Stanley Kubrick Article
Added 2020-09-27 20:35:09 +0000 UTCDid anyone catch that Stanley Kubrick article by Jon Mendelsohn? If so, what are your thoughts?
Comments
Toxic masculinity? That is blasphemous.
Wolfman Brandon
2020-09-28 21:51:45 +0000 UTCExcellent points. I completely agree with you.
Deepfocuslens
2020-09-28 06:41:33 +0000 UTCUtter piffle. I could just as easily say Jon Mendelsohn's fragile masculinity compelled him to project his personal insecurities on a renowned and revered artist. By his own account, I don't see anything reflecting toxic masculinity in Kubrick's film making. He may have been an exacting perfectionist whose methods bordered on obsession, but there is no basis to claim that behavior was driven by misogyny or that those traits held him back as an artist. I suspect Mendelsohn's real issue is more with the content of Kurbick's films instead of the way he made them, which reflects an unfortunate tendency to retroactively apply contemporary social standards to older films. Reinforcement of binary gender stereotypes was not a prominent concern when Kubrick was making films. Its like calling Mark Twain a racist. Furthermore, how many incredible performances were wrought from oppressive and demanding directors? Its not an ideal way to work, but it is wildly presumptuous to claim someone's art would be greater if they had been more collaborative. Many actors express gratitude for the way directors push them to their limits during filming despite how difficult it might have been for them at the time.
James ODonoghue
2020-09-28 04:27:55 +0000 UTCI think the more interesting question is whether or not what Kubrick did to Duvall during The Shining was right or wrong. He did what he did to get her to perform better and she gave her best performance. Is it right or wrong for directors/coaches/instructors to employ unorthodox measures if it is with the intent to help improve the performance or the artist/athlete/dancer/etc?
Ryan
2020-09-28 03:22:46 +0000 UTCI think a lot of that reputation was more media sensationalism, as usual.
Deepfocuslens
2020-09-28 03:09:06 +0000 UTCI agree about the toxic masculinity point. Yeah he may not have been the nicest to Shelley Duvall, but most actors described him as pretty cool to work with.
Deepfocuslens
2020-09-28 03:07:11 +0000 UTCIt's a bit of a stretch and a bit Freudian to say that Kubrick's perfectionism is due to his toxic masculinity. What Kubrick did to Shelly Duvall was unethical though it was probably her greatest performance (that's a different discussion for another time). I feel that the author's claim that it's all due to toxic masculinity is entirely unfounded. Also, to say Kubrick didn't live up to his full potential is a ridiculous claim considering that Kubrick is considered one of the best directors of all time.
Ryan
2020-09-28 02:25:06 +0000 UTCYeah, I wasn't necessarily buying into that part of the article as much. I think it was more of a general ego and closed-offness that kept him from truly exploring outside himself than some desire to be macho or uphold some version of masculinity that he held. I have no doubt he held misogynistic views but connecting that directly to his creative sensibility felt like a bit of a stretch.
Tyler Shobe
2020-09-27 23:59:43 +0000 UTCYes, that's often the issue for sure with creators. I always felt Stanley Kubrick's career suffered a bit post-2001. But I don't like the idea of tying it to toxic masculinity necessarily. I think it just has to do with ego and control from a broader perspective.
Deepfocuslens
2020-09-27 23:53:27 +0000 UTCGotcha covered. https://www.cbr.com/stanley-kubrick-never-tap-into-full-potential/
Deepfocuslens
2020-09-27 23:52:09 +0000 UTCAnyone have a link to the article?
Ryan
2020-09-27 21:59:11 +0000 UTCIt's a take on his controlling and torturous directing style I haven't seen and find pretty interesting. Something I found particulatly interesting was towards the end when the article talked about his in ability to let others in and contribute to the creative process and his lack of introspection. I think this exact inability to connect with others and let them in manifests itself in the sterile emotions of much of his work. Kubrick movies make me think, unnerve me and even leave me in awe but they never touch me. That part of the article was a little bit of an "ah ha" moment and explains why I don't think he was successful at translating emotion into his films.
Tyler Shobe
2020-09-27 21:32:10 +0000 UTC
