Comments on: Goodbye, Magic Kingdom

By: KF

KF — Fri, 05 Sep 2003 06:24:53 +0000

The funny thing is—and of course, Claire, it was that conversation with you in the library that had me in mind of needle-replaceability—that turntable is new. It’s less that the turntable’s needle hasn’t been replaced than that it didn’t come with one in the first place, and that none of us in the department were clued in enough to notice.

What that says about us, I’m not sure I want to know.

By: Claire

Claire — Fri, 05 Sep 2003 06:04:25 +0000

“for the replaceability of the needle”

But of course, that only makes it durable if the needle is in fact replaced. As the turntable in the English library would seem to indicate, we’re so used to “disposable” technology that we frequently treat the more durable technologies as though they were irreparable out of habit, or perhaps just laziness.

By: KF

KF — Tue, 02 Sep 2003 17:33:40 +0000

I tend to think you’re right, Elouise—reports of 2D’s death have been greatly exaggerated. (As most such cultural death-notices are; if you’re curious, I’ve got a whole book-manuscript [or at least the first chapter of a book-manuscript] about this issue w/r/t the putative death of the novel.) I think, though, that Chuck hits a key point about the economics of obsolescence (and particularly the planned obsolescence of such consumer goods as electronics).

Hey, Bob? Where are you? Here I am, talking about planned obsolescence and capitalism…

By: elouise

elouise — Tue, 02 Sep 2003 16:15:12 +0000

As a 2D animator of the hand drawn ilk, I certainly hope it isn’t dead.

If one visits Photo Arts, one would find folios for sale. Photo etchings of master photographic pieces. This is old technology. Hand bound in leather, limited edition prints. They’re lovely and they have a following.
http://photoarts.com/21stphotography/index.html

Additionally, I’d point to advertising and MTV. It is there that we see trends. Not quite the avante garde, but following a bit later in terms of style, editing, technology. I’m seeing a resurgence of 2D animation there - because of its distinct look and feel (Starbucks, Folgers, Charmin, Wheat Thins...) My prediction is that 3D animation, water effects and fractals will eventually go the way of spinning chrome. The wow factor of the technical aspects won’t be enough to draw us in. (Look at Final Fantasy as an example).

Your first assertion is the nut - it’s narrative that drives the audience.

By: chuck

chuck — Tue, 02 Sep 2003 15:52:42 +0000

Interesting comments. I found B&G’s comments quite persuasive when I first read them, but on recently revisiting them for a paper, I’ve found their concept of “immediacy” a bit broad for my tastes.

Still, the idea of older and newer media forms drawing represntational strategies from eqach oethr makes sense to me. I also think they might be glossing this economic point that you make--CD players, VCRs, DVD players, and computers are designed to be disposable in ways that earlier “industrial” technologies aren’t (turntable, movie projector, etc).

I think (hope) we’ll see nostalgic revivals of 2D whenever it becomes financially profitable. Disney (Lucas does this, too) has the habit of creating demand by offering something “for a limited time,” then withdrawing it (usually video/DVD versions of their animated classics). So, I’m guessing that in a few years, they’ll bring back the 2D form we’ve grown to miss (probably the summer after one of their 3D films tanks).

That’s kind of a rambling comment, but it was a very suggestive post.