Formulas are necessary

216.244.0.213

Posted by Bambi B on December 14, 2002 at 20:07:06

In Reply to: Is it any different than the strict formats of classic poetry? posted by cfraser on December 14, 2002 at 14:53:36:

cfraser,

I (and many others it seems) don't object to a format or formula for any kind of art. As you say, they permeate every realm and are actually necessary. Without form (formula)there is no sequence or structure that allows an outsider to understand the work. The 20th C. tried formlessness, but there still had to be an explanation of the attempt to make events inclusive and random so of course, 'deliberate randomness' became another cliche- or formula. "Cue spontaneity."

In poetry there is meter and sonnet form, haiku, etc and a lot of pepole are drawn to making or reading a particular form. One of my favourite formats for solo keyboard music is the fugue, which is so rigourous that some music analysts say that Beethoven never wrote a real one, despite those included in the late piano sonatas, Ode to Joy, and the Grosse Fuge. There are fewer real formats to painting but there are categories of genre painting, and the many "isms" that amount to the same kind of set of rules. With surrealism, wasn't it Andre Breton who tried to exclude and almost supress painters that didn't play the game to his standards?

But, a format or formula is actually a great way to limit the field of play and then force a kind of cleverness to make new statements still within the tight rules. People like to see how well an artist plays their chosen, familiar "game." Others- and I do too- like to see the form subverted for something liberated. But there can also only be liberated forms in relationship, by contrast to the established ones.

As for film being art, I would say that all film is art because it corresponds to the basic premise of art as a object made with an intention of affecting the thoughts and/or emotions of a viewer. That's a broad view, but the 20th C. so completely liberated art (Duchamp) to include almost everything with an aesthetic intent.

Then, there is good and bad art.

Cheers,

Bambi B

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - The 8-step "Secret" Hollywood Formula - Bambi B 12:24:29 12/13/02 (22)

...is why I like non-Hollywood movies... - SmokeTest 19:09:36 12/15/02 (1)

Re: ...is why I like non-Hollywood movies... - TA 18:03:55 12/16/02 (0)

Is it any different than the strict formats of classic poetry? - cfraser 14:53:36 12/14/02 (4)

Formulas are necessary - Bambi B 20:07:06 12/14/02 (3)

Good response, and the movie "Adaptation" - cfraser 09:43:48 12/15/02 (2)

Re: Good response, and the movie "Adaptation" - Bambi B 11:43:28 12/15/02 (1)

Re: Good response, and the movie "Adaptation" - cfraser 12:20:00 12/15/02 (0)

Don't forget : self basting . . . - Pjay 11:35:37 12/14/02 (0)

GREAT DISCUSSION, all you guys... nt - clarkjohnsen 06:57:43 12/14/02 (1)

GREAT COMMENT, Clark. nt - BS 10:27:34 12/14/02 (0)

Hollywood Formula - TA 13:45:03 12/13/02 (3)

Re: Hollywood Formula - Bambi B 15:58:55 12/13/02 (2)

Bruce Willis dead in Sixth sense - SmoKeTest 19:12:16 12/15/02 (0)

Re: Hollywood Formula - TA 16:31:22 12/13/02 (0)

Re: The 8-step "Secret" Hollywood Formula - Victor Khomenko 12:46:20 12/13/02 (7)

Re: The 8-step "Secret" Hollywood Formula - Bambi B 16:46:33 12/13/02 (4)

"Clooney's Ocean Did Not Have Any believable inner...... - AudioHead 11:49:15 12/17/02 (0)

Re: The 8-step "Secret" Hollywood Formula - Victor Khomenko 17:55:09 12/13/02 (2)

Re: The 8-step "Secret" Hollywood Formula - Bambi B 20:03:13 12/13/02 (1)

Re: The 8-step "Secret" Hollywood Formula - Victor Khomenko 05:43:59 12/14/02 (0)

I blame it on the public's lack of monocles! (nt) - mvwine 13:42:08 12/13/02 (1)

You nailed it 50% - Victor Khomenko 15:02:17 12/13/02 (0)

Follow Ups

Formulas are necessary - Bambi B 20:07:06 12/14/02 (3)

Good response, and the movie "Adaptation" - cfraser 09:43:48 12/15/02 (2)

Re: Good response, and the movie "Adaptation" - Bambi B 11:43:28 12/15/02 (1)

Re: Good response, and the movie "Adaptation" - cfraser 12:20:00 12/15/02 (0)

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