Cinema has evolved in two paths. One is spectacle. Like the phantasmagoria, its goal is the creation of a total substitute sensory world. The other is peep show, which claims for its realm both the erotic and the untampered observance of real life, and imitates the keyhole or voyeur's window without need of color, noise, grandeur.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- He contrasts cinema's immersive spectacle with its voyeuristic side, suggesting both offer escape from reality in different ways.
- In plain terms
- Movies either overwhelm the senses or let you secretly watch real life.
- What can you take from it?
- Entertainment can distract you from reality or make you a secret observer.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What do you seek in movies?
- Are you watching or hiding?
Another view
It simplifies complex film history into only two categories.
More from Jim Morrison
The world becomes an apparently infinite, yet possibly finite, card game. Image combinations, permutations, comprise the world game.
Permalink to quote #17 The subject says 'I see first lots of things which dance - then everything becomes gradually connected'.
Permalink to quote #19 (Windows work two ways, mirrors one way.) You never walk through mirrors or swim through windows.
Permalink to quote #16
Related quotes
The cinema is a place of intrinsic indiscernibility between art and non-art.
Alain BadiouAlain Badiou quote #4 The cinema is rather like a beautiful woman whom you would court only by telephone.
Maurice ChevalierMaurice Chevalier quote #7 In time truth and science and nature will adapt themselves to art. Things will happen logically, and the villain be discomfited instead of being elected to the…
O. HenryO. Henry quote #16