Blog 3 - Blair Witch Fraudject

This is what I love about free opinion and my ability to simply forgo expectations and completely disregard the notion that I must accept quotes as the end all and be-all.

These quotes are completely archaic. They have absolutely no bearing on the essence of filmmaking or the process by which a filmmaker creates meaning or, for that matter, we interpret a film's meaning. The quotes are deliciously relevant, tidy, and convenient; curiously similar to the succulent fruit tart at the end of a particularly benevolent 3 dollar steak dinner.

If we were to assume, for the sake of argument, that all film's purpose was to re-create reality, wouldn't the actual pursuit of other arts be absolutely abandoned? Wouldn't the entire idea of "art" itself be utterly dissipated and the reign of filmmaking become a forgone conclusion? Maybe I'm a cynic, but in theory, Benjamin is suggesting that the "aura" of the arts die because of film's ability to literally imitate reality. Instead of formulating a sweeping, browbeaten and roundabout retort, I feel like this idea only deserves a deep, bellowing, "What in God's name are you talking about?" It's like dignifying a child's notion that the world is made of cheese with a response.

In terms of "The Blair With Project", these quotes absolutely lose traction within the first, ehhhhm, 40 seconds. The, and I mean this literally, entire film is based on the ability of film to create (what I interpret it as, anyway) "aura". In essence, the film has no bearing upon the real and complete control over the context; thus aligning itself with every other medium of so-called "art aura" ever created. It essentially trumps the theory with such aplomb that Benjamin may as well have wrote about German Expressionism in terms of finger painting.

What would Benjamin make of a staged performance of "Macbeth"? Would he call it a mechanical re-distribution of commonly held notions of reality? Would his head explode at the prospect? Would he simply concede, finally?

We knew Blair Witch was fake when we watched it. Thus, we automatically place it within the context of, well, fake stuff. Like a painting of a rhino. So, I beg, where exactly does this lack of "aura" come from? I suppose I'm proposing more questions than I'm answering, but frankly I'm appalled by the very notion that Benjamin could actually be accurate in his thinking about where filmmaking fits within the artistic context. "For the first time...man has to operate with his whole living person." In what context does this make any reasonable sense? Perhaps in a nature documentary, or a highly (and dangerously) neo-realist film, but beyond that I see no situation where this would actually apply.

If I were to dignify the Blair Witch Project with a reasonable response, I would refrain from placing it within this ludicrous context. I apologize for my deviance, but this idea that Benjamin's quotes in the early stages of filmmaking applying to modern commentaries on our use of media comes off as lazy, irrelevant and utterly masturbatory intellectualism. I'm morally opposed to allowing myself the opportunity to go along with this notion, and therefore I choose to explain my position on the matter rather than buy into the silliness.

Give me an F, if you wish, but this is not something I find worth discussing. I know I'm not supposed to determine what's worth discussing, and maybe I have not examined the question thoroughly enough.

This is my response and this is how I truly feel about the questions asked. If it's "wrong", than that's your call, not mine.

So be it.