Making Meaning: Inference and Rhetoric in the Interpretation of Cinema

Making Meaning examines how critics and scholars interpret films and construct meaning from cinematic works. Bordwell analyzes the methods, assumptions, and rhetorical strategies used in academic film criticism from the 1960s through the 1980s. The book breaks down different schools of film interpretation, from symptomatic readings to thematic analysis. Through case studies of specific films and critical texts, Bordwell demonstrates how interpretive communities develop shared frameworks for deriving and discussing meaning. Bordwell traces the historical development of film criticism as an academic discipline and examines its relationship to broader trends in literary theory and cultural studies. The work includes detailed analysis of how critics use evidence, construct arguments, and engage with theoretical paradigms. The text raises fundamental questions about the nature of interpretation itself and the varying ways humans make sense of artistic works. It explores tensions between different methodological approaches while examining how institutional and historical factors shape critical practice.

Readers appreciate Bordwell's systematic analysis of how viewers interpret films and his detailed examination of film theory practices. Many highlight his clear writing style and thorough research methodology. Academic readers note its value as a reference text for film studies. Common criticisms include the dense academic language and complex theoretical frameworks that can be challenging for non-academic readers. Some find the examples dated and wish for more contemporary film references. Notable reader comment: "Bordwell dismantles many assumptions about film interpretation while providing a constructive framework for understanding how we make meaning from movies." - Goodreads review Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (82 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (6 ratings) Google Books: 4/5 (3 ratings) The book receives more attention in academic circles than among general readers, with most reviews coming from film studies students and professors.

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🎬 David Bordwell wrote this influential work while serving as a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he helped establish one of the most respected film studies programs in the United States. 📚 The book challenges the dominant psychoanalytic and cultural theories of film interpretation that were prevalent in the 1980s, proposing instead a more cognitive approach to understanding how viewers make sense of movies. 🎥 The research presented in Making Meaning draws from over 300 film reviews and critical essays, spanning more than 60 years of film criticism and analysis. 🌟 Bordwell's work introduced the concept of "historical poetics" to film studies, examining how viewers use both textual cues and cultural knowledge to construct meaning from films. 📖 The book's impact extends beyond film studies; its theories about how people construct meaning have influenced fields including cognitive psychology, narratology, and digital media studies.