A Level Film Studies trip explores artistry and legacy of two cultural icons
Last week, we were lucky enough to visit London for a superb day of Film Studies inspired activities, including entrance to the inner workings of Wes Anderson’s mind, one of the most prominent auteurs of the 21st century.
We also enjoyed an academic perspective on Marilyn Monroe at the National Portrait Gallery, including a lecture and detailed exhibition consisting of the photographs and paintings that have contributed to her mythology.
Our first stop was The Design Museum in Kensington, where we observed and delighted in the phenomenal works of one of the most famous independent cinema directors of recent times. Anderson inspires a devoted cult-like following with his unique aesthetic attention to detail. His Mise en Scene (‘everything in front of the camera’) is infamous and thoroughly delightful to whatever age audience is spectating. For example, he uses 60/30/10 colour rule: 60% of his dominant colour, 30% of his secondary and 10% accent colour throughout his films. This gives his work a highly distinctive visual appearance, often retrospective in look and feel.
The archive was extensive and included: large and small-scale props; notebooks; objet d’art; costumes; unseen clips of Anderson himself; and polaroids of his famous actor ‘troupe’ that he uses again and again in all his films.
Our favourite moments in the exhibition
Alice: The character miniatures from Fantastic Mr Fox and model of The Grand Budapest’s concierge, with telephone, keys and small Mendel’s boxes included.
Tilda: The vending machines from Asteroid City – they were colourful and beautifully designed; they looked genuinely vintage.
Mrs Lord: Anderson had recorded short videos of himself briefing the animators on how the characters would move in Fantastic Mr Fox. His unguarded approach was surprising and refreshing; I felt like we’d been given free rein to explore the terrain of an auteur’s artistic mind. Picasso once said that ‘Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up’, and this resonated with the work shown.
Dr Wickson: I found the chronological-biographical approach to the curation of the exhibition extremely helpful to our discussion of the concept of ‘Auteur’. Here, it was clear to see that the paradigm of author-genius was still very much alive and well and was far from being killed off. On the other hand, the element of unease and uncanny that is generated by Anderson’s use of costume, hairstyles and accessories inspired me to think about his formal elements from a psychoanalytic perspective – one that pays attention to the interaction between our experience of viewing and such items and adornments. We are viewers with unconscious memories, fantasies and repressed wishes: I am certain that Anderson knows exactly what he is doing when he contrasts the furry textures of a glamorous coat with the polyester sheen of a tracksuit.
Next up, it was The National Portrait Gallery for a lecture by writer Andrew Wilson, who has published a new biography on Marilyn Monroe. The room was packed, with no free seating. Wilson spent an hour detailing his approach and enlightening discoveries into the lives and loves of this misunderstood 20th Century icon. He was determined to reframe a woman who is often portrayed as a victim – as the strong, intelligent, bibliophile that she was. Monroe was one of the first female celebrities to take ownership over her image, the photos that were released and how she should be portrayed. The blond bombshell facade was a construct – and Wilson gave us believable evidence to support this perspective, as well as some new evidence which gave her death a differing interpretation to the conspiracy theories that still abound.
It was then time for lunch at Dishoom in Covent Garden. Sitting together as one group of teachers and students, we took the opportunity to discuss what we had experienced so far and how the visit and lecture had enhanced the A Level Film Studies course for the class. So, after refuelling on delicious Indian food which catered for all tastes, we returned to view the Marilyn Monroe exhibition and found images from across her lifetime – from the innocence and girl next door, Norma Jean, to her later years with Arthur Miller, where she achieved real happiness…for a time.
The exhibition gave us a deeper understanding of the Old Hollywood genre and a more nuanced appreciation for the actress, the woman, the human, behind the name. Emotions were mixed and not without some sadness for this misunderstood public figure who arguably could also be described as an Auteur.
Overall, despite the intense heat, it was a thoroughly special day that provided multiple varied moments for reflection on how film is a medium that continues to inspire humanity with its human storytelling, artistry, and truths.
Mrs Lord, Dr Wickson and the Film Studies Team
