Singing in the Rain pt 2 - Clockwork Orange

During the break-in and brutal attack scene in "A Clockwork Orange" the main character Alex is heard singing these lyrics from 'Singin in the Rain' during the attack on a man and his wife:

"I'm singin' in the rain
Just singin' in the rain,
What a glorious feeling,
And I'm happy again.
I'm laughing at clouds
So dark, up above,
The sun's in my heart
And I'm ready for love.

Let the stormy clouds chase.
Everyone from the place,
Come on with the rain
I have a smile on my face.
I'll walk down the lane
With a happy refrain
Just singin', singin' in the rain."

The choice of the song 'Singin in the Rain' is quite peculiar in this scene. Since its inception 'Singing in the Rain' as I have known it is a happy song of celebration even in the proverbial 'rain'. The song is also played during the credits of the movie solidifying its importance and meaning. Playing the song in the credits to me is a message from the producers saying 'this song was no accident'. But why 'Singing in the Rain'? 

I see it as a mockery of society. Taking one of the happiest and most well known songs of the 1950's and in the 1970's making it the music of a rape and torture. Could this be a way of showing that a once progressive society is spiraling downward? A lot of major events happened in the USA between 1952 when singing in the rain was first introduced and 1971 when A Clockwork Orange was produced, obviously some good and some bad. 

In the 1950's there was McCarthyism, The Civil Rights Movement, Elvis Presley and the Space Race. In the 1960's Neil Armstrong walks on the moon and there is the violence of the Vietnam War, and assassinations of JFK, RFK, MLK, Malcolm X. 

Perhaps the producers were attempting to comment on the seemingly chaotic state of the world in 1972. It could be a metaphoric poke at the morals and values of American Society. That we 'sing' a happy melody such as "Singing in the Rain" in our own heads to comfort ourselves and our actions while elsewhere in the world or even in our own society their is war, assassination, violence and suffering. 

Or it could just be a happy accident that an actor sang and a director liked. Even so I believe the placement of the iconic song in the attack scene and the credits are meant to imply a deeper message. 

A Trip to the Moon

I can't believe how much film has evolved and advanced over the last one to two hundred years. It is truly remarkable when looking back at old films, or even the first films that were just a series of pictures. Then single camera with a roll of film and eventually audio and color.

Even with the lack of graphics and technology in the early twentieth century I am amazed how much filmmakers accomplished with the little they did have. These people had true creativity and imagination.

A trip to the moon was filmed in 1902, decades before a the first rocket was even launched into space. When watching "A trip to the moon" in 2013 it is evidence that film is a powerful storytelling technique in terms of imagining technology beyond what you may ever live to see.


Also just a side note: for some reason the film kind of reminds me of Willy Wonka.. did anyone else feel that way?

Singing in the Rain...

When we watched the original "Singing in the Rain" scene in class and then the digital animation techno remix for VW it opened my eyes to recreating the classics as inspiration. As an advertising major this was specifically relevant to me because the remix was not just for fun but for an ad. I guess it shows that you can never go wrong with a new spin on a classic. This is because a classic is well known and loved for a reason. It was probably heartwarming and relatable to people at one time and a new spin may be refreshing, or at the least recognizable. When it comes to advertising making something that is recognizable is a mark of success. I think when working on future campaigns I will not always keep in mind that if I am hitting a creative block.. look back at some classic works to draw inspiration.

BLUBLUE

MUTO a wall painted animation is a truly amazing video. The stop animation of a graffiti coming to life and moving along walls is inspiration in terms of creativity. It must have taken such a complex thought and planning process to create such an artistic work. 

Watching this video was helpful in getting me started on brainstorming for my flip book animation. The  Blublu video shows how one thing can morph and change and evolve into another and almost tell a story. I will want my flip book to do the same as best I can. 

Technology on Broadway

There are many examples of creative uses of technology on broadway. As modern technology advances, these advancements are adapted to be used in the theater to enhance audience experience.

