Their does seem to be a problem with perceptions of
violence in criticism. I've noticed this before when
people have discussed Tarantino's films as having a
cartoon violence. There is nothing cartoonish about
it.
Also with Clockwork Orange, stylish, elegant, cool.
The clothes maybe, maybe not. But the violence goes
through a spectrum of violence, the clownish grotesque
ballet, the spoof western, the gang rape, the nazis,
christ getting a whipping. Stilized maybe but stylish.
This is true also of Peckinpah who is also discussed
far too often in reference to the ballet-like slow
motion stuff. I mean does slow motion always equal
grace? Have we fully developed a vocabulary to talk
about and think about violence in film? What are we
talking about? The filming of violent acts? or can the
filming itself (as NBK hints with a megaphone) become
violence, through editting soundtrack etc? Full Metal
Jacket also might be a good place to look.
best
john
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