In the “Traditional” art media we’ve had small bouts of non-realistic art (mannerism, etc) and the larger movement against representationalism ( Impressionism, Dada, Abstract, Pop, Modern, etc)
And yet, in the film arts (and in computer games, which may or may not be art depending on your definition), we have yet to see major movements.
I bring this up (in regards to the Wii*) and films/television shows in general being “realistic.”
I know we expect our stories to be believable, and I’m sure most have read Tolkien’s “On Fairy Stories” about the need for a internal sense of reliability in our fictional worlds or stories. And yet, Stories are not reality. Greek Drama had only masks, radio only sounds, short stories only sketches. The Viewer was/is expected to fill in the details, make the judgment, interpret the art.
The problem here is that with increasing detail and “reality” (with special effects and such) in movies, too often added detail only shows how unreal and unbelievable the Art is. The well flushed out character is often not only uninterpretable, he is a character of diminished possibilities, adaptabilities and appeal.
My issue lately with film and FX stems from the issue that while I like explosions and CGI trickery and such, I still know that it is a fiction. It is a story. Simply put, “This is not a pipe”(with apologies to Magritte). I’m getting tired of expecting to believe it is a pipe (no matter how pipe like it is), when I know It’s not – It’s a god-damned picture of a pipe. The treachery of images leads us to want to have this realism to help our suspension of disbelief, yet it is too often a crutch for poor storytelling.
Where is the Picasso of Film? Dali? Magritte? I’m heartened by the plot/story maneuverings of Charlie Kaufman, Wes Anderson, Michael Gondry, Alejandro Agresti and Amenábar. Are there others whom I should seek to satisfy my need for the abstract, expressionistic, existential?
I could go on about my distaste for the ostensible demand for character development in modern story-telling, but I’ll save that for another post sometime.
*This is Wii related in the aspect that the graphics of the Wii and the games so far produced eschew the “realism” trend in PC and console gaming in favor of a game-play aspect and or abstract representationlism of their respective worlds. The Mii looks like a cartoon figure, etc.
I wish I knew more about film, I’m sure there are people out there making something like what you describe.
Indeed. I’m hoping the peanut gallery can school me.
Hello, my name is David Lynch.
Also, explore the foreign genre… there are lots of great mind trips, experimental films (ie – La Jette, 8 and 1/2 women). Hell, look at The Science of Sleep, or Waking Life. There’s some nice surrealism there.
Probably every third netflix Sara has received is an artistic conception of reality or a story. I think there is a great challenge in the medium of film when compared with the medium of the canvas. Sight and sound must play in (or not, in some instances), and time. The biggest thing a film has against it is time. Imagine scanning over Guernica only 2 sq. inches every 3 minutes. That is, to me, the challenge of film.
Think about, as well, what you are comparing. Story or visuals? The Big Lebowski certainly steps outside the realm of reality, but is it that it is filmed with live actors that makes it too real?
It seems to me a lot of it lies in perception, and patience as well. There are a lot of surreal, absurdist, genre-breaking and creating movies out there. There’s also a lot of crap.
Whee!
Come to think of it, a lot of that is probably present in the most hated of all genres, Anime. Ugh.
Yeah, I know those – I guess I want more (greedy me).
And indeed, thinking about Big Lebowski now makes me realize that as the kernel of my adoration – Existential indeed.
It’s clearly story, not visuals (or rather representational visuals). It’s the Crappy conmputer OS [The Net, Hackers, Jurassic Park, etc.] you see over the shoulder of the character that is cleary TRYING to be a realistic OS but failing in spectacular ways. The Idea of something having to be “realistic and believable” when It’s just this part of the story — don’t show the screen, or have it be completely abstract or basic representational [The Matrix(I), Office Space, LOST, BSG etc.]
I mean, Just have a black box with the word “computer” on it. I get it. It’s a computer. I don’t need infinitessimal detail about it — I’ll fill in the blanks.
True. And yet, I need to find the aesthetics pleasing. i.e. As important as Chagal, Monet, and Degas are to painting, I still can’t stand their stuff.
Have you seen INLAND EMPIRE? It doesn’t get much more abstract than that. However, it’s only in very limited release, so it might be hard to find a screening.
One of the things I liked about “Mirrormask” that other people really didn’t like is that the CGI is not really trying to look real, and it’s in fact kind of low tech compared to a lot of what’s out there. It’s kind of impressionistic and painterly, in a way. I’m not sure if that’s what you’re really looking for, but it strikes me as an example of something that’s lovely and effective without trying to be “realistic.”
Totally missed an opportunity to use my Halloween Valentine icon, so here. 🙂
Well, that just sounds all kinds of awesome. I’ll keep an eye out. Thanks kindly!
Get Netflix
🙂
Precisely what I’m [visually] on about. We have the skills for CGI to be photo-realistic.
Looking forward to Disney’s Rapunzel for the painterly aspect of the animation.
No Yuo!
Have you ever seen The Venture Bros. on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim?
The X-Mas Special has the Krampus in it.. it’s hilarious. I could probably put it up on YouSendIt 🙂
Oh, most definitely – I love the Venture production team, though I lament about the availability of Krampus Knowledge (being the holder of obscure unknown stuff makes me feel all special).
Oh, and Doc Hammer is a F’in HOTTIE.
Oooooh, you like lithe scrawny artsy types 🙂
I like a lot of types!
the public-at-large’s imagination broke sometime around the mid-90’s. it’s sad.
Having just watched Julie Taymor’s production of “The Magic Flute” at the Met on PBS last night, I want her to make a video game!
Seriously, her film adapation of Titus Andronicus may be the closest thing to what you’re talking about. I enjoyed Frida as well, but I don’t think it was as pure to her artistic vision as Titus was.
And if OPB replays Magic Flute, it’s absolutely worth the TiVo.
I freaking love(d) Titus. It was amongst the DVDs that were stolen back when we first moved to PDX.
OMG YES HE IS.
Really nothing intelligent to contribute to the above discussion except yes, I know what you mean, and I agree that the special effects are often a crutch for poor (or barely existent) storytelling. I still likes me some good esplodeys, though.
Have you seen “More” or “Zabriskie Point”? Or “La Vallee”? Nothing to refresh the jaded 21st century mind like going back to the 60s for a few hours…
No, No, and No — soon to be Yes, Yes, and Yes after a visit to IMDB. (And I understand your gateway to the films 😉 )
I mean, Just have a black box with the word “computer” on it.
Dogville does something like this. The set is a white expanse with bits of walls and furniture sketching them out, and names of places are written on the ground. The set (most of the movie is on one big set) looks rather like a blueprint when shot from above. It gives the movie a theatrical flavor, and makes its subject matter feel more universal and less tied to the setting.