Meshes in the Afternoon was definitely very strange and reminded me a lot of a Tool music video. The overall story confused my but visually I enjoyed it especially at the beginning when the women's face was not seen and the close ups of her feet and the shots of her shadow were used to identify her. This was amazing use of lighting. I also liked the extreme close up of her eyes closing that was used to let the viewer know that the character was falling asleep and thus making the viewer realize that she is dreaming.
Dusty Fields: The narrative in Meshes of the Afternoon seems to be purposefully very avant-garde and deep. Out of context of the time period, it is unclear wether or not the creators had a bigger argument that they were trying to make. It is very clear, however, that the story is meant to invoke a certain uncomfortable feeling, as it paints a very interpersonal account of thoughts of suicide and the somewhat confusing dementia of coming to the conclusion to commit suicide. The story elements blend well with the technical camera work and the dissonant soundtrack in this piece to create a discordant, uncomfortable sensory gumbo for the viewer. The directors use several different 'dutch' shots from very odd angles and extreme close up shots that serve to disorient the viewer and create an odd sense of dread. When the woman leans out the window, for instance, the camera angles tend to follow her in a way that makes it hard to figure out which way is truly up. Another shot shows the woman climbing the stairs as she bounces off of the walls on the way up, and the camera stays oriented with her body movements. This creates a sense that the stairs are moving and not her, which is disorienting and off-putting. These kinds of shots help the narrative side of the story by reinforcing the creepy factor with its mirror-faced figure and its odd sequencing and circular story pattern. Together the camera work, soundtrack, and subject matter make this short film memorable in a poignant way, which makes it an excellent example of textbook camera elements blended with great writing and directing to create something truly amazing and perplexing.
Amber Lane: Meshes of the Afternoon was different than most films that I have seen. The story line was confusing for me at some points throughout, such as when each woman picked up the key and one had black on the palm of her hand. While the story line was strange, I liked the way they showed that the woman was dealing with multiple personalities eventually leading to her committing suicide. Even though the story was not my favorite part, I thought the camera work was very well done. I did enjoy the repetition of shots when they only changed something small each time. The use of shadows was very visually appealing to watch and made the beginning more mysterious. I was also a big fan of the use of the first person point of view. It made me feel more apart of the story and kept me interested. The shot where it looked like the stairs were moving was very unique and made the scene look more like a dream. The camera work was extremely well done with all the different angles, tilts, and pans which kept the film intriguing. Another aspect that I liked was the use of music. I liked that it did not always have sound playing and it grabbed my attention when the music started up again. Overall, the story was different than most films but I think the cinematography was done extremely well.
Austin Rhyne: "Meshes of the Afternoon" is a short film filled with mystery and intrigue, along with down right creepiness and uncomfortableness. From the beginning these ideas are conveyed to the audience as the images first seen are that of a disappearing doll arm and an abandoned flower. As the film continues on, the constant use of repetitive images, shadow, unsettling camera angles, and close-ups leave the audience feeling confined to the space and as if they are intruding upon territory not meant for them. Not until the face of the woman is revealed do we realize we feel this way, not because of the woman's wrong actions, but her worries of being followed by the mysterious mirror-faced being. The constant clanging heard in the background also adds to this sense of urgency and despair, calling upon connotations of alarms and fear. These effects created by the camera and editing really create a specific and unique feel to the film, albeit making the plot line confusing. Although the exact theme of the story is unclear to me, several ideas seem like pretty plausible based on the actions of the story, along with the mood and tone conveyed in the piece. Perhaps the story tells of a woman who is afraid of her husband and wishes to escape or extract revenge on him? Maybe it is just a commentary on the way the human mind thinks through various options and discourses to accomplish its most hidden desires? Either way, "Meshes" does a phenomenal job at creating a very distinct atmosphere of fear and danger, thereby confusing the heck out of its audience and putting them on the edge of their seat with anxiety and tension.
The film "Meshes of the Afternoon" was a very different film. It used a lot of camera work to create a different feel to what was happening. The music accompanied by the film often aided the actions of the main character, or was just there for background music. There was a lot of deeper meaning to be had in this film. The key seemed to symbolize, that the knife was the key, or the way out. She must have had a rough life, and obviously the man was a cause of this due to her smashing his face in a mirror. You can get a lot out of this movie if you pay attention, but otherwise you can get lost. Camera work again helped create most of the atmosphere in the film, tilting and shaking to make it seem as if her world is doing the same. Overall this film had a lot of concepts of camera work that are used in future films, and also has a very symbolic story behind it.
