Film Critique

Kyle D. Joson

Professor Bomboy

Modern Culture and Arts

November 6, 2015

Critique of Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

Films are a unique way of seeing someone's style of writing and visual imagery. They are a perfect synthesis of storytelling, music, and cinematography. This form of media entertains us and makes us think and feel. I decided to analyze the 2014 black comedy Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance). Birdman was directed and co-written by Alejandro González Iñárritu, who won awards for Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Director at the 87th Academy Awards. Emmanuel "Chivo" Lubezki won for Best Cinematography (Oscar). I will discuss Lubezki's cinematography in depth, including why his work plays a major role in Birdman and why it was so innovative compared to many other films. But first, why was the movie called Birdman?

Don't let the title or movie cover fool you into thinking that Birdman is a superhero movie. The story is about an ex-Hollywood actor named Riggan Thomson (Micheal Keaton) who decides to move away from blockbuster movies and become part of New York's Broadway scene to prove that he is a true artist, not just the guy behind a fictional superhero character called Birdman. But his excessive egoistic manner and his obsession with self-relevance are causing his life to fade away. Did I mention that Riggan talks to Birdman inside his head and has the same superpower as Birdman? Crazy and weird, right? Trust me, Birdman is not an entertainment superhero movie. Alejandro Iñárritu made Birdman to open our eyes to human nature, and the differences between art and entertainment. Throughout my many years watching films, Birdman is the first movie I've seen that deals with the personal ego and realism of Hollywood life. What makes Emmanuel Lubezki's cinematography important in Birdman?

There are different kinds of shots and lighting that are great for conveying the characters' emotions and atmosphere; such as when Sam Thomson (Emma Stone) is feeling intensely agitated at her father, the camera moves near to her face, which is known as the close shot. Another example is the key and fill lighting that occurs when Riggan goes front and back stage, but if he's no longer on the stage, Emmanuel Lubezki uses natural light. The camera movement and kinds of shots were carefully planned to coordinate with the actors' movements and the soundtrack. For instance, when Riggan was upset with Mike Shiner (Edward Norton) for talking behind his back to the theater critics, the camera followed Riggan at a fast pace since he was walking quickly toward Mike and there was fast upbeat soundtrack playing. The craziest and most unique part of the cinematography is there is only one continuous handheld shot in almost the entire film. When I first watched Birdman, I expected there to be cuts or montages since almost all films do this kind of editing. I asked myself, "How in the world did the cinematographer do this kind of stunt?" It is like watching a magic show performed by Emmanuel Lubezki. The one continuous handheld shot was originally traced back to Alexander Sokurov's Russian Ark (2002), but it was edited too seamlessly if there was no interruption like Alfred Hitchcock's Rope (1948). But why did Alejandro Iñárritu want to use one shot in Birdman? I theorized three things: One is it crosses the barrier between film and theatre; two, the movie conveys Riggan's reality; and three, it defines its own style. When it comes to theatre, the actors/actresses have to do their jobs flawlessly since it is live performance. The actors and actresses in Birdman have to stay in the right places and not make a single error while Lubezki is taking a long shot. The plot of the movie is about this form of fine art, and Iñárritu wanted the movie itself to be an artistic genre. One handheld shot follows Riggan since the film is about ego, relationships, and life. However, it could be Birdman's first-person point of view that is following Riggan's reality. The reason Alejandro González Iñárritu won Best Picture and Best Director is that he tried to impress the audience and critics. Birdman has its own style and voice. The one shot perfectly fit with the writing and soundtrack. 

