Week 6: The Hills Are Alive

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I’ve only seen The Sound of Music once, however, it popped into my mind when discussing how the quirks of old video formats can become evident in new media despite the fact that the origin of these quirks no longer exists.

Let me explain through example.

 

Who is the practitioner (what is their name?) and when were they practicing? What is the title of the photo or video you have chosen to analyse? (can you provide a link?)

The Sound of Music was directed and produced by Robert Wise, who practiced between 1934 and 2000. This film was based off the stage musical by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. Though I can’t link the entire film, I can link a trailer.

 

With the photo or video you are examining, when was it produced (date)?

The film was produced in 1965, based off the musical from 1959.

 

How was the photo or video authored?

From a technical standpoint, The Sound of Music was filmed in 70mm and it used DeLuxe Color processing and six-track sound recording.

But that’s not what I’m interested in.

The Sound of Music was based off a musical. Musicals are generally longer than films and hence they have intermissions, because you can’t exactly pause a live performance.

Yet, even when the film was on VHS and DVD, when the power to pause is at our fingertips, intermissions are still included, even though they are no longer required. Preservation of the original at the expense of practicality.

This can be seen everywhere, not just in The Sound of Music. Vintage photo filters, grain on YouTube videos, retro graphics on video games–everywhere, we see digital effects that imitate old physical quirks, or even limitations.

 

How was the photo or video published?

The film was premiered on the 2nd of March, 1965 at the Rivoli Theater in New York City.

 

How was the photo or video distributed?

At release (2nd of March 1965), the only way to see this film was to go to its opening premiere in NYC. Seats were presumably limited and entry exclusive. On 10th of March 1965, it premiered in Los Angeles, again presumably with a similar set up. After that however, it opened at 131 cinemas across the US, then, a few months later, in 261 theaters overseas.

The process of watching this film used to require you to completely transport your physical body to another space, purchase and present a physical ticket and sit in a designated space just to see this film.

Eventually, you could buy it on VHS and take it home.

Then with VHS, you could watch it in the comfort of your own home and in your own time, but you still needed to slot the bulky rectangle tape into the bulkier machine and make sure you rewind it after watching otherwise you won’t be able to watch it straight away next time. Several physical objects and movements are involved. DVD was more or less the same just slimmer, no rewinding required.

But now, in 2018, you can simply stream it or download it online. You don’t have to haul your couch potato body off the couch to put in a disc or tape, all you need is a finger to click the mouse or touch pad.

Now as announced in a YouTube video on the Rodgers and Hammerstein channel, The Sound of Music began touring in 70mm on the 18th of May 2018.

This Saturday, in opposition to single click required to watch films now, you can haul your body over the St Kilda’s Astor Theatre, buy a ticket (physical or digital) and watch The Sound of Music in a cinema.

It’s funny how history comes back around.

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