Postwar Realism II

Straight photography, Photojournalism and Street Photography

• Straight and Documentary photographers 

This type of photography is not only the best for capturing sociological or historical events or situations, it is the ONLY one that should be used. Other than light, focus and such, documentary pictures mustn't be modified in any way, otherwise it renders them pointlesss since they are not particularly beautiful or appealing to the eye, they are not straight photographies they become merely artistic pictures. Although, when they are not modified at all like Jacob Riis', Walker Evan's and Dorothea Langue's, they really do transmit  and capture the reality of those moments and fulfill their goal as straight documentary photographies. 

• Photojournalists

Photojournalism should've falled into the cathegory of straight and documentary photography, since (and this is still a problem these days) information that goes on newspapers and news in whatever format, must not be modified at all. They aren't far from documentary pictures but I think they should've been exactly the same except for their goal (news and newspapers). Photohournalist pictures, don't look particularly modified; although, they do not give the feel that what is photgraphed is happening and is all that real, in fact it seems as if they were planned out and people were posing for the picture. They are indeed striking and beautiful in their own way but photographs for journals should be a bit more real.

• War photographers

It is quite a shame that 95 of Robert Capa's photographs were destroyed because the 11 that survived are just amazing. They are obviously brought up by the fact that they are not taken in a staged D-day but in the actuall D-day and that he risked his likfe to take pictures. I think him and everyother war photographers were faced with the hardest photography challenge because the pictures must've been spontaneous and unplanned, you obvoiusly can't ask soldiers in the middle of the battle field to pose or stay still so it must've been hard to obtain good photographs and they all did. And even when they photographed the battle field once the battle was over, they had to hold their composure in front of probably hundreds of bodies lying on the floor and bloody sea-water and entire cities, houses destroyed.

• Nature photographers

Nature photographies are probably the most straight type of photographie because they have no reason to be modified and even if they were, it would make no difference. Also because they are all beautifull no matter what the photograph contains, nature in photography always looks well. Although, sadly, the straightest and more direct and objective type of photography (nature photography), doesn't have a socially productive goal other than being great art works.

• Street Photographers

Street photographers no matter where they are from, wether european or american, they all try to portrait the social condition of a paticular moment, in this caste the postwar period. but they do this with a more aesthetic approach. Their goal, even though they aren't modified or are modified slightly, is to produce a photograph which is interesting to watch and try to transmit the current conditions, but not so much as informing deeply into it but just a vague idea since their main concern was probably create appealing and beautiful photographs.

• Straight 'art' photographers

When the photographer's goal is to produce and art work it doesn't matter if they are modified or not, art expands the horizong massively and makes the a lot more interesting to watch and sometimes even more beautifull, as well as a bit creepy and weird (bordering on surrealism) suck as Kertesz's photographs, which were modified inmensely. And when they are not modified, they do lose a bit of what makes them a lot more interesting but they are very beautiful. 

The body ugly

It is hard to figure out how these paintings fit in the postwar realism other than by their date or publication. Just as the very appropiate title says, these paintings show human bodies at their worst. With unproportioned unappealing ugly bodies and faces and most of them nude. In my opinion they wanted to transmitt that human nature is in fact quite ugly (because they had just seen that in the wars). There is also no denying that the painters had amazing skills and that the painting are great pieces of art but I would never even consider owning one.

The Swimmer

John Cheever's 'The Swimmer' must be one of the best short stories I've ever read. It is so fast, nothing is ever still he is at constant motion, situations chance every second, he goes from one house to the other each of them having a different thing to say. Although, it takes some time to figure out what it all means specially because the 'ending' if one can call it that (which you can't) is so inconclusive and efusive that it makes it so much more interesting. Few writers could even dream of writing such an interesting story in so little pages. The only possible explanation I can think of is that he spent his entire life on that 8-mile journey. It would make sense, although in the story everything happens in a sunday afternoon, it would make more sense if it happened through his life, progressively loosing everything, becoming older, weaker, losing his house and daughters and all that happens. Even at the end, the whole point of the journey is made worthless by his own situation "but he was so stupefied with exhaustion that his triumph seemed vague". Cheever's goal was probably to criticize life in the suburbs in postwar america, excesive drinking, partying but in the end everything is worthless and meaningless and shallow and the most important thing, life consuming, which is in my opinion the best plausible explanation.

