Wonder and Cruelty - Ontological War in Its a Wonderful Life

This book looks at why Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life is either the most inspirational or the cruelest film American cinema has ever produced. It depicts, perhaps unwittingly, an ontological war in which two well-matched adversaries fight a series of pitched battles that neither side can win without producing tragic remainders.

List of contents

A Tale of Two Films: "It was the story I had been looking for all my life."

Ontological Context: "George Bailey. Yes, tonight's his crucial night."

Eternal Return: "I'm leaving right now. . ..This is my last chance."

The Gentle Face of Transcendental Terrorism: "You see, George, you really had a wonderful life."

Responsible Subjectivity: "George Bailey, I'll love you till the day I die."

The Day After: "What are you but a warped, frustrated young man?"

The Specter of Pottersville: "You'll see a lot of strange things from now on."

Wonder and Cruelty: "Get me back. I don't care what happens to me."

Romance or Tragedy? "To my big brother, George. The richest man in town."

About the author

By Steven Johnston

Product details

• Authors: Steven Johnston, Johnston Steven
• Publisher: Lexington Books
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 31.12.2018
• EAN: 9781498583626
• ISBN: 978-1-4985-8362-6
• No. of pages: 124
• Series: Politics, Literature, & Film; Politics, Literature, & Film
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Art > Photography, film, video, TV; Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political science and political education; Television, PERFORMING ARTS / Television / General, POLITICAL SCIENCE / History & Theory, Politics & government, Political science & theory, Politics and government, Political science and theory