This book investigates the fundamental representational shift in the relationship between the spectator and the cinematograph apparatus brought about by the digitization of cinema. Wheeler W. Dixon, a noted film scholar, argues that while digitization is an economic necessity, it fundamentally alters how audiences perceive film. The process transforms visual input into raw material, subjected to digital manipulation that creates an artificial splendor detached from the original photographic reality. This analysis explores the implications of this shift for the nature of cinematic representation and audience engagement.

The book is recognized for its critical examination of digital cinema's impact on representation. Dixon's argument posits that the inherent nature of digital manipulation creates a distance between the viewer and the original filmed subject. This perspective highlights concerns about the authenticity and perceptual reality of contemporary film imagery. The work contributes to ongoing discourse on media theory and the evolving nature of visual culture.