The first example of technology I found on the Stage Door Blog is in the video of "I Got Rhythm" from the show "Crazy For You." The video, above shows that the set and stage are illuminated with digital lights. The digital lights on the floor and in the background capture audience attention and illuminate the performance while also making it more aesthetically pleasing. The lights also add color to the scene and I think make it more interesting.


Technology is also used in making a set more lively, in some cases by making it mechanical. An example of this is depicted in this clip from "Jesus Christ Superstar" When the characters are on a cherry picker type piece of machinery on the stage which lifts them high above the other performers and moved them around.

In "Bye Bye Birdie" technology is also seen incorporated to the set. The stage has conveyer belts which move characters across in some dancing scenes. 

In Mary Poppins, technology is used to make the story come to life. It is used to make Mary Poppin's be able to fly during her performance. 

An older version of technology that has been used on stage for a long time is mirrors. Seen below in a clip from Chorus Line, mirrors are used to make the stage feel bigger and create the illusion that there are more performers. 

In Wicked, technology similar to Mary Poppins is used to make Elphaba appear to be flying during the song Defying Gravity. 

One final example of technology on broadway is in the musical adaptation of the Lion King. The costumes are forms of technology that allow people to be seen as animals. They allow for animal like movement and give the show a unique look. 

Josephine Baker - First Black Superstar

Josephine Baker grew up at a time in America when black people were treated inferior their white peers. Although she came from 'nothing' her energy, charisma and talent let her out of St. Louis and eventually to New York to experience the Harlem Renaissance and later to travel the USA. At the young age of 19 she left the country to perform with an all black group in Paris and "find freedom". I find it interesting and inspiring that minorities are forced to "find freedom" in other countries then American, which is "the land of the free". This video shows how much throughout history our culture has persecuted others who we see as lesser then the majority.

After making her debut on a French stage nearly naked and performing beautifully, she became an overnight sensation. Some were outraged and others inspired by her movements. She almost reminds me of modern day celebrities with her reputation as a diva, sexual prowess and love for eccentric and flashy possessions including a pet cheetah.

Was she subverting or perpetuating a stereotype? A women in the video states she was subverting the stereotypes formerly put out by the minstrel shows and black face with her laughing and attitude, which made it seem she was in control. She became the black ideal women that white men could fantasize about and a role model for other young performers.

It is sad to see the backlash this icon of her time faced in her performances in America. This video shows how American racism and bigotry can drive away amazing individuals that could be contributing to our society. These prejudices still exist in many forms today.  Josephine Baker was an inspirational figure but I think an important lesson can be learned from her life and experiences. That is that when we persecute, ostracize or take rights away from minorities we are doing a great injustice to society and perhaps missing out on their potential contributions.

Minstrel Shows...

The Minstrel Shows imitated the behaviors of African Americans by performers covering their faces with black paint and parodying 'negro behaviors'.

I think it is interesting that African Americans could not combat these shows by parodying white people so they created their own "authentic" Minstrel Shows that white people could not compete with. At this time African Americans were heavily discriminated against and the entertainment industry projected the myth that all they wanted out of their 'simple' lives was to entertain the caucasians. I did not realize that this racist media ever existed and the heavy stereotypes that the entertainment industry like Coon Songs and the Minstrel Shows reinforced about black people being ignorant and lesser peoples.

One man in the video states that "show business is show business and anything that gets a laugh should be in show business" I disagree. After studying media in school I believe that their is not an equal playing field when it comes to media biases and that all laughs are not created equal. Some groups such as African Americans at that time were made fun of in Minstrel Shows but had no platform to defend themselves and prove their side of the the story. They could not mock others, only themselves. It is not right for the majority to mock the smaller groups who do not have an equal voice, even if it is 'comedic'. This causes some people to actually believe the stereotypes they see projected because they are never shown the other side of the story.