Jonas Mekas seems like a definite bro. That's my biggest take-away from Samantha's presentation on him. Regardless of what I think about his work, I'd film make with him any day of the week.
His passion for art, and for artists is inspiring to me personally as an artist. The way he fit film into a constantly busy life gives me hope as someone who often feels stuck in the chaotic world of college life. If he could find time to create on film in the midst of his life, surely I can whip out a phone or camera of any sort and create my art as well.
I thought Samantha did a great job of presenting on him. I thought the clip she opened with captured his spirit perfectly, and I think seeing all that he did for experimental film-making as a movement is crucial to understanding his effect on the medium.
Viking Eggeling's story reflects some of my fears about myself. He was undoubtedly a talented artist, a man of great ideas, but he died before he ever got to see those ideas become a reality. Part of that was he lived in a pretty rough time and place, but another part of it, I think, is his obsession with perfection.
That is something I feel in myself. Not deep down but throughout my character. It reflects a struggle I've had throughout my life, and in the past year in particular. If I stubbornly refuse to create anything less than perfect, I will simply never create. Though I am discerning and I am methodical, if I ever want to be happy with who I am I need to let that go.
It also helps that I probably will not contract syphilis any time soon.
Harry Smith was a little bit harder to relate to for me. His personality is one I have never really associated with. I am not the sort of artist who cares so intensely about art above all else.
I can associate better with what Patrick said about Smith's life before he got into drugs. I am big on thinking. I like to deconstruct and reconstruct and reorganize thoughts and groups of thoughts. I think that is what the human brain does best. And I think using drugs, while interesting and eye-opening for sure, inhibits that fundamental power of the human brain.
With that said, I thought the works Patrick showed us by Smith (especially the first) were absolutely fascinating and often beautiful. I think as an experimenter Smith's obsession with creating art independently of money or opinion is admirable. Just not something I could ever do.
Great job on the presentations all around, though!
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