Post 3-Emily Ginnel

I thoroughly enjoyed the film, Basquiat, because the film allowed me to understand the life of the artist and the different aspects and influences that shaped his work. The biopic was successful in engaging the viewer with the artist on several levels, allowing them to understand the complexity of the mind behind the famous works of art. Basquiat was very influenced and driven by the idea of being famous and the world of the celebrity. The director, Julian Schnabel is able to capture Basquiat’s dreams and influences throughout the film beginning with the opening scene with “Picasso and the crown”. In this first scene Schnabel directly connects art with fame by showing Basquiat simultaneously interacting with symbols of royalty (crown) and art (Picasso replica of Guernica). This scene advances the narrative and engages the viewer as they interact with these symbols and contemplate their connections to each other as well as their relevance to the life of Basquiat. The symbol of the crown is reintroduced in the final scenes of the film, when Basquiat explains the story of a prince whose voice was stolen and imprisoned. As Basquiat describes the story the prince continually banged his head against the steal rods of his “cell” sending a beautiful noise throughout the world. A noise, which filled the world with beauty and as Basquiat describes as “ so beautiful that people wanted to grab it.” This scene and inclusion of the “crown” symbol again is an interesting conclusion to the film. The scene is a reflection on the idea of the imprisonment of the artist as fame controls their lives. The prince loses his voice, is symbolic of Basquiat losing his ability to communicate with the world on his own terms when controlled by the industry and fame. While, at the same time the scene is describing the beauty of the artist’s work. Even when the artist becomes imprisoned and objectified by his/her own fame the beauty they have revealed to the world will continue to be enjoyed and appreciated. I believe that it is the industry and the idea that as critics and viewers people take advantage of the artists that leads so many famous creative icons to self-destruct. The industry extracts all of the creativity and talent from them and when they no longer are considered ‘avant garde’ moves on to the up and coming artists. Basquiat depicts this notion of the industry taking advantage of the artist in the old footage of the bird eating the frog. This scene further emphasizes the impact of fame on Basquiat’s life. He has literally been “eaten” by the art world; his bodies of work as well as himself as an artist become consumed by the industry. After becoming famous Basquiat loses all of his friends, his girlfriend and although is “friends” with Warhol is constantly questioning his intentions when outsiders comment on the validity of their friendship.
Schnabel uses the vision of the surfer over the New York City skyline in order to reference Basquiat’s aspirations. Throughout his life Basquiat was infatuated with Hawaii. He mention’s the islands when in bed with his long-term girlfriend, Gina when discussing their future together. He also references Hawaii when his life turns to turmoil following the death of his friend Andy Warhol and his decline from fame. I believe that Basquiat is experiencing these and the other visions and sounds in the film. Schnabel includes them because they give us insight in the wandering mind of the artist and creative tendencies.
After reviewing the article “Could it be Madness-This?” by Kay Redfield Jamison, I am convinced by the overwhelming evidence that mental instability is connected with creative genius. Jamison introduces his argument in accordance with many different forms of creative expression and in different time periods and settings. His research encompasses the full spectrum of artistic talent and forms of mental illness. The high percentages of artists with mental instability issues in his studies and studies he references are alarmingly high and therefore I believe that there is a definite correlation. I do not believe and that a person must be mentally ill to exude a high level of creativity and artistic talent; but as studies have shown in the Jamison as well as in other articles that people often lack other life skills when they have such extreme levels of talent. It is difficult to conclude that Basquiat and Pollock had specific mental illness, but as depicted in their biopics we can conclude that elevated moods and depression were prevalent in their lives. As stated in Jamison’s article, “Virtually all the creative writers and artists (89 percent) said they had experienced intense, highly productive, and creative episodes.” In both Basquiat and Pollock the director shows the spurts of creative energy in which the artists are highly productive. In both films the scenes when Pollock and Basquiat acquire their own personal studio space best illustrate these moments of intense, highly productive episodes. Although, we are do not know if Pollock and/or Basquiat were victims of mental illness, we do know that they were both heavily influenced and involved by drugs and alcohol. After reading the article and watching both films I wonder if these drug and alcoholic addictions are the result of the artists wanting to experience these “creative episodes”. In both films the artists become heavily involved with drugs and alcohol when they are at “low points” in their careers. Although, both Basquiat and Pollock are using illegal substances throughout their lives, it is after their time in the spotlight begins to fade that they are most heavily reliant on their addictions. I believe that they are using drugs and alcohol in order to return to a highly productive state and engage once again in the creative episodes, which helped them produce the art that made them famous.
Jamison also refers to the family relations and mental illness that exists among relatives. In the film Basquiat, Schnabel introduces Basquiat’s mother into the narrative, although she is not referenced in the film besides when referring to her mental stability. I believe that Schnabel includes Basquiat’s mother in order for the viewer to question whether or not Basquiat might have clinical mental issues as well?