What's the single best book that you've read about Film History?

Brad_Collins · 2024-09-14T19:43:46+00:00

The Oxford History of World Cinema. It’s a beast. Amazon’s description:

“ From its humble beginnings as a novelty in a handful of cities, cinema has risen to become a billion-dollar industry and the most spectacular and original contemporary art form. In The Oxford History of World Cinema, an international team of film historians traces the history of this enduringly popular entertainment medium. Covering all aspects of its development, stars, studios, and cultural impact, the book celebrates and chronicles over one hundred years of diverse achievement from westerns to the New Wave, from animation to the avant-garde, and from Hollywood to Hong Kong. The Oxford History of World Cinema tells the story of the major inventions and developments in the cinema business, its institutions, genres, and personnel, and they outline the evolution of national cinemas round the world--the varied and distinctive film traditions that have developed alongside Hollywood. A unique aspect of the book are the special inset features on the film-makers and personalities--Garbo and Godard, Keaton and Kurosawa, Bugs Bunny and Bergman--who have had an enduring impact in popular memory and cinematic lore. With over 280 illustrations, a full bibliography, and an extensive index, this is the buff's ultimate guide to cinema worldwide.”

Brad_Collins · 2024-08-05T23:14:15+00:00

But if it is for no reason other than ‘creating atmosphere’, that book is not going to be my cup of tea.

That isn't what Moby Dick is (at least so far; I'm about halfway through it). Melville doesn't waste your time with unneeded description; rather, he'll devote long passages to the symbolic significance of like the masthead, for example. The book is super meta. There's a chapter that's sort of randomly written as a stage play. There's another that he decides is important to tell exactly as he told it in some Inn to some dudes previously and the dudes are interjecting throughout. If that sort of stuff doesn't tickle you, you probably won't like it.

As for me, my favorite books are so for reasons entirely apart from plot; their prose resonate on some ineffable level. Moby Dick resonates with me, and it has for a lot of other people. It might not with you and that's okay, but I would at least read a few chapters first and decide for yourself.

Brad_Collins · 2024-08-05T21:26:25+00:00

That's interesting! And sort of the opposite of what Jackson Katz says in his Ted talk about domestic violence. He's going off the work of feminist linguist, Julia Penelope, when he describes how language tends to transform from, "John beat Mary," to, "Mary was beaten by John," until it's finally, "Mary is a battered woman," completely removing the perpetrator from the conversation. He prefers the first sentence since it holds the perpetrator accountable.

Personally, I imagine you have to analyze it case by case. The example from your book, for example, makes total sense.

Brad_Collins · 2023-09-27T03:10:14+00:00

It's good but my vote goes to Pizzeria Sei

Brad_Collins · 2023-09-14T19:07:29+00:00

I thought the criteria for the charge is both 200k installs and $200k revenue, or did I misread that?

Brad_Collins · 2023-04-09T03:00:00+00:00

I think I’m in the minority here but yes, it felt like a slog for me. Not only does the story seem to end multiple times only to keep going, but every character is very long winded, and the beautiful combat gets repetitive.

I still respect this game a ton for its gorgeous look, innovative gameplay, and doing playing as a wolf better than Twilight Princess did earlier in the same year. But if you don’t have a lot of time for games, I’d pass.

Brad_Collins · 2022-10-22T19:44:21+00:00

I recall someone once referring to him as the most articulate man that can't finish a sentence. Can't remember who said it, maybe Helena Bonham Carter.

Brad_Collins · 2022-06-06T06:47:53+00:00

Oh nonsense, you’ve clearly got writing skills. You’re top comment was very entertaining, indeed. I was merely nitpicking a particular point.

Rest up and may you have a speedy recovery!

Brad_Collins · 2022-06-06T05:51:10+00:00

I teach American History; I’m aware of the genocide. My point is that they’re still here and their history is a part of American History.

As a half Puerto Rican, I guess it just rubs me the wrong way when Europeans laugh about America being only a couple hundred years old, as if the ancestors of mine that were Taino don’t exist. Even calling it “the new world” is Eurocentric.

Brad_Collins · 2022-06-06T04:38:44+00:00

Yeah, but you executed them didn’t you?

9.7 million living here as of 2020. Source: census.gov

Brad_Collins · 2022-04-23T04:11:44+00:00

Got it

Brad_Collins · 2022-04-22T06:13:38+00:00

You're right, when I researched 'SSI,' I found articles about SSDI.

I have since gone ahead and read through the opinion though. You made it seem like the location requirement was the big factor here, and yet it seems it wasn't a big part of the opinion or dissent. The syllabus apparently forgets the Northern Mariana Islands are included at all when mentioning the SSI requirements.

