Man On Wire
I watched the film Man On Wire for the third time the other day with some of my students. The previous week I had noticed that while some were charging ahead with the project that I had set for this semester, others were floundering. They seemed to be unable to generate enough interest or ideas to get the ball rolling. This got me thinking about creativity and inspiration and how an understanding of the processes involved in making art are slow to unfold for some students. There are so many threads that need to be woven together. Basic skills and techniques and an understanding of materials, composition, form, tonality, colour harmony, concept and subject to name a few. But it seems to me that the most important thing that needs to exist beneath or before all of this, is passion. The energy and drive that results from passion will make all of the other things follow as a natural progression.
I wanted to show my students a film that portrayed the creative process, the passion, the poetry and the way that an idea can germinate and unfold and lead to extraordinary things. Man On Wire came to mind as a perfect example.
The film did not disappoint. I did not tell the students what it was about. As well as watching the film, I also observed their responses. There was plenty of laughter and sounds of wonderment and incredulity. Many of them leaned forward in their chairs. I think they were spellbound. The class had a whole new energy afterwards.
Thank you Philippe Petit. What you did up there, dancing in the space between those twin towers, was utterly mad and inspired. An extraordinary example of what a human can think up and do. Why? There is no why and how beautiful is that?
http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2379284761/
Hey Love
ReplyDeleteI am following you - with bated breath. What a joy to read your words...keep it up Em. Just get the font a bit bigger!
Cx
Happy to read you.
ReplyDeleteFew comments-
1. may be you can see preview before publishing the post, so you can get proper space between paragraph.
2. May be you can work little more with the look.
3. Hope you'll upload some of your latest paintings.
Waiting for more from you.
Hi Emm, twinsister of mine, There are so many artists with passion.
ReplyDeleteI have a few in my collection, i'll send you later the names of the inspiring documentaries made about them or their projects. Keep up the good work sista!! Mariette
Thanks Twiney,
ReplyDeleteThat would be most appreciated. I have been meaning to tell you how inspiring the conversation we had regarding teaching. Your pearls of wisdom and suggested documentaries are always welcome.xxxem
Dear Emm, twinsister of mine!!!
ReplyDeleteAbout passion and blood sweat and tears, see this amazing DVD and you know why teaching art is important,
Exciting and multiple award-winning documentary about the first major education project of the Berliner Philharmoniker conducted by Sir Simon Rattle
3DVDs (Content: complete film, trailer, dance and concert performances, making of, interviews etc.)
In autumn 2002 a remarkable project started: The Berliner Philharmoniker conducted by Sir Simon Rattle, the choreographer Royston Maldoom and 250 children and teenagers from Berlin rehearsed a dance project with the music of "Le Sacre du Printemps". A 3-month-work-phase culminated in a stunning and highly acclaimed premiere. The directors Enrique Sánchez Lansch and Thomas Grube accompanied the young actors in their expedition through Stravinsky’s world of music. "RHYTHM IS IT!", their extraordinary, passionately filmed mixture of social research, artistical portrait and musical film, won numerous prices and attracted more than half a million people to the cinemas. According to this the present DVD collection was produced with a lot of effort and love for details.