The Power of Movies: How Screen and Mind Interact

How is watching a movie similar to dreaming? What goes on in our minds when we become absorbed in a movie? How does looking “into” a movie screen allow us to experience the thoughts and feelings of a movie’s characters? These and related questions are at the heart of The Power of Moviesa thoughtful, invigorating, and remarkably accessible book about a phenomenon seemingly beyond reach of our understanding. Colin McGinn–“an ingenious philosopher who thinks like a laser and writes like a dream,” according to Steven Pinker–enhances our understanding of both movies and ourselves in this book of rare and refreshing insight.

“Lively. . . . Illuminating. . . . McGinn has struck gold.”

“Enlightening. . . . Lucid, rewarding.”

  • Publication Date

    December 10, 2008

  • Publisher

    Vintage

  • Length

    226 pages

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