Flashbacks in Film: A Cognitive and Multimodal Analysis

Flashbacks in Film examines fi lm fl ashback as a rich multimodal narrative device, analyzing the cognitive underpinnings of fi lm fl ashbacks and the mechanisms that lead viewers to successfully comprehend them. Combining a cognitive fi lm theory approach with the theoretical framework proposed by blending theory, which claims that human beings’ general ability for conceptual integration underlies most of our daily activities, this book argues that fl ashbacks make sense to the viewer, as they are specifi cally designed for the viewer’s cognitive understanding. Through a mixture of analysis and dozens of case studies, this book demonstrates that successful fi lm fl ashbacks appeal to the spectator’s natural perceptual and cognitive abilities, which spectators exercise daily. This book will serve as a valuable resource for scholars interested in film studies, media studies, and cognitive linguistics.