Abstract

The forgoing having applied primarily to verbal representations, this chapter considers depictive representations—primarily film. It discusses the nature of depiction in film, and argues that it does not involve the imagination. In addition, contrary to arguments provided by Jerrold Levinson, George Wilson, and others, the imagination is not part of a viewer’s experience of film. Furthermore, it is shown, by drawing on work by Carroll, that the account given of engagement with film is neutral between fiction film, and non-fiction film (or documentary).