In a world where camcorders and CCTV are witness to our every move and "Big Brother "and "The Blair Witch" "Project "are phenomenally popular and widely imitated, the divide between reality and fiction has become increasingly blurred. "Understanding Realism "addresses this crucial concept that is central to the understanding of film and television studies. Using a selection of the critical approaches, "Understanding Realism "examines the complex relationship between the moving image, appearance, and reality. Deploying the films "One Fine Day "and "Clerks" as major case studies, Richard Armstrong's in-depth treatment considers the roles that narrative, genre, audience, and ideology play in relation to realism in mainstream Hollywood and U.S. independent film. He also discusses how it is possible to reconcile the impression that what is being watched is reality with the knowledge that it is not.