Narrative comprehension, memory, motion, depth perception, synesthesia, hallucination, and dreaming have long been objects of fascination for cognitive psychologists. They have also been among the most potent sources of creative inspiration for experimental filmmakers. Lessons in Perception melds film theory and cognitive science in a stimulating investigation of the work of iconic experimental artists such as Stan Brakhage, Robert Breer, Maya Deren, and Jordan Belson. In illustrating how avant-garde filmmakers draw from their own mental and perceptual capacities, author Paul Taberham offers a compelling account of how their works expand the spectator's range of aesthetic sensitivities and open creative vistas uncharted by commercial cinema.
Industry Reviews
"This intense, compact book examines avant-garde and experimental film in an entirely new light...Armed with an authoritative grasp of the subject matter and aided by numerous frame grabs throughout the volume, Taberham ...[offers] something new: an exploration into the psychological terrain of the cinematic avant-garde, demonstrating how it completely abrogates the conventions of commercial cinema...Highly Recommended." ? Choice
"This lucid, informative text allows readers to consider the ongoing relevance of-and perhaps the need for-avant-garde filmmaking in a world driven increasingly by the economic demands of mainstream spectacle." ? William Brown, University of Roehampton
