“Tradition and Individual Talent” and “The Studio” Articles
Introduction
‘Tradition and Individual Talent’ does some digging into concerns and redefines the word ‘tradition’. In the first paragraph of the book, Elliot claims that people rarely talk on traditions but use it for an abhorring effect. According to Elliot, critics should focus on other things other than the uniqueness of a poem. How a poem fits in with past works is an indicator of prowess and gives the poem a good historical standpoint. On the other hand, ‘The Studio’ explains the financial might of studios producing movies year in and year out. This essay will explore reasons for looking critically at various bodies of art rather than just concentrating on fame and financial success.
In the two articles, any form of art becomes pure as long as it educates and imparts values to its audience. The article ‘Tradition and The individual Talent’ focuses on incorporation of skillsets from past poets or writers. Thus, the author advices other writers or poets, “It is not desirable to confine knowledge to whatever can be put into a useful shape for examination, drawing-room…” (Elliot 6). Movie content needs to cut across all audiences and pass powerful message rather than senseless entertainment. “The final music cue designed to give the audience an emotional lift...” for the sake of memorability. A good movie should engage a viewer’s emotions, mind, and address societal challenges. Gold is not the only thing that glitters. In this case, a good poem or movie does not need to have the majority vote and instead, be ‘traditional’ in its nature, “The article of so and so is traditional” (Elliot 3). In his introductory, Elliot suggests that people should categorize a poem as traditional only if it qualifies and not mention the word for a fruitless reaction (Elliot 3). He further goes on to the words appreciates the death and shows the stand of the living on matters pertaining poems and other forms of art. The concept of creating art is to keep the memory of others on the mind of the current society rather than seeking to stand out above the rest for fame, fortune, and prosperity.
Criticism is part of life and since no one leaves independent from other people, the society must judge the motive behind a poem and derive its direct or indirect meaning. Thus, artists should make their concepts with others in mind in order to reflect the life on communities and share their ‘great labor’ with others because, “Tradition is a matter of great significance” (Elliot 4). Generosity is an aspect of art. More over movies need to implement need to share unique ideologies that affect other people in the society than concentrate on grossing millions of dollars. For example, movies have made it a point making expensive movies even the content is wanting. Theatres construct expensive setting to attract a wider audience rather than “If the picture plays well, they quiet down” (Studio 203) due to quality than the circus meant to distract audience from the contents of the play.
A movie and a poem are tools of art used to pass information from generation to generation and therefore they are prone to honest criticism from the public. Thus, they should be wholesome, filled with past wisdom and knowledge. One of the most tasking job of poems and other bodies of work is the capability to exhibit relevance through the eyes of other people. The past is in the past but no individual has ‘meaning alone’, “In a peculiar sense he will be aware that he must be judged by the standards of the past” (Elliot 5). The thoughts, fears, and pleasures of thousands of writers appear in past poem, written in line with various styles, relevant to that day and age (Elliot 5). To channel an energy of appreciation to the men and women who lived before you and have wider perspective and wisdom on issues, the incorporation of traditional concepts would be a good starting point. Mores so, views of others creates room for solutions through the shared language and emotional connection and through various ancient forms, “Every comment is being absorbed by the studio people” for future reference (Studio 206).Since ancient times, humans passed skills from one person to another and the sharing of information through traditions should not end now. Recently, movies bring in finances, based on technology applied or expensive computer generated images but none focuses on issues that solve problems or create a continuity of memories of past incidences for the sake of preservation. In other words, the integrating the past helps one see the future more clearly. During the early days of holidays, directors concentrated on making films that could invoke feelings, which would in turn push the viewers to interpret the meaning behind the film unlike presently where money is the main objective of movies.
The two articles have a sense of selflessness. A movie producer and a poet have to cater to the needs of their audience through extensive research of past works. Consequently, an artist can assume a different personality and go on to reveal another reflection through their works. An artist can assume a different personality and go on to reveal another reflection through their works. An artist is ‘self-sacrificing’, hence “What happens is a continual surrender of self” (Elliot 6). Even the definition of artistry alone is service to others. An artist has to apply many concepts outside of his personality and domain to become an artist. A movie has to come up with an intensive but captivating storyline through which people can internalize their lives and that of past generations which in turn unveils “what should be fixed, changed, shortened or redone can become surreal” (Studio 208). To bring out a movie that proportionately shows the appreciation for past worlds, the right script coupled with the right people need to end up in the movie. On the other hand, a movie with a low budget may lack the funds to compete with an expensive movie. In the end, money may create an unfair advantage to other pictures with good quality content.
A movie may contain scenes filled with rich content for educational purposes and for assessing ancient social history without keeping and at the same time entertain the audience with humor or an intriguing story line (The studio). The studio article notes that, “I have no idea what the correlation is between the numbers and eventual financial success of any movie.” This translates to the fact that the decision for movies to increase ‘validity’ via finances often leaves out the important cultural aspects of the movie. An expensive movie may shift its objective to gaining higher profits rather than education through past societal knowledge and other necessary knowledge. The same aspects applies to poets or writers they “seldom speak of tradition” (Elliot 3) in their work
The fact that a movie and a poem relies on the eyes and ears of listeners, movie producers and poets have a duty to bring out all the attributes shared with their audience so as to focus on mirroring the society rather than producing art just for the sake of it. More so, “It should be kept in mind that data derived from audience reaction surveys are not necessarily predictive box-office success or of a film’s market-ability...” (Studio 209) for connecting with audiences. Getting an audience response is crucial. In the movie business, writers may die poor but studio heads may make good profits from their movies. The unfair system tends to take advantage of dead poets or writers from whom content creation occurred via ‘continual surrender’, that is for ‘Movies are art’ (Studio 217).The progress of any society or art form for that matter relies on continuous sharing of information from person to another and integrating the values, principles and moral ethics in the right amount so that everyone may experience change through the work of the artist. As long as an artist is not a pioneer, he or she needs to keep up updating his style with grains of wisdom from past artists. It is vital to note that sharing is not from the past alone but even via inspiration movie makers can influence future movie producers by what they do today. Furthermore Elliot suggests that “Every nation, every race, has not only its own creative but its own critical turn of mind,” (Elliot 3) hence writers should tap into traditions for better writing content.
Both articles elaborate on the process of handing down information from one artist to the next inclusive of selecting procedures that would see to it that most valuable features of past artists live again from the ashes. As Elliot, notes, it is important to realize that combinations of various, “transforming catalysts,” (Elliot 8) happen when the poet represents the work of past great past poets in his or her work. Then, the poet’s mind becomes a catalyst as it activates past knowledge, which captivates other people’s feelings, imagery, and memories (Elliot 6). Hence, the cohesive nature of past works should map out the future and keep the field cohesive without any queries. In addition, movies are also an art form and sometimes borrow numerous concepts from past film makers who helped shape the industry to what it is today (Elliot 6). Money does not change the fact that a low grossing movie might be better than movie with high sales and “the change everyone looks for occur around the ending” (Studio 210) cementing further the fact that it is not always about money.
In summary movies and poetry are all forms of art. Art is a continuous process and does not rely on the unique work of an individual hence the need to incorporate the work of other cultures as a token of appreciation and give perspective under an experienced past of the society. In fact, the inclusion of past works aims at shading light at relevance of art and caters to needs of the audience. Thus, an artist is a giver who needs to have a holistic approach to his or her art.
Works Cited
Elliot T.S. Tradition And The Individual Talent
The studio. Was It All For This?
