Thursday, July 9, 2009

Room For Discussion

I am in the process right now of converting a video file, from a film called Koyaanisqatsi. It is a Godfrey Reggion film. The film consists entire of images and musical score. I guess the meaning of the word connotes a need for a change in lifestyle.  The movie is shot in slow motion and time-lapse styles. It is actually kind of intoxicating to watch. I can only take it 2 minutes at a time. He wants to display human beings in a way that makes them seem somewhat distant. Does that make sense? It is a way at looking at ourselves, and seeing something alien. We watched part of it in class (in connection with an Architecture Discussion, trust me it fit somehow). 

I've walked around BYU campus and driven along University Avenue and seen scenes in time-lapse. It is weird how you can change your little view of the world, for a limited time, and make it maybe closer to someone else's reality, or imagination.


I liked the film and the discussion about architecture. It was actually interesting to find out where today's architectural style comes from. I read the book, From Bauhaus to Our House (Wolfe) which gave a brief history of the past century of architecture. To know that "cookie cutter" housing and "steel box" buildings with glass were 'in', really intrigues me. Nowadays, it seems like people want to be strictly original (I call this trendy, it's repugnant) and do not want straight lines on straight foundations. I guess 'elaborately simple' could be our post-modern style. But architectures were once "scolded" or at least shunned, to a degree, for exhibiting any sort of originality outside of a steel box building with window. Things change.

Tomorrow, if you are interested, you can tune in for my reactions from "Ballet Under the Stars". It should be quite gripping.

3 comments:

  1. Yeah Koyaanisqatsi was totally trippy. I enjoyed the time lapse scenes as they were able to portray a large amount of people, and therefore humanity in a short period of time.

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  2. Koyaanisqatsi was completely crazy. But it does really outline the way people are living their lives now...its sad isn't it?!

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  3. try watching it straight through on the big screen, front row.

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