tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7640521.post111023028803809062..comments2024-01-06T05:34:00.027-06:00Comments on Blog Meridian: "Everybody comes to Rick's" . . . but why?John B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06358811061653958120noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7640521.post-1110573401400772802005-03-11T14:36:00.000-06:002005-03-11T14:36:00.000-06:00This is a couple-of-days-delayed response to both ...This is a couple-of-days-delayed response to both Jen's and Anonymous's comments. I think I can answer both of you simultaneously by saying that the production of Art depends, of course, on the effort of its makers but/and equally as much on an audience's receptivity, whether in the moment or down the road. I personally think <I>Casablanca</I> works because its story is (still)compelling AND John B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06358811061653958120noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7640521.post-1110371287285475412005-03-09T06:28:00.000-06:002005-03-09T06:28:00.000-06:00One of the interesting things about your notes on ...One of the interesting things about your notes on <I>Casablanca</I> is that no one thought the film to be anything special, that it was just another day job, that (and I never though I'd be agreeing with Regan) “[the studios] didn’t want them good; they wanted them Thursday.” I believe this points to something that enables great art, or indeed any: endless work. As something of an apprentice Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7640521.post-1110336327960205292005-03-08T20:45:00.000-06:002005-03-08T20:45:00.000-06:00So is that then the new direction or evolution in ...So is that then the new direction or evolution in "great films" to try and aspire to art or at least "pretty good"? There are many of course that don't even try to be anything other than mindless entertainment but then you have those rare gems such as American Beauty that not only aspire but transcend. Is this the issue with a work that can be seen or is intended to be a polemic vs. one that is jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04280589791981589936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7640521.post-1110261264981518102005-03-07T23:54:00.000-06:002005-03-07T23:54:00.000-06:00To you both:
Thanks for the kind comments.
Jen: Wh...To you both:<br />Thanks for the kind comments.<br />Jen: What you say about <I>American Beauty</I> (a very fine movie and one that I love, by the way) is right, but--even though I hadn't realized I was thinking this way about <I>Casablanca</I> this morning when I decided to show it--<I>American Beauty</I> is very self-conscious: it aspires to Art, or at least "pretty good." As I was watching <IJohn B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06358811061653958120noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7640521.post-1110247033472988032005-03-07T19:57:00.000-06:002005-03-07T19:57:00.000-06:00Firstly, I must say that the handout you've prepar...Firstly, I must say that the handout you've prepared there is great; well, it certainly informed me of a few things I never knew about Casablaca. <br /><br />I've seen Casablanca a fair few times (mostly drunk at Christmas), and I must say I've never quite considered it a great piece of art. The thing is, Humphrey Bogart (or Humpty Go-Cart as my mum calls 'im) is probably my favourite actor (my Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7640521.post-1110244468133723082005-03-07T19:14:00.001-06:002005-03-07T19:14:00.001-06:00P.S.
Your questions are great by the way.P.S.<br />Your questions are great by the way.jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04280589791981589936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7640521.post-1110244450669210602005-03-07T19:14:00.000-06:002005-03-07T19:14:00.000-06:00What about a film such as American Beauty? There's...What about a film such as American Beauty? There's a film that makes it tough to discern where the lines of "entertainment" and social criticism merge. I know it doesn't have the stature a film such as Casablanca has and many of your students have most likely already seen it. Still, it's well worth a classroom dissection any day and you can certainly take it from many, MANY angles. Food for jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04280589791981589936noreply@blogger.com