Postwar Realism I

Postwar British Poetry

Poems like Philip Larkin's and W.H. Auden have traits of society thinking critically about modern governments because they were written just a little time after people realized, goverments didn't know what they were doing and that is probably why they don't sound very modernist and they use profanity and even though they do not talk directly about this, its clearly there. They may not have the deepness or complexty of T.S Elliot's poems or poems from the lost generation but I loved them a lot for being sad, depressive, realistic but mostly for having low expectations and being a bit left-field.

                                           "Man hands on misery to man"
                                                            Philip Larkin, This be the Verse




Mass observation

This project, even though it could be useful for many things, is quite wrong. People can't go about recording people's conversations and infiltrating peoples lives and then telling all about it. I bet it wasn't publicly known untill after it was done and still caused a bit of a stir. They might be interesting to read (which they are) but there is no way people agreed completely to be spyed on and written about. At least Charles Madge had the decency to write poems which weren't about the project, unlike Humphrey Jennings, who didn't even try to disguise it by naming his films 'Listen to Britain' and such.

Postwar American Realist Fiction

Stories about life in the suburbs and in fact suburbs in real life are full of shallow and underrated lives of high-middle class people who used credit cards for everything and paid off in years. I have never seen a story which develops in a suburb which is all happy or perfect (as suburbs are supposed to be) they all involve afairs, debt, suicide, frustration and shallow and meaningless lives of measuring up the zeitgeist. Its entertaining al right, but sad and eye-opening as well.

Italian Neorealism  /  American Postwar Film

There is no getting away from the fact that the italian movies look and sound very interesting and good. But as always, something plannes and though out carefully works out better than something made out of spite and improvisation. It probably was new and I'm not saying they are bad, but they probably can't measure up to a well made planned film with better lights, professional actors, sets and everything like the ones made by american postwar directors and they are in fact. The production of The best days of our lives looks by a long way much better than the italian. Although, these films (italian neorealist) are by far away much more realist which probably caught up quickly because of the outburst of realism after WWII,

Cinema Verite

I think this has gone far to the other end. It is very extremely realistic but it doesn't give that joy or archieve the same effect because it is just too much too close to a documentary. They are not as interesting as a documentary, they are not as interesting as a film and it might only be apparent but what they have created here is a boring film which doesn't quite fit anywhere. 

Force

War symphonies

Artistic reactions to war were and in fact still are very important because most of the people don't understand how horrible wars are and WWI and WWII were just as horrible as any other. But when It comes to a reaction toward a war, visual and/or graphic works a lot better than music. These don't seem to have that much relation to war. Maybe they did, but mostly on a chronological basis most of all and if the authors refused this label was probably for a reason. When I hear war music or symphonie, I imagine something closer to Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries. These symphonies do get violent and very fast at some points but as a whole, they don't really express war to me, although they are very beautiful. The only one that gets close to it is Nielsen's 5th symphony, in fact it successfully makes you feel the tension and fear of a war. Although, it isn't the most beautiful, Vaughan 6th is just brilliant and beautiful.
The constant intromission by goverment, authorities or pretty much anyone with power has been present all along and its quite annoying. And even though I refuse  to the modifications to art or censorship, I probably would've folded as well given the consequences that could've fallen upon someone.

Socialist realism

It is amazing and it makes me laugh how these paitings lie and are completely controlled they have no artistic expression anymore, they become merchandise and publicity when Art clearly shouldn't be any of those things. They painters were in fact skilled, but I'm not sure I'd call their paintings true art. In every single one, the colors are bright, sun is shining, people are happy, workers seem to be enojying themselves. If these paintings were a person's only background to socialism they'd most asuredly would be sold, when it is a fact that it wasn't that way and clearly socialism isn't the way to go (I'm not backing any other system up, in fact they are all flawed at this point, and socialism is just as much, probably a bit more, though).
They deserve all the artistic merit any other artist does, but being completely controlled and being advertissements is something I just can't cope with. 

