The majority of chapter four, "The Illusions," concerned the production of illusions (as opposed to the final section, which details illusions from the perspective of the viewer). Manovich applies three theories from film theory to New Media: Bazin's comparitive theory , Comolli's historically-based theory, and Bordwell/Staiger's industrial organization theory. Manovich discusses how synthetic images aren't sub-realistic, they are hyper-realistic (they stand out against our faded, noisy images); they are also unevenly applied because of weak computers and restricted programming. He concludes with interactive, "metarealistic" media and the value of realism to the user/viewer.
He discusses the difference between us as users and us as viewers, but I got the feeling as I was reading this chapter that either way we're still consumers. His use of examples from Hollywood blockbusters as well as the proliferation of computer programs made me feel like a wallet.
I liked how realism fit into his point about a qualitatively difference between optically based images and simulated images. (184) For example, the fact that dragons don't really exist doesn't change the fact that some dragon movies haven't been realistic and others have been very realistic (I thought How to Train Your Dragon was quite well done for instance).
It's important to realize that the advances in our ability to make illusions, is that we aren't actually faking reality, we are faking reality as perceived through a very narrow window. In the words of Manovich: "what is faked is, of course, not reality but photographic reality, reality as seen by the camera lens" (200). This is made possible because we no longer think it weird to see jumps in camera positions, hyper-real menus, buttons, etc. "Over the course of the last hundred and fifty years, we have come to accept the image of photography and film as reality" (200). I would love to see a someone from 200 years ago see Avatar in a 3D IMax theater. I'm sure it would be a reality-shattering experience--and I'm sure they would give credit to magic or Satan.
Anyway, I thought it was a very interesting chapter. I'm liking this book.
Here are a few videos in conclusion:
"Indeed, if our civilization has any equivalent to medieval cathedrals, it is special effects Hollywood films" (201). This video showcases a recent cathedral, even if it isn't a Hollywood film:
Don't you feel like such a wallet?:
interesting videos. reminds me of a tom cruise movie several years back, where they used computers like the Ray ban ad, called minority Report. I think it is cool, how books and movies come up with futuristic ideas and then they are created. Man's mind can always imagine something bigger and better and then create it.
ReplyDelete