Alejandro González Iñárritu truly expressed his view, and he has an original voice regarding American film trends. Regarding superhero films, Iñárritu told Deadline, "They [movie goers] have been poison, this cultural genocide, because the audience is so overexposed to plot and explosions and shit that doesn't mean nothing about the experience of being human" (Fleming Jr.). As time goes on, I feel that the majority of blockbuster films are becoming less interesting due to the overuse of cliches and fewer stories with deep meaning. Hollywood has been known to entertain audiences instead of exploring human emotion in depth, and it does not see cinema as an art form. Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) is purely original and unique in every aspect: the soundtrack, story, acting, cinematography, and even the opening and end credits. After watching this film five or six times, I cannot point out any small errors. My jaw dropped when the movie ended; I realized that this could be a film masterpiece. Birdman is not only a cinematic experience but also a life journey.

Works Cited

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance). Dir. Alejandro González Iñárritu. Perf. Micheal Keaton, Emma Stone and Edward Norton. Fox Searchlight Pictures, 2014. Film.

Fleming, Mike, Jr. "Alejandro G. Iñárritu And 'Birdman' Scribes On Hollywood's Superhero Fix ation: 'Poison, Cultural Genocide'" Deadline. Penske Business Media, 15 Oct. 2014. Web. 02 Dec. 2015. <http://deadline.com/2014/10/birdman-director-alejandro-gonzalez-inar ritu-writers-interview-852206/>.

"Oscar Winners 2015: The Complete List - 86th Academy Awards." Oscar. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2015. <http://oscar.go.com/nominees>.

Painting Critique

Kyle D. Joson

Professor Bomboy

Modern Culture and Arts

November 1, 2015

Thomas Eakins’ The Gross Clinic

Paintings that were created before the 19th century gave society a "voice." The artists' messages can be identified by using the elements and principles of design and observing the subject matter. One of painting I found intriguing is The Gross Clinic by Thomas Eakins. Thomas Eakins was from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and he was known for his large collection of realism paintings. Though Eakins is known for being a painter, he also took photographs and sculpted. In the 1880's, he worked with Edward Muybridge, who researched pictures in motion that later led the idea of film. The collaboration increased Eakins's interest in realism; he realized the photographic technology was a tool to better represent the physical world. Before he resigned from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, the people of Philadelphia criticized Eakins's method of teaching because he encouraged students to use live nude models for studying anatomy. At first, he wasn't well known for his work, but after his death, he was considered one of America's most influential painters (PBS.com). The Gross Clinic was painted in 1875 and depicted a scene that took place at Jefferson Medical College. It shows Professor Samuel D. Gross lecturing to male students while his surgeons are operating on a young patient with osteomyelitis of the femur. The lone woman who is weeping on left side of Dr. Gross adds an emotional effect. The painting is about the advancement of understanding how to prevent infections in an operation. The Gross Clinic is one of the significance documents of health and medicine. How was The Gross Clinic considered a special work compared to other Eakins paintings, and what is the creator trying to say to the American society? 

Thomas Eakins showed great elements and principles of design in his many paintings. The Gross Clinic displays complex lines like curved, dotted, thick, and thin ones to make its shapes more organic. There is a strong sense of a dark atmosphere based on the gloomy colors though the foreground of the painting has lights. Looking at the painting, it feels rough based on Eakins's paint stroke and the material he used, which was oil. There is negative space between the lecture center and seated students. The value plays a major role in the painting: the background is where the shadow is, and foreground shows lights. Dr. Gross is viewed the main character in the painting because of the large size he is portrayed in compared to the surgeons, the woman, and the patient. When I first saw the painting, I glanced at Dr. Gross then his surgeons, patient and lone woman and later stare at the students. So there is a good direction of movement rhythm. The lecturer and students give contrast.

Thomas Eakins used all the elements and principles of synthesis to convey a specific tone during the 19th century. As I see it, the tone is supposed to be a horror-like theme since the story is about surgery, and the lone woman is crying for her child. Eakins made all of his paintings as realistic as possible by adding depth and naturalistic shapes. The entire picture is a perfect example of foreground and background (form) because of the contrast between light (lecture center) and dark (students’ seats), the scale of Dr. Gross, and the space between Dr. Gross and the students. The lights beaming at Dr. Gross, the surgeons, the women, and the patient give emphasis. Overall, I feel the painting is in the state of harmony, but the weight seems asymmetrical.