The architecture of Force

• Fascism

What is noticeable at first is that all the buildings are quite simplistic and do not have any curved lines at all. Amazingly, for simplistic as they may seem they are beautiful. Speer's Cathedral of light is just stunning. Hitler's intentions where indeed fullfuled, if those buildings did not glorify his image I don't know what could've. But, Speer's books must be much more interesting than his architecture. Someone with so much understanding and who was so close to Hitler must have an amazing insight, after all 20 years in a box with nothing to do is a lot of time to think.

• Communism

Surprisingly, communist buildings are much more complex than fascist buildings. They give a more ancient feel and yet they look even more imponent and powerful. The spike at the top in practically all of them add a lot. And the influence was maybe a bit over done by the Koreans in the unfinished building which is not like anyone could miss it, it's quite large and ignoring it is impossible, but only communism could try to pull that off.

• Brutalism

Brutalist building for me are not very pretty because of the gray un painted concrete and simple forms and grid windows and everything being the same in the entire building although they are very shocking, intriguing or captivating and appealing in their own way. I believe you can love something for its uglyness, you can be attracted to somethings even though it is extremely ugly.Also, brutalist buildings do have their up-side. They are extremely cheap and functional, and maybe its all you need from a building. It being pretty or appealing is just an optional extra, although most of them are even though they are simple. A bit confusing there. My favourite of all is the Geisel Library. Which fits perfectly in the description I wrote about brutalist buildings. Its not exactly pretty but god I want to be there.

Hard-Boiled

Crime fiction

I think, crime fiction is one of the most readable and enjoyable genre when it comes to books and its because everyone can love it, and everyone should since it was started by the Genius of Edgar Allan Poe. Probably they have gotten away from what Poe did but they are still quite interesting and entertaining to read. I've read some of these and they are amazingly intriguing and captivating, once you start one, there's no getting away from it and The Mystery of Edwin Drood sounds so interesting I'm going to read it someday soon. 
The success of this genre could be of course the basis of the pure logic and reason used by the character. Everyone can relate to that ideology even if they aren't particularly smart and it just simply because everything makes perfect sense when people read it.
It's success can also be due that they always leave you wanting more. Although, today, these genre might be on a decline because the great hits from the past might've taken everything there was to it and left almost nothing to work with, but it still never gets old.
Also, even though cozy mysteries and crime fiction sound interesting enough, they can be made even more through perennial villains or arch enemmies appearing throughout a series of books or pulp magazines in fact (Just an opinion).

Film noir

The movement and evolution can be clearly seen, as films forge a path towards the hollywood movies we see today and their structure. As these movements of fiction and crimes move to the TV and films and they become an instant hit, directors and producers all around the world, even if they didn't like it themselves, would've started doing the same, and then they would evolve to what is next, following along to a few with open minds and more ingenuity. Its called moving with the times. 
Now, film noir for itself is a very interesting type of films. And appropriately, most of them had no color, and even if the exist, some of the essence of film noir will be lost, although not entirely. 
Just as much as colored-film noirs loose some of the essence, so will neo-noirs for their consiousness of what they are doing, maybe not always, but the chances are, they over did them. Of course the exception would be Alfred Hitchcock who came much later (And a few others, such as Joseph H. Lewis and such), and yet his movies are just amazing and capture everything a film noir should have and add to it a bit more. Also, many people may call him a mysoginist but his movies wouldn't be as good as they are if he wasn't they way he was.
It probably sounds as if I were chewing off Film noirs, but no, in fact I like them a lot really. I have always hated, no matter what the film or subject, an entirely happy film with a happy ending and Film noir's dark approach to life is just right.

