Posts by 3410

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  • Cracker: Wallywood,

    a sharp saw is [a] "better saw" than a blunt saw

    Okay, we're talking about saw as* saw, not as torture implement, child's toy, musical instrument, or sharpening machine tester.

    Likewise, a film can be used to pass the time, impress a date, learn factual information from, etc., but "good"/"bad"/"better"/"worse" means judging a film as a film, ie it's aesthetic qualities.

    Objective value judgments are like kryptonite to me.

    Right; I did forget that.

    I like good films, I do not like bad films.

    I mostly like good films, but also plenty of terrible ones. It's an interesting question; how can one like bad films? I like Robot Monster because - I think - there is something beautiful about such a glorious failure of the creative vision (and the production process) - a meta-message, if you will, about what it means to be human, and also because films like that end up presenting bizarre "art" that no genius could possibly create on purpose; a scambled message from the subconcious.


    * or "qua", if you prefer.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report

  • Cracker: Wallywood,

    I think it's safe to say there is more agreement about that tool's purpose...

    I'm saying, it's not about agreement; it's a fact. A saw is, by definition, better sharp than blunt. Just because we can't quite articulate the purpose of films, as we can with saws, doesn't necessarily mean that there isn't one (or some).

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report

  • Cracker: Wallywood,

    I would like values to be objective, but I think art would be static if they were

    I don't think so. Even if art values were static, the world is always changing, so the relationship between them would always be changing too.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report

  • Cracker: Wallywood,

    So long as you are judging the films by [the values by which we consider films like Citizen Kane to be great] those values appear objective.

    Hmmm... still struggling to digest that one, Paul.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report

  • Cracker: Wallywood,

    It almost certainly is subjectively better.

    Technically, that sentence doesn't make sense, does it?

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report

  • Cracker: Wallywood,

    How is this any different from suggesting that a sharp saw is "better saw" than a blunt saw (all else being equal)? Isn't that essentially an objective fact based on a value judgement?


    PS. You're supposed to be on my side on this, Gio. ;)

    PPS Why do I get into these arguments? I've been so good at avoiding them. ;)

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report

  • Cracker: Wallywood,

    The robot monster is not even a robot (?!).

    By what values?

    Okay, you got me. There Is No Such Thing As Meaning. I submit. ;)

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report

  • Cracker: Wallywood,

    I agree that Robot Monster is unlikely ever to be regarded as a better film, but a more serious film of the period - The Man with X-Ray Eyes say, might.

    Sure, but if you're trying to prove that it's all subjective, then you must accept that Citizen Kane is no better than Robot Monster.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report

  • Cracker: Wallywood,

    Have you seen it? The robot monster is not even a robot (?!).

    Or it suggests that we have a homogeneous view on the matter.

    Okay, but why?

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report

  • Cracker: Wallywood,

    So long as you are judging the films by those values, those values appear objective.

    Which "those values"?

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report

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