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From ‘Dimensional Effects’ to Digital 3D Cinema

  • Yong Liu
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Abstract

By combing through the short history of theatrically released stereoscopic cinema and a series of literature contributions from other scholars across decades, I illustrate the aesthetic transformations that have shaped 3D from the previous booms to its current digital incarnation. I focus on the relationship between spectacle and narrative, and also consider the concept of ‘realism’ and discuss its complex connotations within different historical contexts and their impact on the relationship of spectacle and narrative. Based on such discussion, I develop a description of digital 3D cinema’s unique regime of ‘stereoscopic hyperrealism,’ considering stereoscopy alongside digital technologies and processes such as CGI, VFX and HFR. This overview sets up a historical and aesthetic framework for my subsequent discussion of contemporary 3D cinematic narrative and aesthetics.

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Copyright information

© The Author(s) 2018

Authors and Affiliations

  • Yong Liu
    • 1
  1. 1.Faculty of Arts and Social SciencesUniversiti Brunei DarussalamBandar Seri BegawanBrunei Darussalam

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