Cognitive film theory: a bibliography

This weeks post is a bibliography of materials on the subject of cognitive film theory I have amassed on and off over the past few years. Although it contains some 355 items it is neither exhaustive nor up to date, although it should be accurate (barring any changes in the URLs for web-based resources). I’m sure most of what is there is well-known to those interested in this area, but there is almost certainly something you will not have come across before.

The file can be downloaded here as a pdf: Nick Redfern – CognitiveFilmTheoryBibliography1-19.

Finally, to bring to your attention an interesting article I came across recently on the subject of Luchino Visconti and Federico Fellini in Frontiers of Neurology and Neuroscience and their series on the impact of neurological disorders on famous artists, which looks at the impact of strokes on the creativity of two of Italy’s greatest filmmakers.

Dieguez, S., Assal, G., Bogousslavsky, J. (2007) Visconti and Fellini: from left social neorealism to right-hemisphere stroke, Frontiers of Neurology and Neuroscience 22: 44-74.

The acclaimed Italian directors Luchino Visconti and Federico Fellini had very different life trajectories that led them to become major figures in the history of cinema. Similarities, however, can be found in their debuts with the neorealist genre, their personalities, creative styles and politicocultural involvement, and ultimately in the neurological disease that struck them at the end of their careers. Both suffered a right-hemispheric stroke that left them hemiplegic on the left side. We review their life and career to put that event into perspective, and then discuss its aftermath for both artists in the light of our current knowledge of right-hemispheric functions. Visconti showed a tremendous resilience following the accident and managed to direct several films and plays as an infirm, whereas Fellini had to put an end to his career but still was able to display his talents to the neuropsychologists that treated him. A speculative account is given of the links between right-hemispheric symptomatology and the premorbid personality of these highly prolific patients.

PMID: 17495505

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