It has led me lately to decline to profile certain films at my independent animation website AnimWatch. Some well made films, long on atmosphere and short on substance have been coming in as submissions, and frankly a year ago, I would have probably just profiled them and not given it a second thought. But I’ve been thinking about the point of filmmaking, and storytelling, and Art, and I am really looking for something more than just atmosphere. I certainly demand it of my own films… but then again, I haven’t finished any of my films, have I?
As I have recently updated my Luna website with a Writing section and a Music section, I am reflecting on the Art I have finished over the years. Finster and Waves, both at the Writing section, tell stories and move the reader emotionally, I would like to think. Can’t Fool Me, Firewalk, and Fugue, in the Music section, are somewhat less overtly communicative, yet arguably more complete as an emotional statement, simply because of the inherent power of music (not to mention lyrics, which have always been important to me). I certainly had something to say in those songs, but didn’t feel the need to come out and whack you over the head with it. But all in all, they are much more atmospheric than message-driven, especially Fugue.
Which brings me round to something wise my brother said to me the other night. There we were, sitting around the fire in the backyard, having a drink, and he asked me what it is about playing music for other people that I enjoyed. I said I really enjoy the rush of it, the fact that I’m up in front of a bunch of people, and even though I could screw up at any moment, at least I was brave enough to get up there, and most of the time, people seem to enjoy it. My brother, who is also a musician, nodded, and then said simply, “I like changing the mood of a room.”
I thought, “Holy God, he’s right!” That is IT. If there is a point to Art, it’s probably not didactic. It’s probably emotional. What point is there behind the Mona Lisa, or Whistler’s Mother? Are they not artistic expression, great works of art? And yet, they are not making some huge Statement, are they? (Dan Brown’s Da Vinci fiction notwithstanding…) And to see one of these paintings, they absolutely change the mood of a room.
So, not to say I’m thinking empty pretty pictures doth a film make. I’m still a long way from that particular conceit. And I still feel on balance if you are going to make a piece of Art, you should at least have something to say. I do feel that releasing a piece of Art into the world is a bit like running into a party screaming, “Hey, everybody, listen to MEEEE!!!” Now everyone’s looking at you. Hope what you had to say was worthwhile.
But perhaps I’ve been too hard on myself, not to mention the AnimWatch submittees… there still can be Art without the narrow, didactic definition. Looks like I will be digging back through some of my old rejections to see what deserves rescuing.
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