Is dialogue/dialog outmoded? Is articulateness in a character inartistic?
I'm reading a Melbourne tv critic, Peter Mattessi, on why a new aussie tv
series doesn't work for him despite 'great acting, beautiful production,
strong direction...'.
Its meanings are 'spelt out in dialogue'.
'...when characters are aware of their failings, when they can articulate
clearly the internal tensions they feel, well, there isn't a story any
more.'
I'm reminded of an old grumble of mine when teaching, say, a Shakespeare
play followed by an Ibsen. One fills our minds with the self-understandings
(often confused and wrong) and self-projections of his characters, the other
puts drama on the road to reliance on the actor to fill out what are mere
character-sketches.
The cinema (& tv) close-up completed the decline: we watch, guess at the
underlying unarticulated tensions, conflicts and complexities, often finding
afterwards, when discussing the play (or whatever) with our companions, what
irreconcilable differences of interpretation we have diverged into...
Max R
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