The Cinematic City

Cities possess a cinematic quality instilled with character ranging from bustling excitement to shadowy romance. What makes the city such a magnetic place and how has cinema shaped our view of the city?

Offering thought-provoking insight into the connections between screen- and cityscape, "The Cinematic City" exploring genres, historical periods, and urban locales, to link the key dimensions of film and urban theory. From early cinema to today's politics of place, to forms of identity surrounding films by Black directors, the contributors draw on the theoretical insights of Baudrillard, Foucault, Lacan, and others to show how the city has been undeniably shaped by the cinematic form, and how cinema owes much of its nature to the historical development of urban space.

The Cinematic City offers an innovative and thought-provoking insight into cityscape and screenscape and their inter-connection. Illustrated throughout with movie stills, a diverse selection of films (from 'Bladerunner' to 'Little Caesar'), genres, cities and historical periods are examined by leading names in the field. The key dimensions of film and urban theory are introduced before detailed analysis of the various cinematic forms which relate most significantly to the city. From early cinema and documentary film, to film noir, 'New Wave' and 'postmodern cinema', the contributors provide a wealth of empirical material and illustration whilst drawing on the theoretical insights of contemporary feminism, Benjamin, Baudrillard, Foucault, Lacan, and others. The Cinematic City shows how the city has been undeniably shaped by the cinematic form, and how cinema owes much of its nature to the historical development of urban space. Engaging with current theoretical debates, this is a book that is set to change the way in which we think about both the nature of the city and film. Contributors: Giuliana Bruno, Iain Chambers, Marcus Doel, David Clarke, Anthony Easthope, Elisabeth Mahoney, Will Straw, Stephen Ward, John Gold, James Hay, Rob Lapsley, Frank Krutnik

David Clarke is a Lecturer in Geography at the University of Leeds.