great works ii – 2850 jta 12:25-2:05: love letters from the world

Maria:

The video “Breath” relates to Endgame as the video shows a very similar setting to Endgame. The video begins with clips of random objects, almost garbage looking and there is light shining only to the middle of the setting. This is similar to the video of Endgame in which the setting was empty and light was illuminated on the characters. Endgame and “Breath” share a common theme of nihilism; the feeling of life being meaningless and there is nothing people can do to change that. The video “Breath” seems to be almost meaningless as there is no clear explanation of the images and music. The music behind the video “Breath” also has a very dark and expresses pain as does Endgame; specifically the suffering and loneliness that the characters in Endgame feel.

Nicole:

Maria, great analysis on the breath. I also liked the way you compared the end game and breath to come up with the theme of nihilism. I also realized the similarity in colors of the two films. As you pointed out, both endgame and breath were similar in setting. Both of these films kept a very dull and empty background and focused brightness/color on important things. The poem can relate to the end game by comparing the swan to clov. In the poem the swan seems helpless. This is also a very obvious way to describe clov. He takes many demands and seems to be unsure of how to care for himself. “Magnificent but hopelessly struggling to resist / for never having snug of a land in which to exist.” What is the meaning to their life? They are both helpless and unsure of their next move.

Tara:

Nicole I liked your comparison of the swan to Clov, I also interpreted the swan as being helpless which is similar to Clov’s attitude. Clov appeared to always feel unsure of himself and have a deeper sadness within him even when standing up to Hamm. The story “The Chestnut Tree” relates to the theme of nihilism or a life without meaning in Endgame. Clov and Hamm both experience a life of emptiness which consists of bickering and the same routine. They both often question why the other stays and doesn’t leave the other to die. This relates to the Story in that Roquentin discovers the meaning of human existence which he describes as “ We were a heap of existences, uncomfortable, embarrassed at ourselves, we hadn’t the slightest reason to be there. none of us, each one confused, vaguely alarmed, felt superfluous in relation to the others”. Roquentin is describing human existence as something that does not have an influence on anything, and in essence doesn’t exist at all. Similar to Clov and Hamm questioning their loyalty to one another emphasizing that although they do have each other, human existence does not exist in an empty world.