For our week 2 screening session of Introduction to Cinema Studies, we were asked to watch Holy Motors, and towards it, I felt nothing. For that, I hated it, and for making me feel that, I was intrigued and loved it. After almost every movie I’ve watched, I’ve left with questions, concerns, theories, answers, as well as opinions, both positive and negative, yet for this film only two thoughts ran through my head; ‘what?’ and ‘why?’.  Everything is the movie had felt so purposely and intricately pointless that its attempts to confuse and be mysterious were lost on me, there was no reward for finding the answers of this movie
Curious about this film I had to go back and address what the story of the movie was about/its story. With the main character of Mr Oscar taking on various personalities and disguises across Paris, I couldn’t help but draw comparison to our screening last week, and the linking to the Lumière Brothers, whom were fascinated with everyday life. Could this be an Absurdist homage to them? Maybe

I then felt compelled to ask what the purpose of this was.
I believe that the sole purpose of this film was to generate curiosity via frustrated confusion. Many of us in the class exited the room hating it, but one thing I noticed was that we were all talking about it, and that was genuinely interesting to me. The movie was never explained or resolved, and so we left arguing about its ending and purpose, whereas if it were resolved, worthwhile or not, then I doubt I would ever suggest this movie to anyone nor think of it myself ever again.

Feeling it to be akin to the Truman Show, it had me wondering if this was some sort of ironic jab at entertainment; overstimulating us (the real audience) to dazzle and confuse us in absence of a cohesive plot. In having complete subjugation of reality, the audience could not bring in any preconceived notions of logic into the theater nor have any real world comparison, forcing them question and doubt every thought of the movie.

Whilst writing this I felt myself becoming carried away and then came to the realisation that this may too be an intention of the film. If a film so bizarre, inconsistent, story-lacking and abhorrent could be created without meaning, is it possible that it could be given meaning by those who watch it?…

For today’s lecture we were presented with a special guest, ex student Jeremy Bowtell, to elaborate on the importance of editing in media as well as the effects that it can have. Taking the lead, Jeremy delineated the importance of both timing and juxtaposition to be vital in our viewing and consumption of film, as it shapes how we consume it. To give an example of this, we were shown Martin Scorsese’s ‘Casino’ scene of ‘Sam meets Ginger’. Within a minute of footage and with not one word spoken between the two characters, Scorsese, with rhythmic editing and juxtaposing POV shots, was able to set up the beginning of a love story between the two characters.
During Jeremy’s presentation we too delved into the history of editing, showing the importance of its creation and crafting of form in the early 20th century, such as with Dziga Vertov’s ‘The Man With the Movie Camera’, and how simple shots of everyday with juxtaposing imagery were used to create meaning.
“Never cut a shot without a positive reason” – Edward Dmytryk.
Handing the mic back to the wonderful Mr. Morris, the class was asked the question of the week; “what is media?”. Having previously not thought on the matter much, many of us, myself included, had only thought of media in a simple sense, thinking it to be only what we choose to expose ourselves to or utilize, and even then, merely a form of entertainment and gaining information. Upon further discussion, we had discovered it to be so much more than that. Media is rooted into the core of our social lives. with it becoming ever more prevalent over the last century, media has almost become the very foundation of human inter-connectivity. Conjoining art, politics and culture, it has allowed individuals as well as groups voice their opinions and help shape the society we live in. Dominating the modern world, media is not an object nor “a ‘thing’ out there’, it has become a place in which we inhabit. Reporting on various local events and issues through several texts/forms, media has brought people close together through the creating of a sense of communal belonging; exposing thousands to the same stories and news to make them feel as one.

To give a demonstration of this we were then sent out in groups of 5 to explore our allocated area of the city with fresh eyes, taking in the overwhelming presence on media in our day to day lives, as well as the extent which businesses and individuals will go to to entice people to buy their products via the use of media, as well as to witness just how much we see/use it in our day to day lives.
To do so, we were given a list to fill in the placements of forms of media we saw.

