I have read through this article and have found numerous points from it very interesting. The title of the article is 'The Art of Film Design Throughout Cinema History' and it consists of many concepts. Many i can wrap my head around, many i can not. From reading this article though, i have developed my wide understanding of title sequences.
'The concept of score visualization first conceived by Oskar Fischinger in his film “Studies” anticipates the effects created by Saul Bass in “The Man With the Golden Arm” (1955) and later by Susan Bradley in “Monsters, Inc” (2001):'. This i find rather interesting and that is due to the fact that i find it fascinating how Saul Bass, being born in 1920, can have an influence on a title sequence created in the year of 2001. This therefore establishes how influential Saul Bass is and can well establish that Saul Bass could well remain being an influential man in the decades and centuries to come from his designs.
'Breakthrough ideas in titling, such as timing the typography to interact with metaphorical imagery or to create its own world, were largely innovations that came from outsiders to the Hollywood studio system.' This is interesting in the fact that in title sequences today, it is part of the codes and conventions that there must be some sort of typography integrated with the metaphorical imagery. In additions, it is rather interesting that it was suggested that the timing of typography within a title sequence is important and not as basic as typing a draft of an essay on word. The importance of the timing of typography is now widely taken in to consideration and it is clear that this is due to what the 'outsiders' brought to the 'Hollywood studio system'.
'Kyle Cooper states that while the power of computer graphics is obvious, he still likes experimenting with live action, because there is something special about the imperfection of making things by hand.' Now this, i fully agree with which is why i have chosen to quote what has been said. I am one who completely believes that computers prevent human individuals to problem solve their way through tasks and problems not because of the sophistication of tasks, but because of the computers ability to 'understand absolutely everything'. I further find the chosen source of text interesting as i believe in the whole concept of experience and training equalling skill and skill takes time to perfect and so skill establishes the amount of effort used in order to achieve what has been achieved. By this, i agree with what Kyle Cooper states about the special feeling in perfecting something with hands.
It could be argued that typography lost importance in this era of title design. The imagery behind the credits received a lot more attention. This i am not suprised with as you would expect to find a time whereby individulas had developed an idea or pattern used by others. The world that humans have been living in has been a world where nobody remains happy and pleased with what another individual has bought to the attention of many. The world that us humans live in, is a world where we all have to demonstrate skills and do things that would make us seen as amazing or incredible and not as sheeps but as herds! It could be argued that typography has lost importance, i however believe that typography is just being heavily challenged by imagery.
Throughout the history of cinema, film titles have evolved with the film industry, as well as with social trends and fashion movements. But the measure of a title design’s quality is the same now as it was in the silent era. Whatever function they perform, titles remain an essential part of film. This is as simply as it reads/is written. Despite title sequences changing over time just like fashion, title sequences still manage to serve the same purpose that they served when title sequences were first developed alongside its codes and conventions.
Good work Lawrence, you have obviously read the article and thought about its implications. Keep up the blogging!
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