Existentialism

Existentialism is one of the things I don't entirely agree with, although, I know for a fact there is a lot to do with it and get amazing results. A quote which hit me the second I read it applies very well to this subject. (It may be improper but it applies so..) "Life's a bitch, then you die, so fuck the world, let's get high". (I'm not saying that's what we should do, just that it applies). I strongly believe it doesn't have to be that way.
There can be no existentialist film, novel, story or anything in fact, without it being extremely emotional and deep. That type of suffering which man causes to himself by his own actions and the misery of one's life which, obviously, no one can escape from MUST be linked with deep, strong feelings and thoughts, and indeed, all of the movies and novels which fall into this category have them.
I've always been keen on sad stories and I love them. And although, they get to me, I never have strong reactions to sad things which helps a lot.

An example of existentialism film which I've seen is Groundhog day. Although, he starts just having fun because he can do whatever he wants and they day will simply begin again, he is still trapped and starts getting tired of it.

Stylin'

Art deco

• Architecture

Just as in almost every single artistic movement which contained architecture, the architecture doesn't say anything to me nor do I see why it belongs to certain movement, in this case, Art Deco, except for the usage of rectilinear lines, but then again, brutalism and many other did as well and more even. The Chrysler building, the paramount, castro, seantor, alamada theaters and so on do not resemble even in the slightest bit to what we can see art deco is through design, sculpture, fashion, painting, etc. They are striking in some ways, they are great and I'm sure, for the times, they look different, but they're not beautiful.

• Design

In Art Deco design you can get more of a taste of what Art Deco really is, although, it fails to fullfil the description of rectilinear lines. Also, as this is more functional and it could've part of people's daily life, this is probably the most emblematic and representational of the movement and what it stood for.

• Sculpture

In general, Art deco sculptures look very simple and not complicated because of the non-stop lines from top to bottom even in men and animals. I think that is probably more what they meant as a definition of what Art deco is. Not so much as straight rectilinear lines, but non-interrupted lines in very stylish beautiful desings and forms, just as we can see in most of these sculptures, and most of the buildings as well in fact. There aren't too many cuts or turns to the lines and some of them stretch from top to bottom of the buildings such as El Moro in mexico city which I've seen since I used to live there. Although, when I saw it I didn't know what Art Deco was and I didn't pay that much attention to it.

• Painting

These painters were probably quite rich or just tamara de Lempicka, and I say this because Bugattis have always been a very expensive exotic luxurious type of car, and example of this is that they are the makers of the Veyron which was from 2005 to 2011 the fastest production car in the world until the arrival of the Koeniggsegg Agera R. The car she is on her self portait is in fact a Bugatti Type 57 from 1937.

In any case, the Art Deco paintings are a bit odd and abstract but I like them, although, again I cannot see the real relation to the movement Although as always there are some exceptions like the portrait of marquis sommi and the musician and Adam and Eve by Tamara de Lempicka.

Harlem renaissance

It is quite sad that all of that potential was always opressed throughout the years and so many years. White americans have never had quite so much feel or rythm when it comes to dancing or music, even Latins do but mostly blck people have that skill and natural talent. It is just bred in their DNA that the music moves them and they have more of a rythm and a better ear. Of course, I'm not denying the fact that Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers or Bob Fosse are just amazing in every way, but its just a fact that black cultures have that natural talent when it comes to dancing.

The evolution of Jazz

Throughout these years (1920s-30s) Jazz was the dominant and most important music and movement in the United-States. It changed so much about society and its repercussions and far more than we can mention. There would be no US without the African-American influence and it would be so much different without the Jazz. I think  its safe to say that more people know who Louis Armstrong, Cole Porter or Bing Crosby are than most of United State's presidents. This probably were US at its better days. Jazz made or helped made the bond between Black and white cultures. There is so much to say about it I don't know what to say.

I'm not personally very knowledgeable when it comes to Jazz but I do like it a lot and I do know some of it and I love everything I've seen, I don't think I have seen something of Jazz or blues and don't like it, and it goes from musicals and songs to choreographies.