I think there is a specific aim for making The Gross Clinic. Eakins's intention is to appreciate Dr. Gross's research in preventing infection. Before surgery was considered a healing process, injury to infection lead to amputation. Surgeons or other professions need a change within the health institution. I think Eakins was trying to say, discovery and curiosity are part of our human progress and nature. 

From a feminist viewpoint, the hidden message of The Gross Clinic is about gender inequality because the students and medical professionals are all men.  I mentioned that the woman is the only one in the lecture room. Also, the center of attention with Dr. Gross. Maybe the painting is showing that men don't have a sense of morals. If you look at the dark background, the majority of the Jefferson students are either taking a nap or bored out of their minds while the woman is in pain. Probably the great amount of shadow on the students presents cruelty or the “nature" of men. It creates sympathy within me and the viewers of how women dealt with inequality. It made me realize of how much the American society progress. According to Jefferson Medical College, women didn't have the education to become professionals in the medical field before the end of 19th-century. The school first opened its door to women on 1961, and in 1965, it had 7% graduate. Today, nearly 50% of women work in the medical field (Jefferson). 

When I first saw The Gross Clinic at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, I was amazed by how Thomas Eakins made every detail precise: the value (light and dark), the dull colors, and the model of every character (organic shape). He wanted to portray the physical world. Maybe it was not Eakins's intention to display the gender inequality of women but to focus on advancing in medicine. He does give a glimpse of how the 19th-century society was. This is one of the reasons why paintings are important to the human race. It opens a new perspective on the world, and we have to identify social problems such as power, class, and inequality of gender and minority. So does it mean societies from around the world view all people equal? Sadly, no, there is always be inequality. But hopefully as time progress, we as human beings will be better in understanding fairness and morals.

Works Cited

"About Thomas Eakins." PBS. PBS, 02 Dec. 2001. Web. 30 Oct. 2015. <http://www.pbs.org/ wnet/americanmasters/thomas-eakins-about-thomas-eakins/581/>.

Eakins, Thomas. The Gross Clinic. 1875. Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

"Women in Medicine & Science." Jefferson. Thomas Jefferson University, n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2015. <http://www.jefferson.edu/university/skmc/about/women-in-medicine- science.html>.

Non-Western Art Critique

Kyle D. Joson

Professor Bomboy

Modern Culture and Arts

October 4, 2015

Non-Western Art Critique

         Eastern art is quite different and remarkable compared to Western art because of the perspective and values. One of the Non-Western paintings I found interesting is the Two Eagles, made by Zhu Da (his literary name was Bada Shanren). Zhu Da was a Chinese artist known for his collection of paintings of landscapes and creatures using monochrome ink. He was also a Buddhist monk since 1648 but later left after the collapse of the Ming dynasty and the death of his father. He became insane, but his creativity was everlasting. Zhu Da did not fit with any other ordinary Chinese painters because he had a bizarre personality and was egoistic (Britannica). The Two Eagles was made in China, dating back to 1702, when Da was seventy-six years old. It is an image of two eagles hanging on a tree; the bottom-right side eagle is looking at the left side intensely, and the other one on the top-left is either looking at the sky or the tree branches (The Metropolitan Museum of Art). What makes this ancient Chinese painting special to many viewers?
         The art elements and the principle of design is an important aspect of how to read art and understanding artist's purpose. Da used only two colors to make this beautiful imagery: black and grey ink on a paper scroll. Though the colors are dull and plain, they give contrast and value. The black color is applied only to the eagles' faces, necks, and certain parts of the wings. There are lines mixing short strokes, curves, straights, thicks, and thins to make organic shapes to project nature. When I look at the eagles' feathers and the environment, the texture looks and feel rough. I can tell Zhu Da used the rule of thirds to make the viewers' eyes more easily glance smoothly between the two birds. The rule of thirds helps the rhythm flow from the top-left eagle to the tree to the bottom-right eagle. Space tries to make an even feeling, but the balance is asymmetrical. When I first glanced at the painting, I was focused on the tree branch at the top of the painting. The tree branch is an emphasis that tells you to focus on the top eagle later. There is a difference between the two birds in proportion. The top eagle seems bigger than the one at the bottom, making the viewers feel the top eagle is dominant. Overall, the elements and principle design Zhu Da used feel complete, embracing nature and conveying the value of Chinese art (The Metropolitan Museum of Art)

