The Truth About Cinema
CevvelaThe Truth About Cinema
Enver Gülşen · H Yayınları · 2005
Summary
Enver Gülşen’s work titled “The Truth of Cinema” is a study that examines the deep philosophical foundations of the art of cinema. The book argues that cinema is not merely a medium of visual entertainment, but a language that reflects human existence and truth. While addressing the philosophical dimensions of the language of cinema, Gülşen emphasizes that understanding cinema is an art, and understanding humanity is a journey.
The book thoroughly examines cinema’s impact on fundamental philosophical concepts such as existence, truth, and meaning. While critiquing how Western cinema portrays humanity, Gülşen also discusses the potential role cinema could play within Islamic civilization. Viewing cinema as an art of narration and existence, the author draws particular attention to the depth of the meaning-based relationship the viewer establishes with films. He asserts that filmmaking and the viewer’s experience are not merely aesthetic processes but also significant milestones in humanity’s quest for truth.
In The Truth of Cinema, Gülşen reexamines the language of cinema from a philosophical perspective while also highlighting its intellectual dimension. Going beyond film criticism and analysis, she argues that cinema can be viewed as an art form that guides humanity on its inner journey.
Quotes from Cevvela
“Man is the only being in the universe to whom God gave the capacity to “overstep his bounds”!”
““This place that looks like the sun is in fact a mirror. Whoever comes and looks into it sees only himself. He has a soul and a body, and there he beholds them… Otherwise, who has the eye to see Us? Whose eye can reach the Pleiades and see them clearly?””
“From the moment a person comes into the world, they feel a great longing for the place they were torn from. Religion is the way this longing is eased and ordered through revelation. Art expresses the artist’s instinctive orientation, whether or not the artist is religious.”
“If life offers itself to us as a breath, then writing means sharing life’s reflections in us — that is, giving thanks for the breath we take and giving it back. So as not to burn any longer? Or perhaps so that our burning never stops — who knows!”
“What we seek is Joseph. But the first thing we must do to begin searching is to accept that we have lost Joseph.”
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"The Truth of Cinema" is an important reference work for those interested in the art of cinema and those who wish to explore its philosophical depths. Enver Gülşen does not view cinema merely as a form of entertainment but interprets it as a space for existential inquiry. The book offers a profound philosophical approach, particularly through its chapters that examine the impact of cinema on truth and human perception.
The book stands out for its comparative analyses of Western and Eastern cinema. In particular, how Western cinema interprets the individual and the philosophical implications this entails is one of the central points of Gülşen’s critiques. In my view, this work offers a great opportunity for those who wish to understand cinema more deeply and see it not merely as an art form but as a tool for thought.
Viewed from a critical perspective, the book’s language may be challenging for some readers. Gülşen’s philosophical depth may prove difficult to grasp for readers with only a superficial interest in cinema. However, this depth is a major advantage for those who wish to comprehend the intellectual dimension of cinema. My view is that any reader seeking to deeply understand the relationship between cinema and philosophy should definitely read this work.