Nica's Blog

Beowulf, that mead centric tale in old (really old) English has been transformed into a somewhat tacky 3-D film. There is a long history of tawdry films made in 3-D, some OK films, but I have never heard of actual "good" film in 3-D. Some of this is biase I'm sure. Sensationalist entertainment get written off very quickly by the academics who decide what films are worth remembering. Still, it seems 3-D has never joined the ranks of sound and color as completely viable and, in time, mandatory additions to the cinematic arts.

The real world has sound and color, so it makes sense that sound and color should be included in movies. But the sensation of 3-D, the effect of stereo vision is real too, so why does a 3-D movie feel contrived like carnival ride designed to tell a story? Adding a third dimension should make the movie seem more natural than a tradition film.

Of Course part of the problem is the content of the movies themselves. I was getting so many bodies and weapons throw my way during Beowulf that I was starting to get downright annoyed. But there is more to the problem. During one of these moments, with a spear point pointed straight at me, it realized that part of my annoyance was due to my headache. There is something headache inducing about faked 3-D with the current technology. I think my brain -- and I don't think I am unique in this matter -- doesn't like to have things hovering around inches from my face while the entire background is in focus.

A humble request to 3-D cinematographers: let things go out of focus. Do it for our brains.

Finally, there is the sad fact that 3-D films are really not 3-D. They are the pop-up-book version of 3-D. The audience can't lean over and see something hiding behind an object. If we want that we need to either see a play (unacceptable) or develop true holograms. Sadly holography has a long way to go. The holo-displays of science fiction will probably remain as science fiction for some time.

Despite all these problems, the attempt to revive 3-D cinematography is a good sign. Studios are desperate to sustain some reason for people to go out to theatres. Huge screens with high resolutions are becoming commonplace in living rooms. It is good that the studios don't take viewership for granted.

Labels: 3-D, cinema, entertainment

When the 21st Century citizen reads about how upset people became when seeing the the works of the Pre-Raphaelites, or the early Impressionists, the reaction is dismay. Just what is so aggrevating about Monet, or Rosetti? Clearly something has changed about our attitude toward painting. These days few people actually say they like abstract art, but it has become the dominent art of our commerical world. Any fancy bank lobby, or waiting room will more than likely have a large abstract painting which acts a little more than what we expect from wallpaper, and easy way to break up the monotony of blank walls. Glass art is the favorite 3-D abstract art in the Seattle area. Most glass art is bulky, heavy, useless, and a bit gaudy, but it does great around here! Then again, much of art's purpose is to take up space without annoying anyone.

Bit-by-bit, and byte-by-byte the musical arts are going the same way. Nobody says, "I like background music. Yes, background music is my favorite kind of music." but that is exactly what the role of music is becoming. In this post-Walkman, age of free music and Ipods people can listen to music constantly. Listening to music that way can't help but make the music background music. The emotional neutrality of much Electronica is what makes it so appropriate to our age, not that fact that it's electronic. It used to be young people would ask one another "What sort of music are you into?" with a keen scrutiny now only reserved to polarizing political opinions. I am glad music leaving the world of controversy and intrigue, and now just fills the quiet when we feel lonely. I really hope the future of music has more to do with The Buddha Machine than anything that gets someboyd all riled up. Just relax.

Advertising on buses is becoming a sort of thin cocoon for the entire vehicle. Currently I am in a bus totally wrapped in a Naked Juice ad. While it is nearly impossible to miss the ad from the outside (if you see the bus, you'll see the ad) as a passenger I only see the ad as an annoying mesh obscuring my view. The mesh is capable of cutting down glare, but still I do feel like I am sacrificing my view to sell someone else's juice. And all this makes me wonder how effective a bus is at promoting Naked Juice. Buses do not connote class. A bus doesn't say "upscale juice". Maybe they should pay good-looking people to wear Naked Juice ads. That's right, clothes to sell naked Juice. They will just need to make sure to avoid having ugly people wear the outfits. Take the film off our bus window, and we will look at those pretty folk in Naked Juice garb and think, "I need to get off this bus, and get myself some Naked Juice."

Labels: advertising, public transit