Art is Not Content

The Cinema Cartography

16 Jul 202112:48

Summary

TLDRThis video explores the impact of context on art perception, using Van Gogh's 'Wheatfield with Crows' as an example. It discusses how adding elements like music or changing the title can alter the artwork's meaning, emphasizing the importance of visual literacy and the need for a focused discourse on art in the digital age.

Takeaways

📽️ The video is sponsored by Mubi, a curated streaming service offering a collection of exceptional films from around the world.
🌾 'Wheat Field with Crows' is a famous painting by Van Gogh, characterized by a menacing sky, an unforgiving field, and crows that evoke a dramatic feeling of unreality and extreme emotion.
🎨 The painting uses complementary colors, a restrictive color palette, and the impasto technique, showcasing elements of post-impressionism.
🖌️ The thickly applied paint and violent brush strokes contribute to the painting's emotional intensity and dramatic atmosphere.
🧠 Information about the context and background of 'Wheat Field with Crows,' such as its creation during Van Gogh's final weeks, can significantly alter the viewer's perception and interpretation of the painting.
👀 Art appreciation involves finding commonality between the viewer and the work, situating oneself inside the landscape to comprehend the painter's gaze.
🔄 The meaning of a work of art can change with new information, technologies, and methods of analysis, yet the piece itself remains unchanged.
📚 Great works of art serve as self-contained visual maps that enhance our senses and awareness of different aspects of the human condition.
🔍 Analyzing works of art involves superimposing meanings based on symbolism, historicity, and aesthetic context, which is crucial for understanding the piece's true significance.
📺 The Cinema Cartography aims to refocus art conversations with three programs: The Cinema Cartography Canon, Camera Obscura, and Cinematic, each dedicated to deepening the understanding of film and visual arts.

Q & A

What is Mubi and what does it offer to its users?
-Mubi is a curated streaming service that showcases exceptional films from around the globe. It offers users a free trial for 30 days to experience a wide selection of carefully chosen movies from new directors to award winners.
What is the significance of the painting 'Wheat Field with Crows' in the video script?
-The painting 'Wheat Field with Crows' by Vincent van Gogh is used as a central piece in the script to illustrate the discussion on art perception, the impact of context on our understanding of art, and the transformative nature of art appreciation.
How does the script suggest our perception of art changes with new information?
-The script suggests that our perception of art changes when we are given new information about the artwork, such as the time it was created, the artist's state of mind, and the historical context, which can alter our interpretation and appreciation of the piece.
What is the role of 'Cinema Cartography' in the script?
-Cinema Cartography is a concept introduced in the script that aims to refocus the conversation around cinema and art, offering clarity and a deeper understanding of the medium through three distinct programs that explore curation, photography, and the history of cinema.
What are the three programs mentioned in the script that Cinema Cartography will present?
-The three programs are: 1) The Cinema Cartography Canon, focusing on the curation and discussion of masterful films; 2) Camera Obscura, examining the art of photography and its connection to filmmaking; and 3) Cinematic, which delves into the history of cinema to better understand its influence and legacy.
How does the script discuss the importance of context in art appreciation?
-The script emphasizes the importance of context by stating that understanding the historical moment, the artist's intention, and the circumstances of creation is as important in art as it is in language, allowing for a more objective and informed appreciation of the artwork.
What is the significance of the impasto technique mentioned in the script?
-The impasto technique, characterized by thickly applied paint, is mentioned as one of the elements of post-impressionism present in 'Wheat Field with Crows'. It contributes to the dramatic and emotional feel of the painting, enhancing the viewer's experience.
How does the script relate the concept of visual literacy to the appreciation of art?
-The script relates visual literacy to the appreciation of art by suggesting that through the exercise of visual literacy, we can evolve our awareness and comprehension of different modes of living and aspects of the human condition, allowing us to better understand and interpret art.
What is the role of the赞助商（sponsor）Mubi in the video script?
-Mubi, as the sponsor of the video, is highlighted as a curated streaming service that provides an ever-changing collection of handpicked films from new directors to award winners. The script encourages viewers to try Mubi for free for 30 days to experience a month of great cinema.
How does the script explore the idea of art being self-contained visual maps?
-The script explores the idea by stating that great works of art contain all their questions and answers within themselves, serving as visual maps that sharpen our senses and allow us to better understand the artist's intentions through stillness and observation.

Outlines

00:00

🎬 Introduction to MUBI and Wheat Field with Crows

The video begins with a sponsorship message from MUBI, a curated streaming service offering exceptional films. It then transitions to a detailed analysis of Vincent van Gogh's painting 'Wheat Field with Crows.' The analysis describes the menacing sky, the unsettling field, and the crows flying towards the viewer, creating a feeling of unease. The painting's dramatic use of colors and thick brush strokes are highlighted, emphasizing its post-impressionist style and emotional intensity.

05:02

🖼️ The Symbolism and Historical Context of the Painting

The video explores the symbolic meaning behind 'Wheat Field with Crows,' noting that it was painted during the last weeks of Van Gogh's life and is often considered his final work. This context influences how viewers perceive the painting, adding layers of emotional and symbolic depth. The discussion highlights how new information can change our understanding and appreciation of art, reflecting on the artist's mental state and the painting's elements like the crows, paths, and colors.

