darkness.

Motion pictures--Semiotics--Germany--History--20th century.

Motion pictures.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (242 pages).

Place of Publication:

[London] : Bloomsbury Academic, 2018.

Summary:

"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."--Bloomsbury Publishing.

Contents:

Acknowledgements

Introduction

1. Natural shadows, represented shadows: from optical phenomena to semiotic signs

2. Light and shadows in visual arts

3. Fixing iconic indexes

4. Light and shadows in early cinema

5. Weimar cinema: Expressionist light and shadows

6. Weimar cinema: light and shadows in the city

Bibliography.

Notes:

Originally published: 2018

Includes bibliographical references and index

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

1-350-01617-9

1-350-01615-2

1-350-01616-0

OCLC:

1039504184