Essay Analyzing

Essay Introduction Analysis no. 1

Paragraph One and Two
Analyzing Harry M. Benshoff's, Heigh-Ho, Heigh-Ho, Is Disney High or Low? From Silly Cartoons to Postmodern Politics
http://www.animationjournal.com/abstrats/essays/Benshoff/html 

Paragraph One

Define

Cinematic apparatus: This says that cinema is ideological because the basic physics are present. Also because films are created to to have some sort if reality inside. The physics remain the same though camera shots and editing. (1)

Hybrid art form: A hybrid art form is a mixture of different media, preforming, textures, styles, methods, colours, etc. Where two different ideas combine into one. Combining two different 'art-breeds'. (2)

Fin de siécle newspapers: It means a news paper at the beginning of the twentieth century. Also is art work published by Keppler and Schwarzmann in 1894 March 7. Below (3)

Fin de siécle newspaper

Political caricature: A cartoon made for political intents. Usually based on the cartoonist's opinions and thoughts.

Low/High art: The idea of high or low art came about in the 1800's because of fine art and crafts. But the high or low art debate is subjective due to peoples opinions and way of looking art the world. One might say that the Fin de siécle newspaper high art whereas another might say it is low art. (4)

Hollywood bill of fare: The bill of fare is a list of items or events in a program (5). Hollywood bill of fare is a list of  different famous productions on a list to possibly became a winner of some prize like in the Golden Globe awards.

Mass culture industry: The term culture industry is a key circumstance of capitalism which surround all products and form of entertainment from Hollywood and other productions. This culture was made to satisfy the growing big demand from the massive lot of consumers. Products from culture industries look like art work but is depend on economy and industry, designed for pure profit. (6)

Questions

1) In what way does the animated film according to Benshoff "occupy a unique niche in the history of the twentieth century popular art"?

He states that animation films has a lot of different drawing techniques like painting and drawing with cinematic apparatus. He then states that animation is a hybrid art form.

2) Who is Donald Craton and why is his assertion that the animated film can be traced to the visual features of fin de siecle newspapers significant in the context of Benshoff's argument?

Donald Craton is Chair of the Department of Film, Television, and Theater. He is also the author of the animated film Before Mickey. (7) Benshoff is showing what he considers the origins of animation to be political instead of entertaining.

3) Describe in what ways you think the origins of the animated film can be traced back to visual features of "political caricature, illustration and the comic strip" and how this supports its association with "traditionally commercial (low) art".

I consider the first animation's that were not experimental were in fact political. This however doesn't  mean that I am saying traditionally commercial (low) art is low art. I do suggest a link between the two but with exceptions on if it is high or low art.

4) Who were: Léopold Survage, Hans Richter, Walter Ruttmann, and Viking Eggeling? Locate an example of the work of each and explain why you think they are described by Benshoff as "high art practitioners".

Léopold Survage, born in Moscow in 1879, was a artist who specialized in abstract and surreal portraits and buildings around Paris and Russia. He was one of the first people to paint abstract art. (8) Walter Ruttmann, born in Frankfurt-on-Main in 1887, was a directer and a writer who is well known for Metropolis in 1927, Mannermann Ein Film der Mannesmannrohren-Werke in 1937, and Acciaio in 1933. (9) Hans Richter, born in Berlin in 1888, was a painter, drawer, and a filmier. He heavily influenced the history of modern art and also was a pioneering film maker. He did both abstract and representational art. (10) Viking Eggeling, born in Lund in 1880, was a abstrait fimlier who was always interested in communicating different ideas in new ways. His film Diagonal Symphony, made in 1924, was one of the first abstract animated films in history. (11)

Léopold Survage, Beauty and the Beast
Image from Pinterest

Walter Ruttmann, Das Wunder
Image from YouTube

Hans Richter's, Filmstudie
Image from Pinterest

Viking Eggeling, Diagonal Symphony
Image from YouTube

5) It what way does looking at "political caricature, illustration and the comic strip" and works by Léopold Survage, Hans Richter, Walter Ruttmann, and Viking Eggeling demonstrate that "animated film had the potential to develop as either a high or low art form"?

The political caricature and newspaper comic strips are mass produced and could have multiple/many creators. Whereas the art works made Léopold, Hans, Walter, and Viking's works, they have made original artworks on their own. This is why people consider Léopold, Hans, Walter, and Viking works to be high art. The art work can not be replaced or reproduced and has one single creator. This is the point Benshoff is trying to make.

