What’s in Your Frame? – And The Oscar Goes To… #3

by | Feb 23, 2012 | And The Oscar Goes To... - 2012, Art, Claude Roy, Francis Picabia | 0 comments

It’s day #3 of Oscar Week and today we are paying attention to what Directors do.

What's in Your Frame

Take a look at what’s in the frame. Would you be able to tell what is happening outside it if it wasn’t shown?  Next time you are watching a movie, pay attention to not only what is in the frame but what is not. THAT is tells a lot about what the director is trying to tell you. 

Now replace the word ‘cinema’ with another word.  ‘Art’ is an obvious choice since it also often uses a frame.  How about ‘Wisdom’?  Maybe ‘Life’?  I like that.  Let’s use the word ‘Life’. 

“Life is a matter of what’s in the frame and what is out.”  

When I had my exhibition last month a lot of non-art people came to it. Many of them said it was their very first time ever to be in an art gallery of any kind.  Art galleries and the art that is shown there, was out of their frame until that night.  For some they will choose to not bring art galleries into the middle of their frame permanently, and that is cool.  But some have had a new experience and will now seek out art galleries and will have the urge to explore them and the art inside.  It will be in their frame from now on.  In either case though they come away with knowledge and exposure, both of which leads them to greater understanding of what is out in the world, it expands their frame.  I like that. 

What is in your frame? What is not?  Is that how you want it to be?

 

Drawing and commentary by Martin Coleman, who builds his own frames.

Quote by the film director, Martin Scorsese. I pick him to win Best Director for ‘Hugo’.

 

 

Our Choices – updated 2017

by | Feb 25, 2010 | Claude Roy | 1 comment

If you ever get caught up in a theological debate about pre-determinism or free will, about being chosen by God or making the choice yourself, always remember this. No matter what the intellectual and philosophical answer you take as true, you had to choose that answer. You had to choose to go through that intellectual door and believe it.

 

You had to choose to call, to audition, to drive, to take the risk, to ask for her hand, to say goodbye, to stay home, to try out, to try harder, to give up.

There is always a choice and you always make one, no matter what. No amount of intellectual flights of mind can change that. It may be all is pre-determined, who knows. But in the meanwhile choose wisely.
 
Drawing and commentary © Marty Coleman
 
“Even if our choices aren’t free, we aren’t free to not choose.” – Claude Roy, 1915-1997, French writer and resistance fighter