Aesthetics
11 02 2007I wanted to add a bit to the class discussion from Friday about the different “feels” of Yojimbo and The Glass Key. Dr. Campbell told us “feel” didn’t quite encapsulate what we were trying to articulate, and I’d like to propose an alternate word – aesthetic. According to the OED (Oxford English Dictionary), when used as an adjective, aesthetic describes a sensuous perception. So the way we perceive things, the sense we get about the story, changes with the film. The Glass Key fills the plot lines of the novel, but Yojimbo gives us more the novel’s aesthetic, if not the same plot structure and events. Interestingly, an alternate definition of aesthetic is, (noun) “of or pertaining to a late nineteenth-century movement in England of artists and writers who advocated a doctrine of ‘art for art’s sake.’” Now, I know neither film was made in 19th century England, but I do think this gives us a window of insight. We have established that Yojimbo is a much more “self-conscious” film, one that wants to call attention to the fact it is an art form rather than pretending to portray reality. This is, at least it is my understanding, of the concept of “art for art’s sake.” So, perhaps it is better to say that Yojimnbo captures the aesthetic of Hammett’s Glass Key, while the film The Glass Key, captures more of its plot structure.
I want to talk a bit more about adaptations, but I’m late for a phone date, so that will have to wait ‘till tomorrow. Also, we haven’t really talked about Miller’s Crossing in class yet, so I’d like to wait and see if my ideas on adaptations will pan out after we discuss the film in more detail.
I think “aesthetic” does take us farther than “feel,” though of course (you know I will say this) it also raises a set of problems of its own.
But for now, I want to muse on “sensuous perception.” What does that mean? What other kinds of perception are there? Etc. I feel (heh) there’s something here, but I need more elaboration! more articulation! step forward, Mary-Carolyn!
Oh Dr. Campbell, and I was all excited about moving forward with “aesthetics.” Alas, i should have figured you would push me further in my thoughts. I’ll muse on it and see if I can’t come up with something, some more clear cut thoughts on “sensuous perception” and perception in general in a few days.
[...] I also like where Mary-Carolyn was heading in her “Aesthetics” blog. She states that while The Glass Key is portrays the plot and its structure, while Yojimbo, being a self-conscious film, goes deeper into what’s underneath of the actions these protagonists take. I agree that The Glass Key adaptation doesn’t further the novel much more than other than showing a love story that was never even developed in the book. Yojimbo, on the other hand, digs deeper into heart of the matter of why Sanjuro takes on the world; because that is essentially what he is doing. The corruption of large industrial tycoons is stretching its green hand over everything it can reach. Sanjuro’s reasons for fighting back is to rid the town and, in a way, the world of evil. I wonder if that is the same thing (N)Ed is doing in The Glass Key novel and film. It’s a possibility, but only Dashielle Hammett, the one who started this whole thing, would know. [...]