"Meshes of the Afternoon" is a very interesting film. The film has been given a title of influential by many critics, and I can see why. The fact that they have several different motifs repeating themselves, such as, the record player, the flower on the street, and the knife in a loaf of bread. It is hard to say what they really mean but I can see there is some sort of symbolism to those repetitive shots. This made the storyline somewhat confusing, yet I was interested the entire short film. The various camera angles and shots can make me see why a piece like this would be played in a course we are taking. The time period seems to be out of context and when the short was created it must have been revered as an innovative film. Overall I think the short was interesting and I would definitely watch it again once I learn more about the piece.
Danny Ryan: "Meshes of the Afternoon" is highly experimental. It explores story telling though unconventional shots and composition. The film's use of low angles, long POV shots, and shadows separate it from mainstream Hollywood style. It was unclear, to me, what exactly happened when I first watched it. After watching it a couple more times, I came to the conclusion that the story is can be interpreted differently each time. I found more depth and complexity each time and came up with a theme of repetition and reincarnation. The mysterious lack of faces and clear cut characters was an effective strategy to keep the viewer engaged and curious. This film is a great example of unique storytelling through experimental expression and a successful attempt of cinematic rule-breaking.
"Meshes of the Afternoon" is a short film I have never seen before. This film was very strange. I believe I understand the concept for "Meshes of the Afternoon". It seems as if the woman is following a shadow of her death. The use of the shadows was a very good idea. This film is very complicated to understand. The lightening was a little confusing and the choice of music was right on target. The suspense in the music let viewers know that something was going to happen. This film was a little scary to me especially when the music would play. I did not know what was about to happen. I was very curious as to what exactly happened to the woman at the end. A couple of questions came to my mind. Did she commit suicide? Did he kill her? Did someone else break in and kill her? Also, the point of view changed towards the end. At first the viewer is looking through the woman's eyes and then at the very end it is through the man's eyes. It is just amazing how much can be interpreted without the use of words. All the viewer has is their vision to interpret what this film means.
The short film, Meshes of the Afternoon is truly an odd film to watch. I’m not exactly sure what the directors, Maya Deren and Alexander Hammid, were trying to portray in the film but I can’t say I didn’t enjoy it. At first I was hesitant because of the way it was filmed. The director’s obsession with the main characters feet not showing her face made me feel like I was about to fall asleep. My opinion soon changed after I saw how they used shadows to introduce the main character. I really liked how the camera work started of real basic with still shots and slow pans but then turned into some very advanced camera work to produce the feeling that the main character was falling. As for the soundtrack… I cant say I was a fan. The screeching and moaning was a little much. I much rather would have preferred watching the film with no audio at all. So all in all my opinion towards Mesh of the Afternoon is that it is a well done film. The only thing I would change is the soundtrack.
The narrative in Meshes of the Afternoon seems to be purposefully very avant-garde and deep. Out of context of the time period, it is unclear wether or not the creators had a bigger argument that they were trying to make. It is very clear, however, that the story is meant to invoke a certain uncomfortable feeling, as it paints a very interpersonal account of thoughts of suicide and the somewhat confusing dementia of coming to the conclusion to commit suicide. The story elements blend well with the technical camera work and the dissonant soundtrack in this piece to create a discordant, uncomfortable sensory gumbo for the viewer. The directors use several different 'dutch' shots from very odd angles and extreme close up shots that serve to disorient the viewer and create an odd sense of dread. When the woman leans out the window, for instance, the camera angles tend to follow her in a way that makes it hard to figure out which way is truly up. Another shot shows the woman climbing the stairs as she bounces off of the walls on the way up, and the camera stays oriented with her body movements. This creates a sense that the stairs are moving and not her, which is disorienting and off-putting. These kinds of shots help the narrative side of the story by reinforcing the creepy factor with its mirror-faced figure and its odd sequencing and circular story pattern. Together the camera work, soundtrack, and subject matter make this short film memorable in a poignant way, which makes it an excellent example of textbook camera elements blended with great writing and directing to create something truly amazing and perplexing.
