There's a trend I've been noticing in the past few years, but only recently linked the isolated incidents together in my mind. I've named it the Slow Art Movement. It starts with Alton Brown.
I love Alton Brown. I love that he is an educated southerner; that he got a culinary degree in order to make a better cooking show; that he writes, directs, and acts in the shows he creates; that after 14 seasons of Good Eats, he decided to stop in order to have time for other projects; that his first degree was in theatre. I really love that his first degree was in theatre.
As I've written before about Steve Franks, I admire the independent spirit that allows a single person to take on multiple roles in a successful cable TV show. And I also admire the actors, directors, and crew people who produce short series for the internet. A lot of these people participate in the Slow Art Movement. Alton Brown falls into both categories.
The Slow Art Movement is one end of the spectrum that has CGI at the other end. It's the Rube Goldberg machine of entertainment. And while you can extend the Movement to include a lot of makers and even Makers, the most obvious influence in entertainment is theatre.
For decades, theatre has been co-opting film techniques, to varying success. However, recently I've been noticing entertainers outside of theatre have been adapting theatrical techniques. Actors have always "gone back" to theatre in order to develop their skill (or prove it), so it is very gratifying to see technicians doing the same.
On Good Eats, all effects were practical (baring limited use of green screen) and very low budget. The conceit of the show was to have everything (puppets and props, etc) look homemade, which worked because they were. Rapid set changes (like in the Old Spice commercials) were shot in real time, with set pieces tracking in and out of camera shots. Sounds like summerstock.
Alton Brown and Mythbusters' Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman have developed themed variety shows that they tour around the country. Other shows, like w00tstock, combine musicians, comedians, storytellers, and other entertainers for more generalized variety shows. Storytelling has replaced poetry slams as avant grade entertainment.
This is a entertainment specific detailing of a return to old practices that can be found almost everywhere you look. The same college students up all night playing MMOs can be found knitting in dorm lobbies during the day. I have long said that Americans need to be intentional about the culture, traditions, and heritage we choose to cultivate as a society. I think that Slow Art is the perfect place to start.
I love Alton Brown. I love that he is an educated southerner; that he got a culinary degree in order to make a better cooking show; that he writes, directs, and acts in the shows he creates; that after 14 seasons of Good Eats, he decided to stop in order to have time for other projects; that his first degree was in theatre. I really love that his first degree was in theatre.
As I've written before about Steve Franks, I admire the independent spirit that allows a single person to take on multiple roles in a successful cable TV show. And I also admire the actors, directors, and crew people who produce short series for the internet. A lot of these people participate in the Slow Art Movement. Alton Brown falls into both categories.
The Slow Art Movement is one end of the spectrum that has CGI at the other end. It's the Rube Goldberg machine of entertainment. And while you can extend the Movement to include a lot of makers and even Makers, the most obvious influence in entertainment is theatre.
For decades, theatre has been co-opting film techniques, to varying success. However, recently I've been noticing entertainers outside of theatre have been adapting theatrical techniques. Actors have always "gone back" to theatre in order to develop their skill (or prove it), so it is very gratifying to see technicians doing the same.
On Good Eats, all effects were practical (baring limited use of green screen) and very low budget. The conceit of the show was to have everything (puppets and props, etc) look homemade, which worked because they were. Rapid set changes (like in the Old Spice commercials) were shot in real time, with set pieces tracking in and out of camera shots. Sounds like summerstock.
Alton Brown and Mythbusters' Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman have developed themed variety shows that they tour around the country. Other shows, like w00tstock, combine musicians, comedians, storytellers, and other entertainers for more generalized variety shows. Storytelling has replaced poetry slams as avant grade entertainment.
This is a entertainment specific detailing of a return to old practices that can be found almost everywhere you look. The same college students up all night playing MMOs can be found knitting in dorm lobbies during the day. I have long said that Americans need to be intentional about the culture, traditions, and heritage we choose to cultivate as a society. I think that Slow Art is the perfect place to start.
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