Blog Assigment # 5

BLOG ASSINGMENT #5

            Avant-garde films are films that do not have a certain narrative but rather functions as art use to in the old days; it’s a channel or form of expression. Avant-garde films explore the true potential of different film techniques, with creativity as fuel to the vehicle of imagination. The creators of these films try to explore the boundaries of certain techniques by fusing it with others to create a whole new technique that derives a whole new effect or reaction from its viewers. A perfect example of such would be the music video “Her Morning Elegance” which combines still photography with motion photography which creates a whole new technique commonly called as “still-motion photography”. It creates an effect similar to that of a disco-ball where everything seems to be moving yet taking split second breaks; only difference is that in still-motion photography the characters are always in the light where with a disco ball you can only see the subjects when the light flashes on them.

            Where as before such techniques might have been frowned upon or was slow to receive the credit it deserved; contemporary movie-viewing practices changed all that. It’s a matter of minutes for anyone to upload a video on “youtube”, to which millions around the world have access to. Online video libraries such as “youtube” has definitely made sure of the fact that film viewing will never be the same as before again, millions of teens now  days make their own video while millions of others watch it. The websites also serve as a channel for anyone who is seeking attention to get publicity, whether it’s good or bad, many contemporary pop starts have got their break through online websites on which they downloaded their art and someone noticed. I have seen time to time as sometimes short videos on youtube receiving similar attention, both quantitative and qualitative, to films, and my take on that is why not? If you have produced something purely out of your imagination which is creative, then you are worthy of all the attention you could possibly get.

Blog Assigment #4 The Hurt Locker

There are people scattering around everywhere. Soldiers in uniform leading middle-eastern civilians. The contemporary audience knows right away the setting is in Iraq. Each shot is no longer than three to four seconds long. There are multiple POV shots including one of a robotic equipment strapped with a camera. Suspense is employed as the audience is indirectly told there is danger looming around the corner yet they have no clue what it is. The threat is finally revealed in the form of a bomb as there are some characters introduced; a three man bomb squad team who share a bond equivalent to one of which is shared by brothers. The team consists of the leader Matt, Sergeant Sanborn, and specialist Eldridge. Although, all three of them show signs of fear, they are comfortable working on the same time as they joke around to comfort each other. The problem sets in when a piece of equipment breaks and Matt has to go in his suit to correct the situation. That’s when cutaways are employed to create a suspense as Matt walks towards the bomb, also there is no background music to soothe one’s mind as every breath Matt takes can be heard. Specialist Eldridge spots a man with a phone and is ordered to shoot him down but for some reason, which is not clarified, he is reluctant which results in the man using his phone that sets the bomb off. In between all this, Matt spots his teammates running and takes off running as well as his instincts tell him something is wrong, but unfortunately he could not get far enough as he takes the explosion on his back and does not survive the impact.

            I loved the introduction scene, but I believe what made me really like that scene was the scene I am about to describe in this paragraph. The scene when there is a middle-eastern man strapped with enough C-4 to blow the whole block to dust. New team leader William James approaches the scene with his team, yet he’s already in his bomb suit. This scene has a lot of parallels and differences at the same time when compared to the intro scene. Both William and Matt walk to danger knowing the risks, yet Matt’s courage is extricated from his team while William does not need courage, but derives his purpose to life through situations like this. Both scenes employ eye line matching shots to let the audience get a taste of what Matt and William feel like in a bomb suite. Matt feels hot, tense, and claustrophobic while William is uncomfortable but he seems to rule everything out and just focus on what he enjoys, which is the task at hand of depowering a bomb. The main contradiction I enjoy in between these two scenes is the fact how Matt does his best to run from an explosion yet does not survive but William, who turns around to face a similar explosion survives, without any serious injuries. It displays how strong William’s addiction to war is as even in the face of death he derives a thrill from the situation and lives another day to enjoy it.

Single Man

Blog Assignment #2

          After readying “Against Interpretation” by Susan Sontag, it seemed to me that she’s against interpretation but pro criticism. She believes that the idea of people trying to interpret or derive hidden messages in work of art by others seems very deceitful as the person doing the interpretation is taking the credit of the original author/creator. Anytime you interpret someone’s work, you’re going off their work of art and stealing a fraction of the credit which belongs to the original creator of the material. Therefore, after carefully reading a review by Roger Ebert of the film “Single Man” (2009) Tom Ford, one can truly comprehend what Sontag is trying to say. The review does achieve Sontag’s definition of “successful criticism” in the beginning portion of it as it describes the movie plot and gives a little background information on both the movie and movie characters, and the director. However, it loses its ground once the review leads to its main argument that Tom Ford tried to portray himself through the primary character, George, in the movie. To a certain extent he did, maybe the feeling of losing a loved one, or the fashion choice of George, but then you have got to realize George is not openly gay as Tom Ford is nor is Ford suicidal, or displayed any sort of behavior that might possibly lead one to believe he is.

            If concentrating on the form of the film like Sontag suggests, I would probably take the time to point out the settings and the cinematography. The setting (at least in George’s house) is very parallel with George’s fashion and thinking. It’s all very neatly organized and repetitive, in other words the same locations are used to show that George is a very strict person and lives a life of routine. The cinematography aspect of the movie that sticks out is the constant saturation and de-saturation in the middle of the film to show the mood, and outlook of George on life. It shows how at times he experiences joy which is quick to leave just so his depression can set back in. Also does a nice job showing how he makes his last moment of joy last, by dying in the middle of his moment.

Pyscho

Blog Assignment #1

Roland Barthes had an idea which texts should display the creativity and style of each individual author. He believed every writer has their own form, or manipulation of conventional writing styles. One of this form is Barthes’s Hermeneutic Code, which denotes an enigma or riddle, which moves the narrative forward, while creating suspense by setting up different blocks, distractions, or obstacles. The movie starts off by a scene showing a very passionate couple, a very brief moment yet important one as it gives the back-story of two of the protagonists. Right away the audience is given its enigma or riddle as the story focuses on the female lead character named Marion Crane; the question that pops in everyone’s head is “what will happen to her, will she get hurt by her lover, or will she find her true happiness”? The story almost promises an answer is it follows Marion most of the first half of the film, when she sets off with $40,000 cash that she stole from her office, gets seen leaving town by her boss, and catches the attention of a cop while traveling. But the main delay in the movie is when she meets Norman Bates, a kind and charming motel owner, she seems to be captivated by his charm and kindness at first as she allows him to prepare dinner for her. But it’s during dinner that she realizes something is wrong with the Norman and goes back to her room where she meets her eventual doom.

Barthes also had the idea of “readerly text” in which the reader just strictly reads and “writerly text” in which the reader has the freedom to interpret the text as he/she wishes. In my opinion “Psycho” is can be seen as both readerly and writerly as some scenes are left for interpretation  by the audience and some a given straightforward interpretation. Scenes like when the lead female character, Marion Crane, sets off with the money leaves the audience to think where she was going, many say she was going to her lover but it has not been clearly stated nor displayed. Also when she decides to go back, no one could be for sure if she was actually going to do it or not, even though she’s seen counting the money and what’s left of it, she shows agitation at the fact that she spent so much already, and that leads a lot to belief maybe she changed her mind and decided maybe it’s not a good idea to go back after all. Also the whole mystery about Norman Bate’s mother is left for individual interpretation which leads me to believe the film has a writerly form. However, at the end of the movie when Dr. Fred Richman explains to Marion’s sister and lover what happened, all the questions are answered and the individual interpretations are thrown out the window. Therefore I personally think the film is a readerly text form.