Meshes in the Afternoon was definitely very strange and reminded me a lot of a Tool music video. The overall story confused my but visually I enjoyed it especially at the beginning when the women's face was not seen and the close ups of her feet and the shots of her shadow were used to identify her. This was amazing use of lighting. I also liked the extreme close up of her eyes closing that was used to let the viewer know that the character was falling asleep and thus making the viewer realize that she is dreaming.
ReplyDeleteDusty Fields:
DeleteThe narrative in Meshes of the Afternoon seems to be purposefully very avant-garde and deep. Out of context of the time period, it is unclear wether or not the creators had a bigger argument that they were trying to make. It is very clear, however, that the story is meant to invoke a certain uncomfortable feeling, as it paints a very interpersonal account of thoughts of suicide and the somewhat confusing dementia of coming to the conclusion to commit suicide.
The story elements blend well with the technical camera work and the dissonant soundtrack in this piece to create a discordant, uncomfortable sensory gumbo for the viewer. The directors use several different 'dutch' shots from very odd angles and extreme close up shots that serve to disorient the viewer and create an odd sense of dread. When the woman leans out the window, for instance, the camera angles tend to follow her in a way that makes it hard to figure out which way is truly up. Another shot shows the woman climbing the stairs as she bounces off of the walls on the way up, and the camera stays oriented with her body movements. This creates a sense that the stairs are moving and not her, which is disorienting and off-putting. These kinds of shots help the narrative side of the story by reinforcing the creepy factor with its mirror-faced figure and its odd sequencing and circular story pattern. Together the camera work, soundtrack, and subject matter make this short film memorable in a poignant way, which makes it an excellent example of textbook camera elements blended with great writing and directing to create something truly amazing and perplexing.
Amber Lane:
ReplyDeleteMeshes of the Afternoon was different than most films that I have seen. The story line was confusing for me at some points throughout, such as when each woman picked up the key and one had black on the palm of her hand. While the story line was strange, I liked the way they showed that the woman was dealing with multiple personalities eventually leading to her committing suicide. Even though the story was not my favorite part, I thought the camera work was very well done. I did enjoy the repetition of shots when they only changed something small each time. The use of shadows was very visually appealing to watch and made the beginning more mysterious. I was also a big fan of the use of the first person point of view. It made me feel more apart of the story and kept me interested. The shot where it looked like the stairs were moving was very unique and made the scene look more like a dream. The camera work was extremely well done with all the different angles, tilts, and pans which kept the film intriguing. Another aspect that I liked was the use of music. I liked that it did not always have sound playing and it grabbed my attention when the music started up again. Overall, the story was different than most films but I think the cinematography was done extremely well.
Austin Rhyne:
ReplyDelete"Meshes of the Afternoon" is a short film filled with mystery and intrigue, along with down right creepiness and uncomfortableness. From the beginning these ideas are conveyed to the audience as the images first seen are that of a disappearing doll arm and an abandoned flower. As the film continues on, the constant use of repetitive images, shadow, unsettling camera angles, and close-ups leave the audience feeling confined to the space and as if they are intruding upon territory not meant for them. Not until the face of the woman is revealed do we realize we feel this way, not because of the woman's wrong actions, but her worries of being followed by the mysterious mirror-faced being. The constant clanging heard in the background also adds to this sense of urgency and despair, calling upon connotations of alarms and fear. These effects created by the camera and editing really create a specific and unique feel to the film, albeit making the plot line confusing. Although the exact theme of the story is unclear to me, several ideas seem like pretty plausible based on the actions of the story, along with the mood and tone conveyed in the piece. Perhaps the story tells of a woman who is afraid of her husband and wishes to escape or extract revenge on him? Maybe it is just a commentary on the way the human mind thinks through various options and discourses to accomplish its most hidden desires? Either way, "Meshes" does a phenomenal job at creating a very distinct atmosphere of fear and danger, thereby confusing the heck out of its audience and putting them on the edge of their seat with anxiety and tension.
The film "Meshes of the Afternoon" was a very different film. It used a lot of camera work to create a different feel to what was happening. The music accompanied by the film often aided the actions of the main character, or was just there for background music. There was a lot of deeper meaning to be had in this film. The key seemed to symbolize, that the knife was the key, or the way out. She must have had a rough life, and obviously the man was a cause of this due to her smashing his face in a mirror. You can get a lot out of this movie if you pay attention, but otherwise you can get lost. Camera work again helped create most of the atmosphere in the film, tilting and shaking to make it seem as if her world is doing the same. Overall this film had a lot of concepts of camera work that are used in future films, and also has a very symbolic story behind it.
