Oleg Aronson's 'Metakino' Applies Deleuzian Philosophy to Soviet Cinema and Film Theory

Published in Moscow by Ad marginem in 2003, Oleg Aronson's 'Metakino' represents a pivotal post-structuralist turn in Russian film theory, drawing inspiration from Gilles Deleuze. This anthology, comprising seventeen essays, explores cinema's transformative effect on human thought and culture, particularly through the lens of the cinematic 'event' and its ability to unveil the 'other' and the 'new.' Aronson delves into late Soviet cinema, spotlighting directors Aleksej German, Kira Muratova, and Aleksandr Sokurov, while also addressing the ramifications of Soviet censorship on cultural interpretation. Engaging with classical theorists such as André Bazin, he offers a philosophical reinterpretation of their ideas. The book's unique format features film stills in place of titles, underlining cinema's cultural importance and its socio-aesthetic implications.