Jackson Pollock is on a constant roller coaster throughout his life. The film “Pollock” uses different techniques to convey to the viewer when a transition in Pollock’s life occurs. At the opening of the second part of the film, Pollock transitions from the “tranquil” stage during their initial time in South Hampton to a more hostile period. Pollock’s erratic and irrational behavior returns when Krasner refuses to try and conceive a child. Pollock breaks the stereo following Krasner’s refusal symbolizing his behavioral change. Following his dramatic behavior change Pollock discovers his method of “action painting” for which he is most famous for, Krasner signifies the importance of his discovery when she ventures into his studio and states, “You’ve done it Pollock you’ve cracked it wide open.” As Pollock’s new artistic style is well received when revealed to the art world and public. Pollock quickly becomes overwhelmingly famous and influential over critics and viewers. It is clear that he is engrossed in his own fame when he going off on tangents explaining his success to his family members when they come out to South Hampton for a visit. But, he quickly transitions back into a state of hostility when he agrees to participate in a documentary film. Following the film, which objectifies him as a person and an artist, Jackson becomes enraged chanting, “I’m not a phony…you’re the phony!” and once again destructing household objects and ruining Thanksgiving dinner. We sense his further transition into a state of self-destruction when the film shows him as a much heavier, hostile man five years later. Once again Pollock is breaking objects in his home as he screams at his wife.
I noticed a lot of similarity between Nietzsche's ideas of the Apollonian and the Dionysian and the depiction of Jackson Pollock in “Pollock”. Nietzsche believed that both the Apollonian forces, or the “unique individuality of man” and the Dionysian forces, “man's instinctive, chaotic emotions” were needed to create the Greek tragedy. Nietzsche’s philosophy is particularly relevant when discussing the life of Pollock because much of his life and art was driven by alcoholism and literal intoxication. Pollock combines his unique vision and individuality with outside forces such as alcoholism to create artwork, which continues to be influential in the 21st century. It is unclear whether or not his work would have been different if Pollock was not under the influence of alcohol for much of his life and career, but it is impossible to separate Pollock from his addiction and therefore hard to deny the fact that alcohol did not affect his creativity and art. Although as according to Nietzsche intoxication and an artist’s instinctive, chaotic emotions are necessary for man to create, I do not believe that this theory dismisses the fact that Pollock spiraled out of control killing both himself and another human being. But, it does help to explain why he was led to destruction throughout his life especially in his later years and as human beings we are always trying to find answers as to why people act in certain ways. Nietzsche forces us to ask the question, “Does one have to be destructive in order to be creative.”
In the opening scenes of “Basquiat”, we are brought into the world of an individual who seems to be very much involved in his own world and imagination. We also feel a very strong sense of the influence that his family, specifically his mother has over his life and work. The first scene fades cuts between black title screens to a “dream-like” scene of a young Basquiat walking through a gallery with his mother illuminated by blue lights. The scene then cuts to Basquiat and his mother viewing Picasso’s Guernica. Basquiat’s mother is crying as she stands before the famous painting, her attention then turns toward her son who is wearing a glowing crown. The crown that she imagines on Basquiat’s head signifies her strong faith in her son and his capabilities to help guide and inspire her. It is clear that the director of “Basquiat” connects the viewer with Basquiat’s mother in the first scene, in order to establish the importance of her presence in is life and her influence on his career. Although, it is uncertain in which way her influences will play a part in his life, success and destruction. In the opening scenes of the film we also see Basquiat’s strong desire to be famous. In conversations with his friend played by Benecio Del Toro we learn of his infatuation with being famous, and taking part of the world, which he encounters when working with an electrician in Betty Parsons gallery. In the opening scenes of the film, Basquiat exudes confidence and individuality. He is confident in his conversations with others, in particular a female character Jeannie, and his individuality is depicted such simple aspects of his character as his unusual walk.
The opening scenes of “Basquiat” do not closely follow the Schematic Structure or the Artist’s Biography; we are mainly introduced to Basquiat the person rather than the artist. Although, we do see some of Basquiat’s artist tendencies as he marks the city with his alias “Samo”. In the film we do not learn any particular aspects of his pre-birth, birth or youth except for the fact that he comes from Haitian descent. It is clear that Basquiat discovers his talents and develops into an influential artist in a manner that is different from most. But, as the film continues Basquiat's life might conform to the Schematic Structure.
