James Lastra

What a brilliant piece of scholarship. This is theory with a firm footing in history, industry, practice and culture... Or is it history that knows its way around theory and industrial practice? Either way, Lastra examines competing modes of aural representation in early sound cinema in Hollywood, but he uses this historical moment to reflect upon industrial practices (leading obliquely to capitalism), film theory, embodiment, simulation, and the history of mediation in general. That sounds rather grand, but what I admire most is that this is actually very informed and pragmatic theory. Which, in itself, is amazing and inspiring. I am only sorry I took so long getting around to reading it.… (más)