Non-narrative SA
This assignment is to assess my knowledge of Non-narrative film
and to help me create my own idea of a video installation, which may use the
same principles. This will include a brief history on non-narrative film and
the context of each piece in detail.
History
Non-narrative film is a film art that does not narrate to explain
its plot line or entertain viewers. There are a number of non-narrative type
films that include different aesthetic forms. There are non-narratives,
Abstract, Alternative and non-linear. Abstract film is a subgenre of film that
is unclear in a number of ways. This can include the plot, story line, what is
going on etc. This usually allows for the viewer to interpret the film in their
own way. An example of an abstract film is Norman Mclaren’s Pas de deux, which
is basically just a woman dancing in a dark room. What Mclaren did was devise a
piece that could be interpreted as anything. He placed a figure, which is
assumed to be a woman, within a dark room and has her perform an interpretive
dance. The room is dark so the viewer can only focus on the dancing.
Non-linear film is a subgenre of film aesthetics that does not
follow a particular sequence i.e. when the volume is not being played in
chronological order. The film may start at the end of a story and work its way
back to where it started through flashbacks. Another type of non-linear film is
when the telling of one story is shown in three different ways. An example of a
non-linear film is Pulp Fiction, which is directed by Quentin Tarantino.
The film tells the story of three people and explains how they all made it to
one particular point. The film starts at the end point of all the stories and
flashes back to one of the protagonist’s story. After reaching the end of one
person’s perspective you suddenly go back into another flashback in order to
see another person’s perspective. Another example of non-linear film is “Hang
Over”, however I will not be going into much detail about the film. Many modern
day TV series and films use these subgenres in order to tell a story. An
example can include the Japanese anime “The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya”,
which starts at the end of the series in the first episode and works its way to
that point throughout the series.
Context
Title- Pas de deux
Artists- Norman McLaren created in 1968. He is a film
director/animator who has created a number of pieces for the national film
board of Canada. He specializes in a range of film making techniques such as
drawn on film, visual music, abstract film, pixilation and graphical sound.
Type/Genre- Non-narrative abstract
Content- The short film is a video of Margaret Mercier
performing the Pas de deux with herself throughout the first half and then
being joined by her mirror image. Halfway through the video she is then joined
by a male dancer (Vincent Warren). There are three main effects that were used
for this video, all of which are visual effects. During the start of the video
the ballerina is dancing with her mirror image, after which a still image of
the ballerina is projected in the near future to show the audience what she
will be doing momentarily. Later the same ballerina multiplies and each image
portrays a different part of the dance. After the male dancer enters a motion
blur effect is used to add to the style of the dance. The choreography was
linked well with the effects used, meaning the pre-planning was done well in
advanced.
What was he trying to do? – Since it is an abstract piece
there is no clear meaning to the piece, however I believe that Norman McLaren
attempted to project his meaning through multiple medians such as interpretive
dance and video film effects. Also adding simple effects to add to the beauty
of the video. Personally I interpret it as a display on the beauty of two
different expressive forms when they collaborate.
Inspiration- There is a number of events that
could have given McLaren the idea to create the “Pas De Deux” i.e. the Vietnam
War or the winter Olympics that were held in France. In fact he may not have
been influenced at all by current events and just came up with the idea on his
own. He could have taken the idea while watching someone pray and composed the
dance. I say this, because there is a particular scene in the film that appears
to be a person praying to the statue of a goddess.
Title- Earth, Wing, Fire, Water
Artist- Bill Viola created 09.06.2014. A
modern day contemporary artist whose work mainly resides in the realm of video
installations. He has created a number of well known artistic pieces such as
“Heaven and Earth” or “An Ocean Without a Shore”. He uses digital effects and
sound to help him project his pieces meaning and uses far more modern methods
to showcase his work.
Content- The exhibition is a combination of
four video clips that each portrays a person undergoing the terrors of one
particular element. The clips are played individually on four vertical screens,
which are placed side by side in order to give the effect of one horizontal
screen. To me the idea of the screens is an indirect message telling viewers to
look at the bigger picture. The video links itself to every individual
regardless of his or her heritage or religion, because it uses the idea of a
fundamental human experience.
Wind- The clip is of someone holding onto a
rope while undergoing a vicious attack from a strong wind.
Fire- A man sitting in the centre of a room
while being surrounded by fire. He is unable to move, because he knows it is
pointless to try and escape the flames of death.
Earth- this clip involves a man constantly
being pelted with dirt from above, which sort of simulates someone being buried
where they stand.
Water- A person being hung upside down as a
large amount of water rushes down their body from above.
Influences and what he was trying to do-
Viola was attempting to exhibit the harsh realities of the world through
medians that everyone can relate to. His influences usually come from any one
of the fundamental human experiences and in this particular instance he chose
death as his median.
Conclusion
I have learned a number of ways non-narrative videos can be exhibited and what different forms they can take. Using different methods to tell one story or letting the viewer use the video to create their own idea of what the film was telling them. These are some new ideas that I may include in my own video.
