Dear all,
I am an undergraduate student, and have just finished my second year at the
University of Central Lancashire. I am in the process of preparing my third
year dissertation, and wondered whether anybody could offer me some
assistance.
My essay has the working title - 'Re-interpreting Transcendental Cinema'.
Here are my initial thoughts on the subject:
In 'The Myth of Total Cinema', Bazin states that the purpose of the
invention of cinema was to provide an accurate mirror of reality, and this
has not yet been achieved. Therefore, we have not yet reached the 'birth' of
cinema.
In 'Art and its shadow: Towards a Philosophical Cinema', Mario Perniola
states that, "The question of the relation between cinema and philosophy
underlies the entire history of the cinema." He asks the question, "Can
cinema create a total philosophical work that would comprehend and
co-ordinate writing, vision, listening, event and spatiality?" He suggests
this hasn't been achieved yet.
I would like to state that Transcendental Style has the potential to do just
that, therefore 'bypassing' the 'birth' of cinema - ultimate realism.
Transcendental Style can offer more than perfect realism. I intend to
discuss Paul Schrader's seminal work on the subject, and consider a less
spiritual/religious interpretation of the term 'Transcendental'. I hope to
approach it from the more everyday definition - "not based on experience,
intuitively accepted, innate in the mind". In real terms, looking at
'ambiguous' films whose depth of meaning are far greater than their content.
People can read into the film as they please, as their culture suits them.
It can be relevant to everybody.
I'd like to suggest that this platform could produce an answer to Perniola's
question. I would go on to analyse several films with this outcome in mind.
Perhaps start with analyses by the method of Schrader, followed by analyses
informed by Perniola of:
Stalker (Andrey Tarkovsky, 1979)
Au Hasard Balthazar (Robert Bresson, 1966)
And finish with contemporary situation - have we reached Perniola's 'total
philosophical work'? Use analyses of:
Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter... and Spring (Kim di-Kuk, 2003)
Japon (Carlos Reygadas, 2001)
Uzak (Nuri Bilge Ceylan, 2003)
If anyone has any suggestions at all, I would be most grateful.
Thank you for your time,
Mike Ashcroft
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