Kristine McCarthy October 1, 2000 I think Watchel formed a very good, accurate arguement in saying that cave paintings are cinematic. Much like movies, when cave paintings are seen in a certain way they show qualities that can be seen as cinematic. Once you look at cave paintings under a firelight things are seen much differently. They seem to move, disappear, reapper, and even change shape and color, just like a movie. When seen in this light these paintings no longer seem to be scribbled and disorderly, but rather very well thought out. Because of the irregular surfaces on the cave walls, light sources that flicker, and a moving eye, movie-like effects are created in the paintings.
This makes images visible from some viewpoints and not from others. When surfaces are irregular and unpredictable, and when the cave painter has intentionally used these surfaces as part of his work, even the trained and restricted eye of modern man can be fooled and delighted under the proper conditions. Maybe these paleolithic artists had this cinematc style of cave painting in mind from the start. It’s amazing to think that people thought to paint “movement” so long If expression in oral cultures tends to be redundant, why would it change when writing is invented? Well, once writing rolled around there was no need to be repetitive when actually writing because the words are there for the reader to look at over and over as much as he or she wants. Writing changed many features of oral thought and expression. Redundancy was already discussed, however, another thing writing changed was a rhythmic pattern. The pattern was used to make it easier for listeners to remember what was said. However, once things are written down there is no longer a need to remember it; it’ll always be right there for you to see.
The Essay on Lascaux cave paintings
On September 12, 1940 in Dordogne, France, four men named Marcel Ravidat, Jacques Marsal, Simon Coencas, and Georges Agniel, came upon a long forgotten cave- Lascaux. The Lascaux cave, now a World Heritage site, has been called the Lascaux bestiary. A revolution occurred in the creation of art during the Upper Paleolithic Era in Europe. Beginning around 40,000 B. C. , records shows that modern ...
Another feature of oral communication that writing changed was how formulaic it was. It needed to be this way in order for listeners to follow without getting confused, because unlike with writing a listener can’t “go back” to see what was missed. Writing isn’t as emotionally involving as oral communicaiton is. When someone is actually speaking to you the sound and tones to that persons voice really captures a listener, whereas with writing it is easier for the mind to just wander off the topic or to not be as interested in it. Writing has changed so many aspects of oral thought and expression, but for the most part it has made life much easier.
