A Comparative Study on Films of Vincent Van Gogh
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A Dissertation On PAINTING LIFE FROM CINEMA : A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON FILMS OF VINCENT VAN GOGH Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement of BA Journalism & Mass Communication program of Navrachana University during the year 2017-2020 By RIYA KHOYANI Semester VI 17165018 Under the guidance of Dr. JAVED KHATRI NAVRACHANA UNIVERSITY Vasna - Bhayli Main Rd, Bhayli, Vadodara, Gujarat 391410 NAVRACHANA UNIVERSITY Vasna - Bhayli Main Rd, Bhayli, Vadodara, Gujarat 391410 Certificate Awarded to RIYA KHOYANI This is to certify that the dissertation titled PAINTING LIFE FROM CINEMA : A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF FILMS ON VINCENT VAN GOGH has been submitted in partial fulfillment for the requirement of the Degree of Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication program of Navrachana University. CERTIFICATE This is to certify that the dissertation titled, Painting life from cinema : A comparative study of films on Vincent van Gogh prepared and submitted by RIYA KHOYANI of Navrachana University, Vadodara in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication program is hereby accepted. Place: Vadodara Date: 15-05-2020 Dr. Javed Khatri Dissertation Guide Dr. Robi Augustine Program Chair Accepted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication. Place: Vadodara Date: 15-05-2020 DECLARATION I hereby declare that the dissertation titled “ Painting life from cinema : A comparative study of films on Vincent van Gogh” is an original work prepared and written by me, under the guidance of Mrs/Mr/Dr Javed Khatri Assistant Professor, Journalism and Mass Communication program, Navrachana University in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication. This thesis or any other part of it has not been submitted to any other University for the award of other degree or diploma. Date: 15.05. 2020 Place: Vadodara Riya Khoyani ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I would like to express my sincere gratitude. I express gratitude and my heartful thanks and acknowledge the support given by Dr. Robi Augustin Program Chair, Journalism and Mass Communication Navrachana University. I am also extremely thankful to my mentor Dr. Javed Khatri and all the faculty members of Journalism and Mass Communication program. signature Riya Khoyani I whole heartedly dedicate this work To My friends, family and my guide. ABSTRACT 100 years and it is not known how Vincent Van Gogh died. 1980’s and 90’s was the period where Van Gogh was in lime light for the film makers. Different films feature different story and ending of his life. Discussing about some main people of Vincent’s life, his art and his letters. The purpose of the study is to know the real Vincent and to study movies about him and how over the years research on Van Gogh has impacted the movies. Keywords: life, letters, murder, suicide, art, movies TABLE OF CONTENT PAGE NO. CHAPTER 1 : INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 SIGNIFICANCE 1 1.2 BACKGROUND 1 1.3 OBJECTIVE 2 1.4 HYPOTHESES 2 1.5 VARIABLES 2 1.5.1 VAN GOGH IN REAL LIFE 2 1.5.2 VAN GOGH IN MOVIES 3 1.5.3 VAN GOGH : SUICIDE OR MURDER 4 CHAPTER 2 : REVIEW OF LETERATURE 5 2.1 THE PROPERTIES OF IMAGES 5-6 2.2 SCREENING GENIUS 6 2.3 AT ETERNITY’S GATE 6 2.4 VERSIONS OF VAN GOGH 6 2.5 LUST FOR LIFE 7 2.6 AT ETERNITY’S GATE : VAN GOGH’S COLLISION OF PAINTING AND CNEMA 7 2.7 WILLEM DAFOE’S VINCENT CAN GOGH BIOPIC DOESN’T PAINT A FULL PICTURE 8 2.8 WILLEN DAFOE SHINES IN FRUSTRATING BOPIC 8 2.9 AT ETERNITY’S GATE HAS IT’S FLAWS, BUT WILLEN DAFOE IS FLAWLESS 8 CHAPTER 3 : METHODOLOGY 9 3.1 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 9 3.2 RESEARCH DESIGN 9 3.3 TEXTUAL AND ART ANALYSIS 10 3.4 CHARACTER ANALAYSIS 10 3.5 SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS 10 3.6 SCHEDULE 11 CHAPTER 4 : CONTENT ANALYSIS 12 4.1 COMPARING MOVIES 12-15 4.2 MURDER OR SUICIDE 15-18 CHAPTER 5 : CONCLUSION 19 CHAPTER 6 : REFERENCES AND LINKS 20 1 CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.0 Introduction The strange, sad life of Vincent van Gogh has held a strong fascination for many filmmakers trying to give us a close view through Van Gogh’s eyes, on Van Gogh’s canvases. A film about Van Gogh is incomplete without showing Vincent’s life in Arles, where he painted most of his paintings, where he spent time with his close friend, Paul Gauguin. In this research paper I’ll be talking