RARA-AVIS: Re: RARA-AVIS Digest V2 #102

Victoria Esposito-Shea (vmes@sbt.infi.net)
Fri, 21 Nov 1997 18:57:10 -0500 Mario,

> But art is artificial...if *any* actor talked to you in the street as he
> does on the stage or the screen you would probably run for cover (or at
> least finger your roscoe thoughtfully and start whistling a show tune).

Yes, but there are varying coventions as to how much the actors/director
"want" to help the audience suspend disbelief. I agree with your premise
that "realistic" acting does not equal real-life behavior. However, it
seems to me that we, the filmmakers & audience, have entered into a tacit
agreement that certain types of behavior onscreen will be generally
understood to convey what really happens offscreen, and those behaviors
(rather than real life) become the barometer of how realistic the film is
considered. Same with novels--a regular-joe novel could be considered
realistic in spite of the fact that the hero has, yet again, just happened
to walk into a mystery/noir-type situation, or it could be considered
unrealistic in the details (I enjoyed _The Green Ripper_, but what are the
"real" odds of McGee carrying out his mission & living?).
Granted, this doesn't apply to such schools & movements as kino
pravda/cinema verite [freely insert diacriticals as needed], but my
understanding is that their whole point was to transcend, or at least
shock, the conventional in the first place.

Best,
Vicky

(who intends to consult her attorney before admitting to occasionally
whistling show tunes in real life)

>

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