ReplyDelete"Meshes of the Afternoon" is a very interesting film. The film has been given a title of influential by many critics, and I can see why. The fact that they have several different motifs repeating themselves, such as, the record player, the flower on the street, and the knife in a loaf of bread. It is hard to say what they really mean but I can see there is some sort of symbolism to those repetitive shots. This made the storyline somewhat confusing, yet I was interested the entire short film. The various camera angles and shots can make me see why a piece like this would be played in a course we are taking. The time period seems to be out of context and when the short was created it must have been revered as an innovative film. Overall I think the short was interesting and I would definitely watch it again once I learn more about the piece.
ReplyDeleteDanny Ryan:
ReplyDelete"Meshes of the Afternoon" is highly experimental. It explores story telling though unconventional shots and composition. The film's use of low angles, long POV shots, and shadows separate it from mainstream Hollywood style. It was unclear, to me, what exactly happened when I first watched it. After watching it a couple more times, I came to the conclusion that the story is can be interpreted differently each time. I found more depth and complexity each time and came up with a theme of repetition and reincarnation. The mysterious lack of faces and clear cut characters was an effective strategy to keep the viewer engaged and curious. This film is a great example of unique storytelling through experimental expression and a successful attempt of cinematic rule-breaking.
Alexandria Coleman:
ReplyDelete"Meshes of the Afternoon" is a short film I have never seen before. This film was very strange. I believe I understand the concept for "Meshes of the Afternoon". It seems as if the woman is following a shadow of her death. The use of the shadows was a very good idea. This film is very complicated to understand. The lightening was a little confusing and the choice of music was right on target. The suspense in the music let viewers know that something was going to happen. This film was a little scary to me especially when the music would play. I did not know what was about to happen. I was very curious as to what exactly happened to the woman at the end. A couple of questions came to my mind. Did she commit suicide? Did he kill her? Did someone else break in and kill her? Also, the point of view changed towards the end. At first the viewer is looking through the woman's eyes and then at the very end it is through the man's eyes. It is just amazing how much can be interpreted without the use of words. All the viewer has is their vision to interpret what this film means.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe short film, Meshes of the Afternoon is truly an odd film to watch. I’m not exactly sure what the directors, Maya Deren and Alexander Hammid, were trying to portray in the film but I can’t say I didn’t enjoy it. At first I was hesitant because of the way it was filmed. The director’s obsession with the main characters feet not showing her face made me feel like I was about to fall asleep. My opinion soon changed after I saw how they used shadows to introduce the main character. I really liked how the camera work started of real basic with still shots and slow pans but then turned into some very advanced camera work to produce the feeling that the main character was falling. As for the soundtrack… I cant say I was a fan. The screeching and moaning was a little much. I much rather would have preferred watching the film with no audio at all. So all in all my opinion towards Mesh of the Afternoon is that it is a well done film. The only thing I would change is the soundtrack.
ReplyDeleteThe narrative in Meshes of the Afternoon seems to be purposefully very avant-garde and deep. Out of context of the time period, it is unclear wether or not the creators had a bigger argument that they were trying to make. It is very clear, however, that the story is meant to invoke a certain uncomfortable feeling, as it paints a very interpersonal account of thoughts of suicide and the somewhat confusing dementia of coming to the conclusion to commit suicide.
ReplyDeleteThe story elements blend well with the technical camera work and the dissonant soundtrack in this piece to create a discordant, uncomfortable sensory gumbo for the viewer. The directors use several different 'dutch' shots from very odd angles and extreme close up shots that serve to disorient the viewer and create an odd sense of dread. When the woman leans out the window, for instance, the camera angles tend to follow her in a way that makes it hard to figure out which way is truly up. Another shot shows the woman climbing the stairs as she bounces off of the walls on the way up, and the camera stays oriented with her body movements. This creates a sense that the stairs are moving and not her, which is disorienting and off-putting. These kinds of shots help the narrative side of the story by reinforcing the creepy factor with its mirror-faced figure and its odd sequencing and circular story pattern. Together the camera work, soundtrack, and subject matter make this short film memorable in a poignant way, which makes it an excellent example of textbook camera elements blended with great writing and directing to create something truly amazing and perplexing.