about Vincent van Gogh’s character variation and technical aspect in various films. The films which I chose are : Lust for Life (1956) by Vincente Minnelli, Vincent (1987) by Paul Cox, Vincent and Theo (1990) by Robert Altman, Dreams (1990) by Akira Kurosawa, Van Gogh (1991) by Maurice Pialat, Loving Vincent (2017) by Dorota Kobiela and Hugh Welchman and At Eternity’s Gate (2018) by Julian Schnabel. What motivated the filmmakers to make 4 films about Van Gogh in just five years? Why do filmmakers love Van Gogh? 1.1 Significance To understand the portrayal of Vincent van Gogh in different films and the numerous ways used to enhance the visuals which gives the audience a clearer view into Vincent’s Life. 1.2 Background From The Lust for Life to At Eternity’s Gate, Vincent van Gogh has been alive in the modern audiences. Filmmakers are making films on him even after his death more than a century ago. What drives filmmakers to do so? How each director portrays his version of Van Gogh? What 2 are the numerous ways used in film making which brings the audience closer to understand Vincent? 1.3 Objective To simplify the characters of Vincent shown differently in various movies To show how technicality plays an important role in conveying the meanings of a particular scene 1.4 Hypothesis To prove that the story of an individual can be portrayed in different manners and facts Was Vincent van Gogh murdered or did he commit a suicide? 1.5 Variables 1.5.1 Van Gogh in real life Vincent was highly fascinated by Paul Gauguin. However, he was also uncertain when it came to him. He considered Paul ‘Master’ and considered him a great artist. At the same time, Vincent was not ready to take Paul’s criticism on his art. Van Gogh was homoerotically attracted towards Paul. He also invited Paul to stay with him in Arles, France. Gauguin arrived in October, 1888 and Vincent with all his will, set up a room for Paul. All this affection towards him, but two days before Christmas he flung a glass towards Paul in café and later the well known story about cutting his own ear when he had a fight with Gauguin. 3 Other than Paul, Vincent was very close to his brother Theo. Theo helped Vincent sell his paintings and supported him financially. A lot of letters were exchanged between the brothers when Vincent left his home and explored. Van Gogh loved art. With the same passion he also loved books and literature. In the first ten years of his life he was connected to books and pictures but was not able to combine them. At the age of 19, he was an employee at Goupil and Cei. After a religious crisis, he turned again towards the books. At the age of 23, he left a book shop to follow his father’s footsteps. For a few months, he worked in a book shop. For a lot of time, he was in the company of book and pictures. His time in the Borinage was finally when he decided to adopt art as his calling. Vincent’s art will come through his knowledge of literature – was something everyone expected. For Vincent, art was something which is a painting of one’s vision. However, towards the end of 1888, realism in art shifted towards literature and art. Gauguin on his arrival in Arles, 1888 , “Let me give you a hint, don’t paint too much after nature. Art is an abstraction, draw what you can from nature while dreaming before her, and think more of the resulting creation.” Gauguin tried to convince Vincent to start varying his work and paint from his memory. This didn’t work for Van Gogh. He realized that it was very foolish of him to take the path of abstractions. 1.5.2 Van Gogh in movies Vincent was quite famous among the filmmakers in 1980’s and early 90’s. In five years, there were four films made about Vincent van Gogh. All these movies talk about his art, his relations with his brother Theo and friend Paul Gauguin, lack of love in his life and his failed attempts on wooing the person he loved and the very famous event of his life – cutting his on ear. All these films have featured Van Gogh in different ways. One film shows a calm Vincent whereas the other shows an aggressive Vincent. The portrayal of Vincent varies very much in each and 4 every film. While some films show his death as a suicide, the others show it as a murder. Mostly the films in 1980’s and 90’s show a suicide. A lot research has been going on even after the death of the painter. In ‘Loving Vincent’ the ending reveals a log book of Vincent’s sketches discovered in 2016. Earlier films about Vincent were a showcase of his life and paintings, his struggles and his death through his art and letters.