Post-Classical and College

Hollywood is always bound for change. For better or for worse, movies will always evolve. The evolution, to me, is beautiful. Categories of film are created but originate or are influenced by previous film making styles. What is made today in movies emulates much of what we know as post-classical cinema. Post classical film making began in the 1960’s. What they also called it was New Hollywood. So many changes came about, mainly due to the new generation of what were the baby boomers. This generation was so profoundly different from their parents. Most of their parents, living after the war, had created an environment for their offspring that was very privileged. One of the great privileges was college. College helped Hollywood in many ways. Around World War II, when box offices were slow and no one had the money or interest in seeing a picture show, Hollywood suffered. When it started to pick up again, it was because college and it’s educated viewers and their cash. They had the money and they also came as critics, seeing the art and meaning in the films. The other great way was creativity. Much of the youth was restless, rebellious and awaiting something new and exciting. The ones who went to college and created films learned how to apply that and make it real. Many changes were made in films because of this feature. They introduced subject matter and styles that brought realism into cinema. Instead of the traditional movie, where it was all shot in a studio and was given a screenplay of a fantasy or a fairytale, the New Hollywood took the other route. They began making films that were shot in real locations, where people live and, of course, relate to. Dialogue and scenes became more realistic as well. Breaking of rules took place and violence and sex became a part of movies. Many critics didn’t take well to it. When Bonnie and Clyde came out, the critics were divided. With so much material that questioned morals; thieves, criminals, sex, and lots of violence, many enjoyed it anyway. Many did not though, “It may have shocked audiences, but it brought them to the box office in record numbers. Bonnie and Clyde also stirred up a battle among movie critics that seemed to be almost as violent as the film itself. Bosley Crowther of the New York Times was so offended by it that he reviewed it — negatively — three times.” [1] What can be said about this review though, is that Bosley Crowther was born in 1905. I’m sure he just didn’t want to accept the New Hollywood. I think this is exactly what the new generation hope to achieve; to shake the old ways and create a fearlessness of reality on screen.

Sources-
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,844256-7,00.html#ixzz15Ndnco8o
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bosley_Crowther