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Psycho Thrillers | ||
| Author: | William Indick | ||
| ISBN: | 0786423714 | ||
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Mind control, madness and altered states of reality can make for exciting nights at the movies—which explains the enduring popularity of a film genre that might be called the psycho thriller. Psychiatry and film came of age simultaneously, and characters such as the evil psychiatrist and the pathological killer were often developed in direct reference to the psychological themes that inspired them. For example, the penchants of Hitchcock’s famously creepy Norman Bates represented real psychological disorders, and his actions were explained through psychoanalysis. The psycho thriller presents a world where psychology represents a dimension of supernatural and metaphysical wonders. The introduction analyzes what makes a psycho thriller, and subsequent chapters are devoted to each of the archetypal psycho thriller characters (the mad scientist, the psycho killer, the individual with psychic powers, and the psychiatrist) and themes (mind control, dreams, memory, and existential issues). The concluding chapter lists the top twenty psycho thrillers. Stills from classic films in the genre illustrate the text, which also includes filmography, bibliography, and index. Psycho Thrillers: Cinematic Explorations of the Mysteries of the Mind FROM THE PUBLISHER Stop-motion animation has long been perceived as a technical practice rather than a creative, demanding art. Though stop-motion requires considerable technical knowledge, it also involves aesthetics and artistry that go beyond the technician's realm. Just as important as puppet mechanics are lighting, filters, lenses, camera angle and placement, and dramatic pose and movement. This manual is a complete guide to the aesthetics of stop-motion animation. Information is organized in an intuitive, easy-to-use structure, following the order an animator uses in setting up and then executing a scene. The first half concentrates on the aesthetics of lighting and cameras, a primary concern in any shot, with details of camera placement, various lenses and myriad lighting techniques. The second half deals with the process of performance art, an oft-overlooked aspect of stop-motion animation. Included is a commentary on body language, facial expression, gesture, movement and emotion-key concepts that are exemplified through the acting process. The work also offers an introduction to narrative form and a glossary of related terms. Tom Brierton is an independent filmmaker/educator and the author of Stop-Motion Armature Machining: A Construction Manual (2002) and Stop-Motion Puppet Sculpting: A Manual of Foam Injection, Build-Up, and Finishing Techniques (2004). He lives in LaGrange, Illinois. ACCREDITATION William Indick is an assistant professor of Psychology at Dowling College in Oakdale, New York. He is the author of Movies and the Mind (2004), as well as writing for a number of psychology journals. He lives in Brooklyn, New York. | |||
