The Metamodern Cinema of Taika Waititi - (Studies in Metamodernism: Theory and Criticism Across the Disciplines) by Kevin Corbett (Hardcover)

About the Book

In this book, Kevin Corbett demonstrates the prominent role of metamodern cinematic elements in Taika Waititi's creative works, tracing their emergence over the course of his decades-long career in film and television.

Book Synopsis

In this book, Kevin Corbett demonstrates the prominent role of metamodern cinematic elements in Taika Waititi's creative works, tracing their emergence over the course of his decades-long career in film and television.

Analyzing a range of Waititi's films and television shows including Jojo Rabbit (2019), Reservation Dogs, and What We Do in the Shadows (2014), Corbett highlights how the writer-director embraces the concept of oscillation that lies at the heart of metamodernism's cultural logic by striking an intentional balance between elements that generate insincerity and disengagement and those that invite audiences to sincerely connect with the characters and story. This variation in tone within individual films and programs, he contends, is reflective of a broader cultural shift in the 21st century as we move beyond the limits of postmodernism.

Review Quotes

"Kevin Corbett has written a truly original and exceptionally insightful study of the oeuvre of one of the most prolific and popular filmmakers of our time, attentive at once to the unique qualities of the individual films and series and to the socio-cultural context within which they should be understood and appreciated. This is an important contribution to both the field of film studies and the debate on metamodernism." --Timotheus Vermeulen, Professor of Media, Culture and Society, University of Oslo, Norway

About the Author

Kevin Corbett is Professor in the School of Communication, Journalism, & Media at Central Michigan University, USA.