Publisher's Synopsis
"What the Pluck? is a study of the harp as a powerful visual cue in the cinema. From Walt Disney to the Marx brothers, Gone with the Wind to Small Time Crooks, this ancient instrument has acted as a symbol of as death, immortality, transcendence, love, high culture, sexuality, comedy and fantasy since the earliest eras of film making. In its examination of the harp as a storytelling tool, this study draws on archival research, examining film theory, psychological theory, history, and philosophy to give context to centuries of symbolism. What the Pluck? notably examines the harp's broader use as a symbol for the classical god Hermes, the messenger, trickster, and lord of speech; the harp's Hermetic overtones resonate through bardic tradition to the present day"--.
