Re: A Brief Digression about Digressions

Tim O'Connor (tim@roughdraft.org)
Sat, 29 Aug 1998 23:21:34 -0500

> I heard everyone was getting worried about the "younger members" being away
> for a while. Don't worry, we're here and we're watching.

Good!  And jump in (as you have) and stir things up, because you're
welcome, whether you're "young" or "old" or just like those labels.

> By the way, do you think film is art? I was debating this with some
>people the
> other day and it would be interesting to know what you all think.

It's hard to answer this without a shrug.  Some movies are art.  Some are
tripe.  Some "film" is best left in its cannister unexposed.  It is like
asking "Are books good?"

If you watch "Shoot the Piano Player" or "Wild Strawberries" (to use two of
my personal favorites), the answer is (for me) yes.  If you talk about
"Duck Soup," the answer (again, for me) is also yes.  If you talk about
some generic Hollywood unfunny comedy, the answer I would offer is that it
could still be called art, but art of what merit?

It's a pretty broad question, but certainly one that has been considered
and is still debated in some precincts.  Maybe better questions are, "Can
some movies be considered 'art'?" and "Whether you answer 'yes' or 'no,'
why do you believe in your answer?" and "Which would you consider 'art,'
and why?"

Some people still heatedly argue about whether photography is art, so
there's no end of contention about these things!

--tim