The Importance of Stanley Cavell for the Study of Film

Stanley Cavell's teaching and writing have been on my mind nearly every day since I first entered one of his classes on film, when I arrived as a visiting student from Paris at the Department of Philosophy at Harvard University in 1984. The timing of my arrival explains why I am particularly fond of movies (and television shows) from the 1980s, even though Cavell’s classes were on classic Hollywood melodramas and comedies. Little did I know that, in time, I would end up translating most of Stanley’s books into French, and dedicating most of my scholarly labor to understanding, presenting, and discussing his work. Back then, I just happened to walk into one of his classes, and “he had me.” I imagine something of the same effect can happen to anyone today, and it may be a reason for picking up Movies with Stanley Cavell in Mind. I felt so lucky to discover a philosophy that took entirely seriously not merely film, but the power of the experience of film and its importance in one’s life. For me, the encounter was a turning point: Cavell’s work, and Cavell on film, became the most important thing in my intellectual life, giving it continuity and me strength. The fourteen chapters collected here provide ample reason for understanding the importance of Stanley Cavell for the study of film.

Cite this book chapter: Laugier, S. "The Importance of Stanley Cavell for the Study of Film", dans David LaRocca (dir.), Movies with Stanley Cavell in Mind, New York, Bloomsbury, 2021. ⟨10.5040/9781501351945.0004⟩. ⟨hal-03741635⟩