There has been a traditional split in film studiesbetween the Bazinians and the Eisensteinians—those who believe themedium has a special aptitude for reality and those who would stress itspurely formal and autonomous characteristics. This soberly argued bookattempts to make peace using philosophical humanism. Taking as hispremise the currently unfashionable idea that narrative cinema hassomething to do with life, Singer demonstrates how it transforms ourcommon experience into art.
Sight & Sound
Accessibly written, Reality Transformed is a sensitively observed and thoughtful contribution to film humanism. Treating film as an art in the deepest sense of the word, Irving Singer shows readers why they should take film seriously and how to do it.
Noel Carroll, Monroe Beardsley Professor of Philosophy, University of Wisconsin
I was quickly won over by the grace of the text and the wisdom of the author. Singer's argument is extremely well structured, elegantly written, and compelling.
Richard Allen, New York University
Singer's approach to film theory is distinguished by an admirable clarity of style... and a sustained effort to harmonize apparently conflicting theoretical positions.
Richard Macksey, Johns hoplins University
There has been a traditional split in film studies between the Bazinians and the Eisensteinians–those who believe the medium has a special aptitude for reality and those who would stress its purely formal and autonomous characteristics. This soberly argued book attempts to make peace using philosophical humanism. Taking as his premise the currently unfashionable idea that narrative cinema has something to do with life Singer demonstrates how it transforms our common experience into art.
Sight & Sound