Robert Altman's Subliminal RealityWith his complex and unconventional films, Robert Altman often draws an impassioned response from critics but bafflement and indifference from the general public. Some audiences have dismissed his movies as insignificant, unsatisfying, and unreadable. Ironically, Altman might agree: he makes films in order to challenge filmgoers' expectations of straightforward narratives and easily understood endings. In Robert Altman's Subliminal Reality, Robert T. Self sheds light on Altman's work and provides the most comprehensive analysis of his films to date. With close readings of classics like MASH, McCabe & Mrs. Miller, and Nashville, as well as the more recent films The Player, Short Cuts, and Cookie's Fortune, Self asserts the value of Altman's work not only to film theory and the entertainment industry but to American culture. Book jacket. |
Contents
Constructing Kansas City | 3 |
New American Cinema and MASH | 22 |
3 Women | 45 |
Romance and Adventure | 74 |
Nixon Tanner | 107 |
Madness Dreams and Art | 144 |
Nashville | 179 |
Paris Originals | 215 |
Short Cuts | 244 |
The Alternative Gaze | 266 |
Acknowledgments | 279 |
Permissions | 317 |
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Common terms and phrases
aesthetic Altman's art Altman's films Altman's movies ambiguity American cinema art cinema art-cinema narration artist asserts audience authority Blondie Brewster McCloud Buffalo Bill California Split camera Carver causality central characters classical Hollywood classical Hollywood cinema classical narrative Cody coherence conflict construction contemporary Cookie's Fortune critical cultural death depicts desire diegesis diegetic director discourse dramatic dream entertainment fantasy fashion female fiction film's genre Gingerbread hero Hollywood cinema identity insecurity jazz Jimmy Dean Kansas City male masculine MASH McCabe meaning metaphoric modernist motivates multiple Nashville Nixon play Player political Popeye popular Prêt-à-Porter production psychological Quintet realism reflects reflexive relationship representation reveals Rick Robert Altman role romance Salomé scene Secret Honor self-conscious sexual Short Cuts shot show business significance social sound star story storytelling structure studio subliminal reality Tanner 88 television tion University Press viewer Vincent & Theo voice western women York