Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Q3
Gilliam's approach to Brazil is very unusual to the Sci Fi genre, because as we have talked about in class we usually are put into a futuristic setting in which the technology is advanced and it feels almost as a prediction of the future. Gilliam on the other hand chose to create a setting in which it is not truely clear what the time period is other than, "sometime in the 20th century." This allows him to introduce elements that both hint to the future, but also some that are relevant to the past, and often present around 1985. The way he uses elements which are more reflective of the present are often satirical, and a way to comment socially on current trends. An obvious example of this is the exaggerated plastic surgery. Gilliam exaggerates these things to make fun of the present, the mail tubes going through the office (especially towards the end when it explodes), the other tubes running through almost every building, the extremely tiny car, etc. As for what this does for the movie other than allow a satirical view of both the past, present, and sometimes future, is make his social commentary timeless and allow the audience to relate. Many people have said it and I agree, by introducing so much people are familiar with it makes this Sci Fi film more relate-able, which is necessary for this often times outrageous and comical approach to the film.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I've had to read your post over and over again to try to make sense of it. A bad sign.
ReplyDeleteYou say Gilliam satarized plastic surgery. Indeed he does. But what's that go to do with the question? There is indeed a connection to be made but you don't make it (I read the post several times hoping it was there, but it was not.)
You do say his mix of past and present makes his social commentary timeless. Now that's an interesting claim, but you say nothing to back it up or explain how this works. It's a pity because you're right.