Historians noted that Two Eagles is very similar to Lin Liang's painting of the hawks and eagles. Liang's mighty birds symbolize strength and courage, but Da's Two Eagles is the expression of a brave confrontation and unfaltering loyalty. The depiction of Two Eagles is about the noble birds standing on the landscape because of foreign conquerors (the Qing Dynasty). It tells us Zhu Da was a loyalist to the Ming Dynasty, and this painting is propaganda against the Qing (The Metropolitan Museum of Art). According to ancient Chinese history, the Ming lost its Mandate of Heaven due to natural disasters, famine, and economic problems. The Mandate of Heaven serves as a political idea that the Heaven chooses the emperor who is fit for his people, and if the emperor fails, then a new one will be picked (Wu). Ever wonder why Zhu Da always painted the simplicity of nature? Nature has been part of China's culture throughout many centuries. Chinese paintings are part of an important philosophy called Daoism. Daoism focuses on lives, understanding total simplicity, and being in harmony with nature. The Dao De Jing (The Way and its Power) shows "a series of simple images to illustrate the complementary and harmonies function of positive and negative elements in ordinary things, as in nature" (Fiero 72). Achieving enlightenment reflects on the natural world.

Looking at Two Eagles made me feel intrigued by the simplicity of nature and realism. Da's style made me embrace the beauty of landscapes and animal lives. I think Da was critical of if he was going to add a background to make the painting more realistic, but that might have ruined the value of Daoism. One thing I had a hard time seeing was the bottom eagle's feet touching the tree. It makes me uncomfortable seeing the eagle and environment have the same grey color, making them blend. I was shocked by Zhu Da’s message of Two Eagles: it was meant to be a political view on the Qing empire.

  Zhu Da was an interesting Non-Western artist because the mindset and style he had. I am always fascinated by Chinese paintings portraying their philosophy. Maybe if Zhu Da did not become a Buddhist monk, then his paintings might be non-peaceful and complexity of style.

Works Cited

Da, Zhu. Two Eagles. 1702. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, NY. In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Web. 1 Oct. 2015. <https:// www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/L.1997.30>.

“India, China and America.” The Humanistic Tradition. Ed. Gloria K. Fiero. 7th ed. Vol. I. New York: McGraw-Hill Education, 2015. 72. Print.

Wu, Annie. "The Qing Dynasty." China Highlights. China Highlights, n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2015. <http://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/china-history/the-qing-dynasty.htm>.

"Zhu Da." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2015. <http://www.britannica.com/biography/Zhu-Da>.

Kyle D. Joson

Professor Bomboy

Modern Culture and Arts

September 13, 2015

The Philadelphia Museum of Art Critique

When someone goes to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, they might feel astonish by the building’s exterior and interior design. In 1926, Horace Trumbauer, Julian Abele, Clark Zantzinger and Charles Borie designed the unique landmark at Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is one of the largest art museum in the United States and well known for the famous fictional movie character, Rocky Balboa running on top of the steps (aviewoncities.com). The steps or sacred way is widely known as “Rocky Steps”. By looking the exterior design of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, it is obvious the architect designers were heavily influenced by the classical Greek period. The building has two different classical order, the left, and right side has the Ionic and the center show the Composite. The Philadelphia Museum of Art was influenced by a famous Italian architect, Andrea Palladio.

