4 ms·
The list has little value in isolation. A brief context about why a particular film is in the list would be much more helpful. The audience can then understand
by dommer 11y ago
The list has little value in isolation. A brief context about why a particular film is in the list would be much more helpful. The audience can then understand why he included "controversial" directors like Gibson.
The list on its own is just a list of films to watch that someone enjoyed...and everyone would most likely have a different list.
- waterlesscloud 11y agoI'd counter that if you watch the films on this list and don't understand why Lee included them, you're not likely to be a good film director.
- elthran 11y agoBut this is a list for aspiring directors - If I'm currently aspiring to be a better director, then some level of explanation would be beneficial to me
- waterlesscloud 11y agoNot really. If these movies don't stimulate your directorial imagination, a few words aren't going to help.
- bazzargh 11y agoIt's a list for aspiring directors who are part of the NYU Graduate Film program http://tisch.nyu.edu/grad-film/courses http://tisch.nyu.edu/grad-film/courses ... and they get three years of context. You could ask for context from any university reading list... http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/offerholders/reading-lists/english.html http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/offerholders/... ...they're of passing interest to people looking to be 'well read', but are provided mainly for the students, and the context is the course.
- dommer 11y agoI think that was my point. As a reader of this list, it is of passing interest. Take the course this list accompanies and I will receive much better context and substantially improve my understanding of their inclusion.
- waterlesscloud 11y agoWell, no. You stated it was list of films someone enjoyed. But that's not what it is. It's a list that one of the top living film directors on the planet thinks that directing students at one of the leading film schools in the world should watch. That's a different thing entirely. Each one of these films has things directors can learn from by just watching them. Film being a visual medium and all. Sure, some lectures can provide context, but the movies themselves are the actual content.
- dommer 11y agoFair point. I'm sure he did enjoy them as well as their content being of notable worth. I very much doubt the list, and the act of watching them is the whole lesson Spike is trying to impart. The lecture series would complete the educational message.
- dommer 11y agoYou could say that. But the message—arguably—would be much better received with information.
- waterlesscloud 11y agoBetter received by who? For film students, the films themselves are the information needed.
- dommer 11y agoThe interruption of art is deceptive with nuance and esoteric means. Simply reading Shakespeare doesn't provide someone with understand of the proposed wisdom behind the text.
- CPLX 11y agoThe list wasn't created in isolation it's for his grad students, that's the context.
- dommer 11y agoI'm not sure I said the list was created in isolation. The list if most valuable when taking with the film school lectures. Without the lectures I cannot be expected to understand why Spike add a particular file into the list. Therefore they are a list of films to watch recommended by a notable directory; of which there are many such lists.
- rpgmaker 11y agoAs someone that has watched many of the films on the list recently I can tell you that there are many that haven't aged well IMHO.
- pbhjpbhj 11y agoPerhaps that's in part why they're listed?