Sensorial thought: cinema, perspective and Anthropology

• Autor(a) principal: Gonçalves,Marco Antonio
• Data de Publicação: 2012
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Vibrant
• Texto Completo: http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1809-43412012000200006
• topic: Eisenstein; image; alterity; perspective and sensorial thought

The concept of 'sensorial thought' formulated by Eisenstein to explain the logic of film discourse prompted him to engage in a rich dialogue with the Anthropology of his time, in particular with Lévy-Bruhl's formulation of how 'primitive mentality' operates. Eisenstein attempted to draw a parallel between cinematic language and the way in which primitive thought is manifested, arguing that both based on the principle of non-contradiction, on the idea of a simultaneity between 'self' and 'other,' and on metonymization as a way of intensifying sensorial experience. This sensorial thought produces a particular 'perspective,' an engagement between spectator and screen character. By drawing together Cinema and Anthropology, Eisenstein produces a powerful reflection on the concepts of image, alterity, perspective and the senses.