Why the Philadelphia Museum of Art used the classical Greek-Roman’s design? The exterior design has the characteristics of the Greek temples, and the idea of Greek architecture were “designed to serve the living, not the dead” (Fiero 123). It gives an expression that everyone is welcome to the art museum though people have to pay $20 to see collections of art. According to Marcus Vitruvius Pollio, he said, “the buildings should imitate the proportion of human body” (Bomboy). In an analogy, the museum is the human brain and when someone goes inside the mind, they will find full of knowledge, wisdom, and inspiration. Many art museums serve an idea the human mind is completely different and fidelity to nature (Fiero 116-117).

What is the purpose using the Ionic and Composite order? Both the Ionic and Composite order has a scroll-like design, but the Composite has a  complexity look with leaves sticking out. The idea is the center suppose be the important part of art museum, and the left and right side of the building doesn’t have an entrance. A scroll-like feature depict intellectual. The scroll symbol is used in many educational institutions like public libraries, and universities (Britannica.com). Look carefully at the capital part, it has multiple vibrant colors trying to express the liveliness of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The designers were wise to use both Ionic and Composite order, and the colors to tell the building’s purpose and atmosphere.

Andrea Palladio was one of the influences on the museum’s design. The building has an interconnected structure that makes highly symmetrical and balance, Palladio was well known for. I noticed there were statues on top of the building that the Neoclassic architecture has (vam.ac.uk). The interior design also has quite remarkable symmetry and geometric feature, making the art museum a higher importance. The simplicity creates a more friendly atmosphere and easier understanding the interior layout. As I mentioned above, the building is for everyone to seek knowledge, wisdom and inspirations.

Visiting the Philadelphia Museum of Art was one of my best experience seeking ideas and creativity; also it was my first time visiting an art museum. When I was in the building, I didn't have any problems where to go because the layout building was so simple to comprehend compare to some luxurious building. One drawback I noticed is only the right side has a pedimental sculpture. What is the designer’s message for not having a pedimental sculpture on the left and center part of the building. I believe the designers should put the pedimental sculpture in the center to make exceptionally symmetrical. When people first enter the art museum, there is a golden woman in the center holding a bow and arrow. Augustus Saint-Gaudens created the golden figure and the statue name is Diana, the Roman goddess of the hunt, the moon, and childbirth (philamuseum.org). Don’t get confuse with the Greek goddess version, Artemis, though both had very similar characteristics. The Greeks art presents naked Olympic athletes as nature’s perfect creation. Diana is like the version of the Discobolus and Greek goddess Artemis combine. If someone look at the golden Diana, she symbolizes an idea of humanism, realism, and idealism (Fiero 116, 120-121). It is impressive how the building’s details such as the classical order and symmetry layout have a meaningful hidden message. I recommend to people who haven’t been to art museum or try to find something inspirational. This is a special landmark in Philadelphia Pennsylvania.

Works Cited

Bomboy, Robert. "#3 Greece: The Classical Style." Harrisburg Area Community College. Web. 13 Sept. 2015.

"The Classical Style." The Humanistic Tradition. Ed. Gloria K. Fiero. 7th ed. Vol. I. New York: McGraw-Hill Education, 2015. 114-36. Print.

"Museum of Art: Philadelphia Museum of Art." A View On Cities. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Sept. 2015. <http://www.aviewoncities.com/philadelphia/museumofart.htm>.

"Order: Architecture." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 13 Sept. 2015. <http://www.britannica.com/technology/order-architecture>.

"Philadelphia Museum of Art - Collections Object : Diana." Philadelphia Museum of Art - Collections Object : Diana. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Sept. 2015. <http://www.philamuseum.org/ collections/permanent/44513.html>.

"Victoria and Albert Museum." Style Guide: Palladianism. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Sept. 2015. <http:// www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/s/style-guide-palladianism/>.