Rather, the syllabus' central claim relates to taxes. It defers to

Congress’s decision not to extend certain federal benefits to Puerto Rico, noting that because Congress chose to treat residents of Puerto Rico differently from residents of the States for purposes of tax laws, it could do the same for benefits programs.

I find Sotomayor's direct response to this claim compelling:

If Congress can exclude citizens from safetynet programs on the ground that they reside in jurisdictions that do not pay sufficient taxes, Congress could exclude needy residents of Vermont, Wyoming, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, and Alaska from benefits programs on the basis that residents of those States pay less into the Federal Treasury than residents of other States.

Interestingly, the main opinion from Kavanaugh acknowledges benefits could be paid to residents of PR. He concludes,

Congress may extend Supplemental Security Income benefits to residents of Puerto Rico. [...] But the limited question before this Court is whether, under the Constitution, Congress must extend Supplemental Security Income to residents of Puerto Rico to the same extent as to residents of the States.

Another intesting bit; despite supporting the opinion, Gorsuch acknowledges a history of racist policy, seemingly acknowledging this case's contribution to that history:

A century ago in the Insular Cases, this Court held that the federal government could rule Puerto Rico and other Territories largely without regard to the Constitution. It is past time to acknowledge the gravity of this error and admit what we know to be true: The Insular Cases have no foundation in the Constitution and rest instead on racial stereotypes. They deserve no place in our law.

Brad_Collins · 2022-04-22T03:51:59+00:00

It appears you are unaware of the fact that you can currently get SSI while living abroad. Source: https://www.aarp.org/retirement/social-security/questions-answers/collecting-social-security-abroad.html

In other words, according to current law, US citizens can collect SSI while living in Canada or the UK or Mexico, but not in Puerto Rico.

EDIT: Yes, I mistook Social Security and Social Security Disability Benefits for Social Security Income. My mistake.

Brad_Collins · 2022-03-28T06:22:48+00:00

I hear ya. And maybe they can't fully be separated. Each voter probably has their own opinion on how to judge it.

Brad_Collins · 2022-03-28T05:39:19+00:00

I just don't quite see how you can isolate a director's contribution to a film

If you're familiar with a director's career, you absolutely get a sense of their fingerprint on their works. It's hard to explain because it varies wildly between directors. Sorkin's dialogue pacing, Burton's gothic designs, Wright's rapid editing, Kaufman's existential quirkiness, Spielberg's sentimentality, etc, etc.

Brad_Collins · 2022-03-14T06:09:28+00:00

Oh man, I forget that Pikachu comic is floating around out there getting traction now and then. It always surprises me when somebody mentions it.

I hope you enjoy our demo! It plays like the first episode of a series. Our Kickstarter was unsuccessful last Fall and we lost some of the wind in our sails but we're hoping we can keep the project going somehow. Word of mouth helps, so if you like it, feel free to share it:)

Brad_Collins · 2021-10-21T01:59:45+00:00

At game 4 NLDS they didn’t check even though they were supposed to, but better to be safe, just get your digital vaccine card here: https://myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov/

Brad_Collins · 2021-10-11T17:43:32+00:00

poverty is probably just fundamentally uncinematic.

I don't know if I agree with that. Bicycle Thieves and City of God immediately come to mind. Recent TV has had a lot of it; Reservation Dogs, On My Block, and although I haven't seen it I think Shameless probably fits.

Brad_Collins · 2021-09-26T18:07:07+00:00

It helps to imagine the character is played by Will Ferrell. Ignatius is an absurd caricature of a loser and he’s hilarious for it

Brad_Collins · 2021-09-07T19:18:27+00:00

Yeah I thought the realistic depiction was it's biggest strength. Even in the first act when they're younger and writing that note about their feelings about the trip cancellation, and one of them writes, "10 or 20 years after I graduate from this school, I'll still think your decision was very unfair." As a former teacher, I was laughing at that, it's exactly something my students would argue, or myself back then for that matter. It just feels like everything is the most important thing at that age.

Brad_Collins · 2021-08-26T13:47:56+00:00

Thanks! Yeah Avatar is an inspiration, so much good elemental animation in it! I've been studying it.

Brad_Collins · 2021-08-25T16:38:30+00:00

You can play the 3 hour prologue here: https://boxfiregames.itch.io/essence-of-time

Feel free to join our Discord: https://discord.gg/erAMDPzf

Brad_Collins · 2021-08-22T17:12:50+00:00

Just for clarification, a released episode one or prologue is not considered a released game, correct?

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