Nanook_of_the_North

Response Paper: “Nanook of the North” and André Bazin’s “The Ontology of the Photographic Image” Even with the misrepresentation of reality, Robert Flaherty’s film “Nanook of the North" led the audience to believe that it was indeed the truth. André Bazin believed that the film has reached its most outstanding achievement as it completely captured the reality while still preserving time. In other words, a successful film is a language. Relating back to the film “Nanook of the North”, this film was able to fulfill Bazin’s requirements of a great achievement as a film, being able to preserve time and most importantly, being a language. However, it was not completely able to capture the realism. Essentially, this film was able to communicate "language" through four main aspects. These four main aspects played a huge roll in its popularity even in today's modern world. This time classic really captured the essence of the outspoken old black and white silent film. In the beginning of “Nanook of the North”, the director Robert Flaherty had a preface which explains the setting and timeline of the movie. The movie takes place in the North on Belcher Islands and was filmed during 1920-1921 of August. This movie was able to preserve the time that Flaherty spent with the Inuit people and pass it on to the outside world. The film “Nanook of the North”, was able to preserve time and could be seen as a language, but was unable capture the entire reality. A large proportion of written language was incorporated into the film, however the period of which the film portrayed certain things that did not perceive to be true. Since “the system of attraction remains an essential part of popular filmmaking” (Gunning, 233), proves that what is filmed in reality of the 365 days is much more interesting then the falsifications shown from the movie. Flaherty used pseudorealism in misleading the audiences, just as Bazin’s essay talks about the “quarrel over realism in art between true realism. It needs to give significant expression to the world both concretely and its essence, and the pseudorealism of a deception aimed to fooling the eye (or for that matter the mind)” (Bazin, 12). In 1670, the Inuit had already been hunting with guns for generations since the Hudson Bay Company had been trading with the Inuit. However, in Flaherty’s film, Nanook was still hunting with harpoons and according to the script in the preface “knives beads and brightly coloured candy” (naxos). Flaherty used many ways to interest the audience but present lies to them in the process, making it unable to capture realism. Aside from the old weapons still being used, many scenes were set up to “perfection” of the film. For example, the movie showed a full igloo but in reality, it was only three sided so one side can allow the video camera in. Also, Nanook’s real name is Allakariallak and has many wives. By far, the most faulty part was how Nanook “died of starvation” when he supposedly he died from a snowstorm. (Woofactor) In 1922, movies were considered a form of art that had a universal appeal. After World War One, silent movies were dominating much of the interest in art, which was also an introduction to synchronizing sound with the film. When film became popular as a form of art, photography fell to the background. This was not entirely bad for photography because it gave the photographic artists new options and a new way of capturing stillness. The success of entertainment was unbelievable. It made people laugh and overtime, people were slowly forgetting about the war. According to David Bordwell, “An actor’s performance consists of visual elements (appearance, gestures, facial expressions) and sound (voice, effects). At times, of course, an actor may contribute only visual aspects, as in silent movies.”(Bordwell, 139) "Nanook of the North" is a documentary, and one of the first of its kind. The producer of the film creates a story line in their minds and records and “scripts” it down on paper. Although this documentary was silent film, it still managed to show the viewers a great show of the Nanooks’ daily life in the North. During the film, there were text slides providing us facts describing what will be demonstrated in the next couple of scenes. Without these slides, viewers might have a little bit of difficulty and confusion with grasping the concept. This was to another great way to keep viewers up with the quick-pace of silent movies. The use of scripted scenes throughout the movie was a way for the director to bring a piece of the mind to life. It really was like making pictures move and adding music to enhance the mood. Since the movie “Nanook of the North” was filmed by 1922, it shows how the black and white concept is still being used and proves its effectiveness. Although the movie was in black and white, it still managed to change the mood of the movie to “speak” out to its audience. Even though the Inuit speak a different language, silent film was still able to make communication possible and bring the moving pictures to life, hence “cinema is also a language” (Bazin, 16). The early silent movies were often accompanied by live piano or organ music and provided an enormous entertainment value to audiences everywhere. Being one of the first 25 films to be selected for preservation in the United States, music played a big role in “Nanook of the North” and amped up its qualifications to be preserved. In a way, music can also be a language because it shows expressions and sets up different moods during the film. This occurred in the film when Nanook caught the seal near the end of the movie. The music played in the background was more upbeat and showed a lot of excitement and “movement” when the seal was trying to run away. The music was riveting and lively. Without the music in the background “portraying” the actions following with the characters, it is not known clearly what mood to take it as. Because of the music, not only did it help display the excitement of catching his prey, but also in showing a more “light” and comedic take on something that may have seemed a bit barbaric without the music. During the baroque century, “Choral music no longer dominated, and as composers turned more and more to writing idiomatic instrumental works for ensembles of increasing colour and variety, so 'classical' music (as opposed to 'popular') gradually began to work its way into the very fabric of society, being played outdoors at dinner parties or special functions (e.g. Handel's Water Music), or as a spectacle in the form of opera.”(History of Classical Music) For example, Mozart Piano Concerto No. 23 K.488 Till Fellner Mozarteum Orchester Salzburg, was said to be a representation of Fellner trying to catch a Joker. The Joker tries to run away, but in the end the Joker was caught. He kills the Joker and it finishes off with a grand and full ending. Although it is just a series of music notes being played, when listening to this concerto, a different tempo and rhythm is constantly being changed. When you feel like you have grasped the theme, it completely changes and brings real life to the piece. Each listener would then interpret this piece of music differently. Therefore, music can also be considered a language without literally speaking out to its audience. Bazin’s argument on how film can capture realism was disproved by the movie “Nanook of the North”. However, Bazin was able to identify that film was a language from the achievement that it had in preserving time. This is different from earlier forms of art. As films can portray a story in such a way that it can connect with the audience in a more clear and detailed manner compared to just a painting. Films are truly considered legendary if it can captivate the audience and give them an escape from their own realities. The film industry will never lose its popularity as it consistently and adequately adapts to new genres, themes, and even filming techniques. Yet the time old classics and the basic techniques of filming will forever remain a model to all types of films. The movie “Nanook of the North” does exactly that; it is a true masterpiece that will be preserved forever. Years from now, it will continue to be viewed time and time again to bring back memories of the effort put into the film.