MELBOURNE CENTRAL
UP HIGH:
Billboards – gigantic in size,
hanging LED screens – smaller than the billboard, though emitting light thus drawing focus
ceiling art – interactive cloud feature – alluring
Brands/logos
Giant Clock – plays Waltzing Matilda – appeal to patriotism

ON THE GROUND:
Floor aesthetics/branding
brand/logo projections (mimco)

MID-GROUND:
mannequins – wearing labels
sale signs
product adverts

BACKGROUND:
Music – sponsored and draws people in
(scent – product/store memory association)
lighting

FOREGROUND
worker’s dress code – wearing labels/company merchandise
shop windows advertisements
Screens – emit light and draw focus
use of colour – psychological association to emotion
interactive screens – Usain Bolt Optus ad – pose for shoelaces.

IN YOUR HAND:
phone – time, messages, social media, take pictures.

#TooMuchWriting.

Suffice to say, I was rather taken aback by the first weeks readings considering their nature. Over the four texts and one video it felt as though, as the reader, I was being almost attacked. With the recurring notion of ‘give up on your dreams’ as well as ‘your opinions of what you want are wrong’, I thought this was a strange choice to have at the very beginning of a course, as that it may deter students from their goals or even the course itself.
However, I fount that that was not the message nor the intention of these texts. Upon reflection I found the readings to be quite inspiring; asking students to not be so singular minded in their aspirations, but to be open to more possibilities, allowing new interests to grow and flourish, then learning to apply yourself and your new-found talents in new and different areas relevant to said interests.

With this in mind I decided to take a new stance on the beginning of my course; to become less reliant and interested in one mode of media and to apply myself to as many areas as possible. Thanks cynicism, you proved rather helpful this time.

On the 29th of February my fate was sealed, and as of 10:30am I became one of the most desperate, impoverished, and unknowingly fortunate creatures imaginable: a uni student.
Thrown into a completely foreign world to me, hours away from home, and with only half a timetable and a nonexistent sense of direction, I somehow made it to my class on time, and what was to come would change me.
I had heard many stories about university in general, both amazing and questionable, from lunchtime beer-pong with lecturers to sleep deprived students arriving hours late in crumpled pajamas. But to me this was never reality, it was far away, happening to someone else. That is, until my first class.
It was then, in the first few minutes of class, that it finally dawned upon me, “I’m in university”. This innate sense of dread, inspiration, hope and awe, all flooded to me in a second, for only in university can a man walk into a classroom with his personal lamp and background music to then reveal himself as your lecturer. And from that moment I knew I was in the right place.

Whilst feeling within my element, over the past 3 days I’ve also began to feel somewhat out of my depth. Each day now I’ve attended classes with dozens if not hundreds of fellow students, each as eager and as ready as I. Accompanying my eagerness came a sense of inferiority. As I looked to those around me I didn’t see students, I saw professionals in the making, many of whom already possess skills leagues past me.  It was here I realized that I knew nothing. Yes, I knew there were many others like me our there, jumping into courses with relatively little knowledge and skill, but this did not comfort me. What did comfort me though was the same thing that filled me with fear, the very same students I was envious of, for I knew that not only would I likely being working around them during my course, but also with them. Here I would be able to immerse myself into my studies, take note from those around me and be inspired by differing and akin minds alike, and with any luck, hopefully, be able to do the same for them.

Already this has been a rather large change for me; this post being my first of any kind in over two years, having for the most part taken social media out of my life before undergoing year 12. In order to succeed at this course I have to change myself for the better, and it is with this that I can proudly say that I am ready.
A lot changed for me last year during my gap year, and I had accomplished a lot, but I’m ready to leave that all behind me now and embark on a journey of change once again.
Stupid, confused, and yearning for more, I’m ready to take this on

Bring it on RMIT. Let’s see if you can handle me!

(…Or if I can handle it. whatever. who’s keeping track anyway?)