Comments on: The Robing of The Birds http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/2009/05/16/the-robing-of-the-birds/ • • • Being a journal by artist and designer John Coulthart, cataloguing interests, obsessions and passing enthusiasms. Sat, 31 Jul 2010 13:11:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: John http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/2009/05/16/the-robing-of-the-birds/comment-page-1/#comment-109366 John Sun, 17 May 2009 02:59:03 +0000 http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/?p=5178#comment-109366 Filmmakers in the Iron Curtain countries had an advantage of sorts for several decades since their output was state-financed and there needed to be new work being produced all the time. The drawback, of course, was censorship and a restriction on subject matter, something which eventually put a halt to Parajanov's career and sent other artists into exile. That aside, there does often seem to be a different type of imagination at work the farther east you go. How else to explain the singularity of so many of the writers and directors (animation creators especially)? This may have something to do with different folk traditions since so many contemporary story themes have evolved from very ancient forms. I wonder sometimes how much of our perception is coloured by the exotic nature of the unfamiliar. Filmmakers in the Iron Curtain countries had an advantage of sorts for several decades since their output was state-financed and there needed to be new work being produced all the time. The drawback, of course, was censorship and a restriction on subject matter, something which eventually put a halt to Parajanov’s career and sent other artists into exile.

That aside, there does often seem to be a different type of imagination at work the farther east you go. How else to explain the singularity of so many of the writers and directors (animation creators especially)? This may have something to do with different folk traditions since so many contemporary story themes have evolved from very ancient forms. I wonder sometimes how much of our perception is coloured by the exotic nature of the unfamiliar.

]]> By: Wiley http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/2009/05/16/the-robing-of-the-birds/comment-page-1/#comment-109298 Wiley Sat, 16 May 2009 15:19:01 +0000 http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/?p=5178#comment-109298 I'd forgotten you'd had an entry regarding mr. Starowieyski. When I saw the poster design, and obviously the writing, I knew it was Eastern European, and after this was confirmed well, Starowieyski was the very next thing to pop into my mind. Those countries have always stood apart, and I honestly hope this remains the case. As you pointed out with Parajanov, though the Caucasus are in Asia their cultures spring from the same sources as those in Eastern Europe, the filmmakers over there seem far more concerned with experimentalism and pushing bounderies than any kind of excessive monetary gain as it has unfortunately become so in many of our Western countries. Wojciech Has, of course who you know of well enough having written an entry on 'Hourglass Sanatorium' , springs instantly to mind as well. I’d forgotten you’d had an entry regarding mr. Starowieyski. When I saw the poster design, and obviously the writing, I knew it was Eastern European, and after this was confirmed well, Starowieyski was the very next thing to pop into my mind.

Those countries have always stood apart, and I honestly hope this remains the case. As you pointed out with Parajanov, though the Caucasus are in Asia their cultures spring from the same sources as those in Eastern Europe, the filmmakers over there seem far more concerned with experimentalism and pushing bounderies than any kind of excessive monetary gain as it has unfortunately become so in many of our Western countries.

Wojciech Has, of course who you know of well enough having written an entry on ‘Hourglass Sanatorium’ , springs instantly to mind as well.

]]> By: John http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/2009/05/16/the-robing-of-the-birds/comment-page-1/#comment-109289 John Sat, 16 May 2009 14:38:20 +0000 http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/?p=5178#comment-109289 Hi Davecat. I love those poster designs, especially the ones by the late <a href="http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/2009/02/26/franciszek-starowieyski-1930–2009/" rel="nofollow">Franciszek Starowieyski</a>. Many are a lot more striking and inventive than the bland things produced by studio marketing departments. Hi Davecat. I love those poster designs, especially the ones by the late Franciszek Starowieyski. Many are a lot more striking and inventive than the bland things produced by studio marketing departments.

]]> By: Davecat http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/2009/05/16/the-robing-of-the-birds/comment-page-1/#comment-109228 Davecat Sat, 16 May 2009 03:20:46 +0000 http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/?p=5178#comment-109228 I've always liked Polish film posters, as not only can they stand as works of art independent of whatever film they're advertising for, but some of them are downright nightmarish, such as this one for 'Danton'. http://www.polishposter.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=4316 If nothing else, they certainly leave an impression... I’ve always liked Polish film posters, as not only can they stand as works of art independent of whatever film they’re advertising for, but some of them are downright nightmarish, such as this one for ‘Danton’.
http://www.polishposter.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=4316

If nothing else, they certainly leave an impression…

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