10:05

🎨 Corruption and Re-contextualization of Art

This segment examines how altering a piece of art, such as changing its title, adding sound, or attributing it to another artist, can affect its meaning and the original intentions of the artist. It discusses how Wheat Field with Crows can gain and lose meaning through different interactions and contexts, transforming from a Van Gogh painting to a digital reproduction or a video essay subject.

📜 The Importance of Context and Historical Understanding in Art

The video emphasizes the importance of understanding the context in which a piece of art was created, including its historical and aesthetic background. This understanding is crucial for accurately interpreting and appreciating art. The discussion highlights the necessity of maintaining high standards in art discourse, particularly in the digital age where misinformation can distort perceptions.

🎥 Introduction to the Cinema Cartography Programs

The video introduces three new programs from Cinema Cartography aimed at refocusing the conversation on cinema and art. 'Program One: The Cinema Cartography Canon' aims to curate and reaffirm masterful films within the canon of cinema. 'Program Two: Camera Obscura' explores the intimate connection between photography and filmmaking. 'Program Three: Cinematic Tech' delves into the history of cinema, tracing its development through different eras.

📺 Conclusion and MUBI Recommendation

The video concludes with an endorsement of MUBI, praising its curated selection of films from around the world. It specifically recommends 'Evolution of a Filipino Family' by Lav Diaz, an epic film that experiments with digital filmmaking and the concept of time. MUBI is presented as the perfect gateway to world cinema, with the offer of a free 30-day trial for viewers.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Mubi

Mubi is a curated streaming service that offers a collection of handpicked films from around the world. In the context of the video, Mubi sponsors the content and is recommended for its quality selection of movies, which aligns with the video's emphasis on appreciating exceptional art.

💡Van Gogh

Vincent van Gogh was a Dutch post-impressionist painter known for his expressive use of color and emotive brushwork. The video analyzes his painting 'Wheat Field with Crows,' exploring how knowledge about the artist's life and context can alter the viewer's perception of the artwork.

💡Wheat Field with Crows

This is a painting by Vincent van Gogh, created in July 1890. The video discusses its visual elements, such as the menacing sky and the winding paths, and how these contribute to the dramatic and emotional impact of the artwork. It also touches on the myth of it being Van Gogh's last painting and how this affects its interpretation.

💡Impasto

Impasto is a technique used in painting where paint is laid on the surface in very thick layers, creating texture and depth. In 'Wheat Field with Crows,' Van Gogh's use of impasto adds to the painting's emotional intensity and sense of motion, contributing to its dramatic effect.

💡Post-Impressionism

Post-Impressionism is an art movement that followed Impressionism, characterized by a focus on more symbolic content, formal order, and structure. The video identifies elements of post-impressionism in 'Wheat Field with Crows,' such as the use of complementary colors and thick brushstrokes, highlighting the painting's emotional and symbolic depth.

💡Visual Literacy

Visual literacy refers to the ability to interpret, negotiate, and make meaning from information presented in the form of an image. The video emphasizes the importance of visual literacy in understanding and appreciating art, suggesting that analyzing visual elements can enhance awareness and comprehension of different human experiences.

💡Historical Context

Historical context refers to the time period and circumstances in which an artwork was created. The video underscores the importance of understanding the historical context of 'Wheat Field with Crows' to fully grasp its meaning and significance, particularly considering Van Gogh's life and mental state during its creation.

💡Symbolism

Symbolism in art involves using visual elements to represent larger, often abstract ideas. The video explores the symbolism in 'Wheat Field with Crows,' such as the crows, paths, and stormy sky, and how these elements gain new meanings based on the viewer's knowledge of Van Gogh's life and the painting's context.

💡Artistic Intent

Artistic intent refers to the purpose or message that an artist aims to convey through their work. The video discusses how analyzing Van Gogh's intent in 'Wheat Field with Crows' can lead to a deeper understanding of the painting, and how altering the context or presentation of the artwork can change its perceived meaning.

💡Cinema Cartography

Cinema Cartography is the channel producing the video, dedicated to deepening the understanding of visual arts through various programs. The video outlines its mission to enhance discussions about cinema and art by focusing on historical context, artistic intent, and the importance of visual literacy, aiming to elevate the discourse around these subjects.

Highlights

Mubi, a curated streaming service, is introduced as the sponsor of the video.

The video discusses the concept of 'cinema cartography' for a month of great cinema.

The painting 'Wheat Field with Crows' by Vincent van Gogh is analyzed in depth.

The video explores the emotional and dramatic impact of van Gogh's painting techniques.

Elements of post-impressionism are identified in van Gogh's work.

The video suggests that the perception of art can change with new information.

The myth about 'Wheat Field with Crows' being van Gogh's last painting is debunked.

The video emphasizes the importance of visual literacy in understanding art.

Experiments are proposed to see how altering the context of a painting affects its perception.

The video questions the authenticity and meaning of art when it is digitally manipulated.

The concept of 'Cinema Cartography Canon' is introduced to curate and discuss masterful films.

The 'Camera Obscura' program is explained to explore the connection between photography and filmmaking.

The 'Cinematic' program is introduced to focus on the history of cinema and its forgotten roots.

The video criticizes the current state of online discourse on art, calling for a return to intentional and productive conversation.

The video announces upcoming programs and fictional works from 'Cinema Cartography'.

Mubi is recommended as a gateway to world cinema with a special mention of 'Evolution of a Filipino Family'.

The video concludes by emphasizing the importance of context in art and the role of 'Cinema Cartography' in providing clarity.