Mindscreen

In the opening chapter of this groundbreaking work, Bruce Kawin asks: can a film which is already the dream of its maker and its audience, and which can present itself as the dream of one of its characters appear, finally, to dream itself? Contrary to the classic assumption that all film narration is third person, the author contends that a movie can be narrated in first person through a consciousness that originates either on screen or off. Through a discussion of Keaton, Welles, Resnais, Bergman, Godard, and even Chuck Jones, Kawin shows how the self-reflexivity of film stimulates the aesthetic, political, and psychological processes of the audience, making possible a greater knowledge and acceptance of ourselves."

In capitolul initial al acestei lucrari inovatoare, Bruce Kawin intreaba: poate un film care este deja visul producatorului si al publicului sau si care se poate prezenta ca visul unuia dintre personajele sale sa apara, in sfarsit, sa se viseze singur? Contrar ipotezei clasice conform carora toata naratiunea filmului este a treia persoana, autorul sustine ca un film poate fi povestit la prima persoana printr-o constiinta care isi are originea fie pe ecran, fie pe ecran.