This volume investigates the ontological status of the screenplay and its classification as an aesthetic object within the broader landscape of literature and film. Ted Nannicelli, a scholar in film and media studies, utilizes an analytical framework to examine the screenplay not merely as a blueprint for production, but as a distinct artifact. He argues that the nature of the screenplay is defined by the collective practices of writers and readers, asserting that these creative and appreciative interactions confirm the status of certain screenplays as legitimate works of art.

Scholars and students of film theory frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the screenplay as an independent object of study. Experts highlight the clarity of Nannicelli's analytical prose, noting that it successfully bridges the gap between traditional literary criticism and contemporary media philosophy.