I also love Frank Sinatra for having a Jaguar E-type which is one of my favourite classic cars. He loved it so much that when it was revealed in 1961 in the Gevena motorshow he said "I want that car and I want it now"

American perspectives

I must begin by saying that american perspectives is probably one of the most uniteresting topics we've seen so far, apart from the lost generation which I like, but maybe only because I like the movie midnight in paris and the modenist painters. But maybe it was because of the effects the war had and the fact that people were a lost generation and were in shock.

The lost generation

The lost generation was good due to the influence by many other member of the lost generation. If they had been on their own we probably wouldn't know who they were, but since everyone was in paris and knew each other, the influences must've been huge, even great painters had influcence on their ideas and how they saw the world.
The movie midnight in paris, shows how they look back and they think the golden age was in the renaissance, yet we look back at them and think that is the golden age, and I think that is quite true but we can't help it because whatever comes up now or at the time we're living we see as normal or not so good, probably just a few things, and the ones in the past have had time to be appreciated and discover their genius.

The eight

The paintings by the eight all seem to be quite sad or depressed, the brushwork and mostly the colors gives the paintings that effect of sad dark feeling. The brushwork, as its a bit messy and aggresive, along with the colors which are not bright, in most of them, seems as if the painting depicts still life, although, they are incredibly well made and realistic.

American modernist painters

I like these paintings a lot mainly because they took cubism and took from it what I don't like about cubism (although I do like cubism a lot) which is the simplicity it seems to have and that the painters probably didn't have to work all that much, but american modernists do. 
Marsden Hatley, although, i think over did the portrait of the german officer because all of his other paintings (apart from New mexico landscape) seem to be the same, not that they aren't good, but they seem a bit repetitive and they look like different zooms or angles to the first one. But almost all of the other paintings are very good, the tulips, the cities, the beaches, and everything looks so realistic and colorfull and sometimes they border on surrealism and I love that. Probably the best group of painters in the american painters in general. And my favourite certainly is "Interior of the fourth dimension" because it is quite abstract an cubist and the title is very interesting.

Forward!

Russian Silent Film

Russian film, as in everything they do, is quite gloomy, in the way that they cannot do a film, painting or whatever without the theme being sad or suffering, just like in Odessa steps. The russian stereotype is they are cruel and coldhearted and it is not without reason. Although, the music in Odessa steps does create the effect of the montage and its very intense but without the music, it would be a lot of people and children getting killed.
And then again, in Man with a camera, its quite doll. Although, the speed and the amount of activity in the film make it seem quite interesting and its not boring or tireing to watch. But also, then again, the concept of montage plays a huge role with the music and the speed.

Futurist Music

Personally, I can't find any structure or sense to any of these songs. It is interesting to think how this can and could have been considered music. Maybe at the time because of the many new sounds introduced by the machines and the avant-garde composers took advantage of them. 'Futurist noise' might've been a better title.
These songs remind me of a song called 'Jessica', which is their intro soundtrack, made in Top Gear UK (a car show) entirely out of sound coming from engines from different cars.

The outcome, just as futurist music, is not any good at all, even though, the notes are met and the song can be heard.

De Stijl

I'm glad that the idea that De Stijl was going to be the style from that point forward didn't catch up. Only the paintings in three dimensions of this movement are interesting. The non-three dimensional are very doll and very easy. Yes, it might be forward looking because of the right angles and the non-natural objects, but they are not one bit interesting. If I'd looked at this without any backgroud at all, I'd think they were made at a coffee break by a bunch of unskilled people who couldn't care less about painting or art.

All that being said, I think that De stijl works nicely on architecture and desing. The right angles and simple and not-complicated shaped in architecture are functional, easier to make, cheaper, and they look better. But the most important thing is that it cannot fail. It might not be so appealing or beautiful, but it is not ugly.

The Growth of European Abstraction

There is a huge difference between other european abstract painters and Wassily Kandinski. Wassily Kandinsky is much more interesting and violent. The colors and the shapes and the amount of shapes are very violent. Europeans are a bit less rough. The colors are brighter, the paintings show more concrete shapes, more structural and consequently, less interesitng. There is just so much more to see and a lot more meaning to try to find in Kandinsky's paintings that any other.