Chelsea Girls is just this. Two screens that test your capability to be able to sit in a theatre seat watching a narrative that makes no sense. As I said before, the shots are beautiful. It captures the emotion perfectly as well as gives the camera a new purpose in the filmic arts. The camera almost seems as a character instead of being a fly on the wall. This is Andy Warhol first major commercial success that runs three hours long and takes place in the Hotel Chelsea in New York City. I think it's interesting that we can see into lives of the different people staying at the hotel. In Andy Warhol's interview Nothing to Lose, he states that "life and living are more interesting than particular people." He took the life of the world around it and interpreted it into conversations that showcase a particular group of people in a particular time in the world. The sixties unveiled a new cultural change the world that no one had ever seen.
Stars, such as James Dean, represented the culture in films. Like Dean's character in Rebel Without A Cause, there are characters in the split screens of Chelsea Girls. In the bedroom scenes with the women, Hannah is in charge. She has a demeanor that is stronger than anyone else's and she goes against the social norm. In a way, she reminded me of Rizzo from Grease. Both characters are "tough cookies." They have the strength in their character to mold the others around them and I find it extremely intersting. But, with Hannah, I didn't like her character and I disliked her character throughout because of how much she annoyed me with the way she talked.
Overall, I don't think I have the capacity to sit here in a theatre seat for longer than we did in class. I had no feeling of transcendece, I was merely disgusted by the fact that we as humans can be that disgusting and awful to each other. Warhol managed to show every aspect I hate about people. I was extremely uncomfortable and the film made me anxious. I felt myself looking at the clock too often because I wanted it to be over. But, did I want it to be over because of the fact that I saw certain things that I have seen in person? Or because I could turn into what I hate someday? I have no idea. I'm glad it ended.
On the other hand, Scorpio Rising was a great film. I loved the way the music was chosen for this as well as showing the fascination of men and their new obsession, bikes. It's a new look for men. Greasers have taken up the image of rebels and they have both captured the eyes of men and women. Such as the camera looks upon women in the eyes of men, the camera has switched sides and is now giving women the opportunity to look at men (or men to look at men). All of the shots were beautiful and it showed the culture in a way that didn't make me feel uncomfortable which made me happy. I like being happy. (I also sang along because the soundtrack was awesome.)
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