I noticed a lot of similarity between Nietzsche's ideas of the Apollonian and the Dionysian and the depiction of Jackson Pollock in “Pollock”. Nietzsche believed that both the Apollonian forces, or the “unique individuality of man” and the Dionysian forces, “man's instinctive, chaotic emotions” were needed to create the Greek tragedy. Nietzsche’s philosophy is particularly relevant when discussing the life of Pollock because much of his life and art was driven by alcoholism and literal intoxication. Pollock combines his unique vision and individuality with outside forces such as alcoholism to create artwork, which continues to be influential in the 21st century. It is unclear whether or not his work would have been different if Pollock was not under the influence of alcohol for much of his life and career, but it is impossible to separate Pollock from his addiction and therefore hard to deny the fact that alcohol did not affect his creativity and art. Although as according to Nietzsche intoxication and an artist’s instinctive, chaotic emotions are necessary for man to create, I do not believe that this theory dismisses the fact that Pollock spiraled out of control killing both himself and another human being. But, it does help to explain why he was led to destruction throughout his life especially in his later years and as human beings we are always trying to find answers as to why people act in certain ways. Nietzsche forces us to ask the question, “Does one have to be destructive in order to be creative.”
In the opening scenes of “Basquiat”, we are brought into the world of an individual who seems to be very much involved in his own world and imagination. We also feel a very strong sense of the influence that his family, specifically his mother has over his life and work. The first scene fades cuts between black title screens to a “dream-like” scene of a young Basquiat walking through a gallery with his mother illuminated by blue lights. The scene then cuts to Basquiat and his mother viewing Picasso’s Guernica. Basquiat’s mother is crying as she stands before the famous painting, her attention then turns toward her son who is wearing a glowing crown. The crown that she imagines on Basquiat’s head signifies her strong faith in her son and his capabilities to help guide and inspire her. It is clear that the director of “Basquiat” connects the viewer with Basquiat’s mother in the first scene, in order to establish the importance of her presence in is life and her influence on his career. Although, it is uncertain in which way her influences will play a part in his life, success and destruction. In the opening scenes of the film we also see Basquiat’s strong desire to be famous. In conversations with his friend played by Benecio Del Toro we learn of his infatuation with being famous, and taking part of the world, which he encounters when working with an electrician in Betty Parsons gallery. In the opening scenes of the film, Basquiat exudes confidence and individuality. He is confident in his conversations with others, in particular a female character Jeannie, and his individuality is depicted such simple aspects of his character as his unusual walk.
The opening scenes of “Basquiat” do not closely follow the Schematic Structure or the Artist’s Biography; we are mainly introduced to Basquiat the person rather than the artist. Although, we do see some of Basquiat’s artist tendencies as he marks the city with his alias “Samo”. In the film we do not learn any particular aspects of his pre-birth, birth or youth except for the fact that he comes from Haitian descent. It is clear that Basquiat discovers his talents and develops into an influential artist in a manner that is different from most. But, as the film continues Basquiat's life might conform to the Schematic Structure.
2 comments:
I really liked your analysis of the opening sequence of Basquiat. For some reason, I did not look at it as if the mother was imagining the crown on his head. I agree that his mother must play big part in his life, considering the opening of the film and the fact that he visits her in some sort of home later in the film. I wonder what happened to her and if this will be revealed later in the film. I also believe that this can be connected to Pollock in some way. We talked in class about the fact that in Pollock the camera always focused on the mother when she appeared in scenes. Could his mother have had some influence on him to cause him to lose grip of reality? Maybe it is the same for Basquiat. The mother either has a positive influence on his life and has incouraged him to pursue his dream of art, or she has had a negative influence . It will be interesting to see which one it is?
I agree with your statements regarding Basquiat's mother and the implication made by the crown on his head. I think that his mother's health and well-being becomes a huge part of his life and is something that perhaps even drove him to become an artist.
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