Review by Choice Review
Though Blakesley (English, Purdue Univ.) provides insightful, thoughtful critical examinations of a broad range of both popular and obscure films, this book offers much more than just film criticism. These essays also explore rhetorical criticism and theory as useful ways to develop richer understanding of the communication content of the films being examined. While Kenneth Burke's concepts are, as the title of this volume suggests, central, the ideas of a broad range of critics and theorists are employed. The critical focus is mainly on the verbal messages of films. For example, the chapter dealing with The Usual Suspects notes that the central rhetor in the story is called Verbal. Though discussed in several essays, the visual aspects of film communication receive much less attention, and the stills included in the study of Deliverance (one of two essays with figures) are poorly reproduced. With two exceptions the essays are original to this volume. Each has a reference list, and most are annotated. The book includes a good overall name and subject index. ^BSumming Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty. P. E. Kane emeritus, SUNY College at Brockport
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
