Exploring the Soul of Cinema, pt. 3 of 3
Hey,
We're about to tackle the thorny issue of popularity in cinema, and it's going to ruffle some feathers.
The Paradox of Popularity
In the realm of cinema, mass appeal is often inversely proportional to artistic merit.
Yeah, I said it. Consider the cinematic landscape of the past decade.
On one end, we've got the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a box office juggernaut that’s undeniably popular, but are they pushing the boundaries of the art form? Are they challenging our perceptions or offering profound insights into the human condition? Or are they mostly the cinematic equivalent of comfort food - satisfying in the moment, but ultimately forgettable?
Now, let's swing to the other end of the spectrum. Take a film like Bi Gan's "Long Day's Journey Into Night" (2018). This mind-bending neo-noir culminates in a 59-minute 3D sequence shot in a single take. A technical marvel, a narrative puzzle box, a sensory experience unlike anything else in contemporary cinema. But outside of festival circuits and art house theaters, how many people have even heard of it, let alone seen it?
Not a New Trend
This divide isn't new. Go back to the 1970s, the supposed golden age of American cinema. While "Jaws" and "Star Wars" were breaking box office records, filmmakers like John Cassavetes were crafting intimate, challenging works like "A Woman Under the Influence" (1974). Films like this one may not have made mountains of cash, but their influence on the art form is immense. (Disclaimer here: I am not saying that either “Jaws” or “Star Wars” are unremarkable.)
You would be right to protest, "But what about Hitchcock or Kubrick? They made popular films that are also artistic masterpieces!" Yes, there are exceptions to this rule, filmmakers who managed to bridge the gap between popular appeal and artistic innovation. That is the thing many filmmakers strive for. They deserve praise and glory if they succeed, but if you look at the numbers, the odds are stacked against them.
The Frontiersmen
True artistic innovation often happens on the fringes. It's in the work of those more concerned with expressing their vision than pleasing the masses. Think of Věra Chytilová's "Daisies" (1966), a surrealist feminist masterpiece that was banned in Czechoslovakia upon its release. Or Alejandro Jodorowsky's "The Holy Mountain" (1973, pictured below), a psychedelic mind-fuck that still feels revolutionary almost fifty years later.
These films obliterated boundaries. But they did so at the cost of wide appeal. And that's the crux of the paradox: the more a film challenges us, the less likely it is to find a mass audience.
It Takes Effort
There are glimmers of hope that maybe, just maybe, the gap between artistic merit and popular appeal is narrowing. A film like Bong Joon-ho's "Parasite" (2019) can win the Palme d'Or, sweep the Oscars, and become a global phenomenon.
Yet for every "Parasite," there are dozens of brilliant films that fly under the radar. When's the last time you saw a Béla Tarr film trending on Netflix? How many casual moviegoers are lining up to see the latest Apichatpong Weerasethakul?
The hard truth is this that true cinematic art often requires effort from its audience. It asks us to engage, to think, to feel in ways that might be uncomfortable or unfamiliar.
So here's my challenge to you, dear readers: for every blockbuster you watch, seek out a film that pushes you out of your comfort zone. For every Marvel movie, watch a Tarkovsky. For every rom-com, try a Godard. You might not enjoy everything you see, but I guarantee you'll expand your cinematic horizons.
In the premium section of my newsletter, I’ll get more personal, exploring how the individual has become the beating heart of modern cinema. So, grab your Rorschach tests and let's dissect this celluloid soul.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Art Film to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.