Oz ,'Chosen'
A place to talk about movies--old and new, good and bad, high art and high cheese. It's the place to place your kittens on the award winners, gossip about upcoming fims and discuss DVD releases and extras. Spoiler policy: White font all plot-related discussion until a movie's been in wide release two weeks, and keep the major HSQ in white font until two weeks after the video/DVD release.
Gris,
this is my opinion (and with this and $2 you can get a doughnut) - but I think that in productions (movies, theater, etc.) - each of the parts can be evaluated independently and together as art. I've seen people give wonderful performances in bad productions and bad productions that bring everybody down.
I also think that sometimes really bad things transcend into art. But this is rare.
Like The Apple ?
Yeah, I have Gris' problem too when trying to define theater, film, TV and other collaborative efforts as art. Something primarily created by one or two people is a little easier to define as art, though I also agree with bon bon that the line between art and craft is fuzzy at best, and possibly even nonexistent.
I guess collaborative efforts are also art (and craft), it's just much more difficult to define who the artist is. As le nub points out, you almost have to address both the individual contributions and the effort as a whole. And the combinations there are endless. There are countless examples of how a single contribution can elevate or sink an entire project, how a true ensemble can overcome poor source material or seemingly insurmountable obstacles to achieve the sublime, and how a collection of individually stellar artists wind up turning out complete drek.
I have watched every ep of In Treatment on HBO and while I think it is good tv, and solid craftmanship, the episodes with Paul and Sophie are ART. They are beautiful and stirring and just marvelous. I would likely say the same thing about Paul and Alex and Paul & Gina (w/ or w/o Kate).
The other permutations are good, but I am not sure they CONSISTENTLY reach the level of ART. Some of the reason for that are actors' choices, writing - and perhaps directing (and note: because of the premise of the show, the sets don't vary, so you can't blame them), but damn if you can't see the value of good acting and directing in an enclosed environment...
Beyonce is playing Etta James?
WTF?
Bad call.
I can't decide if this is better suited to this thread or Other Media, but my husband is friggin' hilarious. (Not an April Fool's prank, I promise.)
Put it in both Jess. That is a riot!
Jess, that is HYSTERICAL!!!