The Film Work of Norman McLaren examines his films in the context of hisobjectives. The first part deals with McLaren's formative years in Scotland andEngland and examines his early exposure to the social, artistic, and institutionalinfluences that were to shape his filmic output. The second part deals withMcLaren's maturation in the USA and Canada. The third part is concerned principallywith his mature output. McLaren's films contain incongruities, conflicts, andapparent inconsistencies. In exploring these aspects of his work, Terence Dobsonexamines the technical processes McLaren used in making his films, the oscillationshown in his films between abstract and representational imagery, and the degree ofaccord between McLaren's social and artistic objectives, and his filmicachievements.