6) In what way does Benshoff suggest the animated film in America as different and how does this situate the American animated film within the "mass culture industry"

America is (my own opinon) highly influenced with the mass culture industry. This can be shown with America's main motto, Bigger is Better. I can link this motto with Bigger profits, that is directly responsible for culture industry. Benshoff suggests that America is different because the big animation names are from America like Disney and Dreamworks.

Paragraph Two

Define

Cottage industry: A business or activity that comes from peoples homes from their own equipment. (12)

Monopoly capitalism: A system used by capitalist representing different monopolies controlled by a few people. (13)

Corporate conglomerate: Corporate in a business made up of many different suppliers and/or services. (14)

Auteurist: A filmmaker's own style that becomes their own trademark/stamp. (15)

Postmodern aesthetic practices: Postmodern is against modern styles/stuff. It is after modern. Aesthetics is the outside appearance or looks of something/some one. Postmodern aesthetic practices must mean that it is the practice of making something go against the look of modern stuff/styles.

Industrial art products: Art products made in a factory setting/fashion.

High-low continuum: The space between a defiant high or low art label. 

Ideological: This means having ideas that examines different ideas. What happens to an idea because of a different idea. Possibly your own ideas, view point and/or opinions.

Questions

1) How does Benshoff substantiate his statement that "Disney is the most recognizable name in animation, throughout both America and the world."
He reinforces this by stating that over seventy years, Disney has developed from a little business into the monopolies of the century. Disney has grown over time.

2) Describe the modes of artistic production that Benshoff suggests correlate to three stages of capitalist enterprise.
Stage One for Disney is the classical time with unity, closure, realism as their focused. Stage Two is the impetus modern time with their own views and ideas coming into show. Going against the classical theme. Stage Three is the postmodern time with Disney looking at high art and new ideas and ways to show their new themes.

3) Outline what Benshoff goes on to say that his essay will discuss.
He will outline what has changed with Disney over the fifty years in between Silly Symphonies and The Brave Little Toaster. If Disney is high or low art and Disney's change in art style and ideas and why.

4) Explain why you think the author is proposing a comparative study of Silly Symphonies and The Brave Little Toaster. How do you think he will use this to support his main argument?
The times in between Silly Symphonies (1929-39) and The Brave Little Toaster (1987). He will show the differences and the evidence with both of these examples. The evidence he brings up will link to the main argument

5) In the introduction e.g. paragraphs one and two, identify and explain where and how the author presents the following:

Topic: He mentioned Disney but not until the end of paragraph one. He was not as specific as I would have preferred but he did go in to mention that he will be looking at if Disney is a high or low art form.

Definition: He didn't really define the words he used in his introduction. He expected us to know what the words mean. But he does define what hybrid meant.

Rationale: Disney is his focus. It is the big company. He is showing the journey of Disney and the changes that occurs over time.

Argument: The argument is Classical vs Postmodern. If Disney is high or low art.

Organisation: "This essay will discuss the company's positioning in the high-low continuum, and will examine the ideological implications of stylistic change through a comparison of the "Silly Symphonies" to a recent animated feature released though Disney Home Video, The Brave Little Toaster (1987)."

References

http://www.animationjournal.com/abstrats/essays/Benshoff/html 

1) www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/.../acref-9780199587261-e-0120 

2) http://schools.walkerart.org/arttoday/index.wac?id=2355 

3) https://www.loc.gov/item/2012648704/ 

4) http://www.therapidian.org/high-and-low-art 

5) https://www.thefreedictionary.com/bill+of+fare 

6) http://culturalstudiesnow.blogspot.co.nz/2013/12/adorno-and-horkheimer-culture-industry.html 

7) https://ftt.nd.edu/faculty-staff/faculty-staff-by-alpha/donald-crafton/ 

8) http://www.haninafinearts.com/artists/leopold_survage/biography 

9) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0752193/bio 

10) http://www.theartstory.org/artist-richter-hans.htm 

11) http://stendhalgallery.com/?page_id=1917 

12) https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cottage%20industry 
13) https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/monopoly_capitalism 
14) http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/conglomerate.html
15) http://www.dictionary.com/browse/auteurist