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Is It Riffable?: Antonioni's "Red Desert" (1964) [message #19074] Thu, 27 September 2012 17:54 Go to next message
Doug Elrod is currently offline  Doug Elrod
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I know it's the the story of a woman's existential search for meaning in our modern (1960's) world. But I wonder if it might be much more, for instance, a basis for a nice MST3K-style riffing.

Maybe such an art film is "beyond the pale", but moments such as the chemical-plant manager throwing down his cigarette (I kept expecting a BOOM), or the image suddenly lacking "focus", which no doubt was a metaphor for the disconnection one feels with reality, or something like that (:-)), makes me think that there's a comedy-riot to be uncovered, just under the surface!

Other curious items of note (among many to be found in this film):

The INDUSTRIAL PLANT whose primary product seems to be EFFLUENT!
The INEFFECTUAL ROBOT (perhaps a predecessor of the infamous "Minsky"?)
The KINDERGARTENER who appeared to be studying THE MUSCULATURE OF THE EYE! (???)

-Doug Elrod (dre1@cornell.edu) :-)
And, of course, the PERENNIAL QUESTIONS of
1. What does one do if a distraught Monica Vitti comes to one's hotel room, and starts removing her clothes?
2. What would FREUD say to your answer to #1?
Re: Is It Riffable?: Antonioni's "Red Desert" (1964) [message #19075 is a reply to message #19074] Fri, 28 September 2012 16:41 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Judith is currently offline  Judith
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In article <a3a8751d-a066-48e8-ba90-9537be4bdb97@googlegroups.com>,
Doug Elrod <dre1@cornell.edu> wrote:

> I know it's the the story of a woman's existential search for meaning in our

> modern (1960's) world. But I wonder if it might be much more, for instance,

> a basis for a nice MST3K-style riffing.

>

I agree - I start giggling whenever I hear something like "...a woman's
existential search for meaning in our modern world."

Judith

--
Stop waving that crow in my face. He's our landlord!
--Gritpyppe-Thynne
Re: Is It Riffable?: Antonioni's "Red Desert" (1964) [message #19085 is a reply to message #19074] Wed, 03 October 2012 19:24 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Bloodfart is currently offline  Bloodfart
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As a Pink Floyd fan, they played a major role in the soundtrack of
Antonioni's Zabriske Point. Also, a riff candidate. What do you think?


"Doug Elrod" <dre1@cornell.edu> wrote in message
news:a3a8751d-a066-48e8-ba90-9537be4bdb97@googlegroups.com...
I know it's the the story of a woman's existential search for meaning in our
modern (1960's) world. But I wonder if it might be much more, for instance,
a basis for a nice MST3K-style riffing.

Maybe such an art film is "beyond the pale", but moments such as the
chemical-plant manager throwing down his cigarette (I kept expecting a
BOOM), or the image suddenly lacking "focus", which no doubt was a metaphor
for the disconnection one feels with reality, or something like that (:-)),
makes me think that there's a comedy-riot to be uncovered, just under the
surface!

Other curious items of note (among many to be found in this film):

The INDUSTRIAL PLANT whose primary product seems to be EFFLUENT!
The INEFFECTUAL ROBOT (perhaps a predecessor of the infamous "Minsky"?)
The KINDERGARTENER who appeared to be studying THE MUSCULATURE OF THE EYE!
(???)

-Doug Elrod (dre1@cornell.edu) :-)
And, of course, the PERENNIAL QUESTIONS of
1. What does one do if a distraught Monica Vitti comes to one's hotel
room, and starts removing her clothes?
2. What would FREUD say to your answer to #1?
Re: Is It Riffable?: Antonioni's "Red Desert" (1964) [message #19086 is a reply to message #19085] Thu, 04 October 2012 16:40 Go to previous message
Judith is currently offline  Judith
Messages: 73
Registered: September 2012
Karma: 0
Member
In article <k4ihfu$22l$1@dont-email.me>,
"Bloodfart" <bloodfartz8675309@jen.com> wrote:

> As a Pink Floyd fan, they played a major role in the soundtrack of

> Antonioni's Zabriske Point. Also, a riff candidate. What do you think?

>

>

> "Doug Elrod" <dre1@cornell.edu> wrote in message

> news:a3a8751d-a066-48e8-ba90-9537be4bdb97@googlegroups.com...

> I know it's the the story of a woman's existential search for meaning in our

> modern (1960's) world. But I wonder if it might be much more, for instance,

> a basis for a nice MST3K-style riffing.

>

> Maybe such an art film is "beyond the pale", but moments such as the

> chemical-plant manager throwing down his cigarette (I kept expecting a

> BOOM), or the image suddenly lacking "focus", which no doubt was a metaphor

> for the disconnection one feels with reality, or something like that (:-)),

> makes me think that there's a comedy-riot to be uncovered, just under the

> surface!

>

> Other curious items of note (among many to be found in this film):

>

> The INDUSTRIAL PLANT whose primary product seems to be EFFLUENT!

> The INEFFECTUAL ROBOT (perhaps a predecessor of the infamous "Minsky"?)

> The KINDERGARTENER who appeared to be studying THE MUSCULATURE OF THE EYE!

> (???)

>

> -Doug Elrod (dre1@cornell.edu) :-)

> And, of course, the PERENNIAL QUESTIONS of

> 1. What does one do if a distraught Monica Vitti comes to one's hotel

> room, and starts removing her clothes?

> 2. What would FREUD say to your answer to #1?


The Brains always did their best work with pretentious movies that took
themselves much too seriously, so riffing on Antonioni would be perfect.

Judith

--
Stop waving that crow in my face. He's our landlord!
--Gritpyppe-Thynne
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