Abstract

Can explicit, perverse content inspire anything but horror? And how does cinema communicate fundamental ideas of life and death? Unbecoming Cinema explores the notion of cinema as a living, active agent, capable of unsettling and (re)configuring a person’s very thoughts, senses and ethics. Film, according to Fleming, is a dynamic force of emancipation, arming audiences with the ability to see and make a difference in the world. Drawing heavily on Deuluze’s philosophical insights, as well as those of Guattari and Badiou, the book examines how different forms of extreme and event cinema can introduce viewers to alternative modes of thinking and acting. Across four major chapters, the book critically examines unsettling and taboo footage: from suicide documentaries to art therapy films; portrayals of mental health and autism to torture-porn. In investigating the effect of film on the mind and body, Fleming presents film, and film analysis, as inseparable and dependent on philosophical concepts of dualism and spirituality. Inspired by Deuleuze’s portrayal of filmmakers as philosophical authors, Fleming unites transgressive cinema with metaphysical concepts of the body and mind. The author has produced an articulate, accessible and exciting book replete with refreshing film choices and analysis. He successfully communicates stimulating critical and philosophical arguments and compelling perspectives on contemporary film across various forms, genres and periods. Unbecoming Cinema taps into the booming popularity of Deuleuze studies but does so from a unique and impassioned standpoint.