This work analyzes dramatic structures, from Sophocles to Orson Welles and the 21st century cinema, all from the viewpoint of Hegelian dialectic. Utilizing this dialectical process the author demonstrates its particular application to the writing of a screenplay, which should not be considered a simple schematic or formulaic blueprint but legitimate dramatic literature.

Zachariah Rush is a screenwriter, film critic and regular contributor to Film International magazine. He has written essays for eight volumes of the Directory of World Cinema, and has contributed scenic analyses to five volumes of World Film Locations. He lives in Manchester, England.

Zachariah Rush
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 196
Bibliographic Info: notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2012
pISBN: 978-0-7864-6603-0
eISBN: 978-0-7864-9107-0
Imprint: McFarland

Preface      1
A Note on the Text      6
Introduction      9

1. Dialectic      15
2. Dramatic Premise      33
3. Character      51
4. Conflict      99
5. Structure      109
6. Form and Content      134
Conclusion      172

Notes      177
Bibliography      183
Index      187

“Rush demonstrates how dialectics has governed cinema in the past, present, and future”—Reference & Research Book News.