Jan Bąk is a fifth-year screenwriting student. He developed the material for publication as part of his BA thesis written under the supervision of lecturer Bronka Nowicka, who later edited the book.

„Użyczenie umysłu” is a half-literary, half-scientific reflection on the genre of the film essay. Throughout the narrative, Jan Bąk proposes original concepts of "the lending of the mind" and "the author-hero", which help understand the structure and impact of film essays on the recipient. Based on theories of film studies, psychology, and philosophy, Bąk outlines a vision of a genre which enables communication through the "direct" transfer of the contents of the mind to the screen. The basis of the argument is an analysis of four film essays by Alan Berliner, James Benning, Adam Curtis, and Chris Marker.

In the introduction to the book, Kuba Mikurda writes: "Jan Bąk's book is an essay about an essay. The reader will not find here a definition of a film essay or an exhaustive catalogue of examples. The author knows that this is impossible and that treating an essay as an object which can be measured, weighed and described would be as far from what he wants to get at as possible."

The Polish version of the book is available in printed form, and the e-book in two language versions; the literary translation into English was made by Katarzyna Szuster-Tardi. Bogusław Jaworski is responsible for the graphic design. The cover travesty of the painting by Hieronymus Bosch was made by Julia Smyk.

On 27, October (Sunday) at 12:15 at the Film Museum, as part of the Camera Action Festival - Action Education: Video Essays, there will be a meeting with the author concerning the book.

More information: kameraakcja.com.pl/wydarzenie/wideoeseje

Book available in the PWSFTviT bookstore: 
* printed version: https://tiny.pl/w5h9jyk7
* e-book: https://tiny.pl/jf3p565r and https://tiny.pl/ckz2chjk