Film and Aesthetics

Aestheticians have long discussed a special type of artistic experience distinct from the ordinary everyday existence: aesthetic experience. Although the aesthetic experience is most often associated with one's response to art, it may also be purposefully engineered. This may often be seen directly in the specific name carried by an artwork piece such as Michelangelo's 'David' or Botticelli's 'Birth of Venus'. In the world of film, there are several distinctive factors that help to create film aesthetic such as music, costumes and even the film's name. For this assignment, three films have been chosen and examined for how their title relates the meaning of the film and more specifically, the overall aesthetic impression of the film.

The first film chosen for this discussion was that of Midnight Cowboy (1969). This film follows the narrative of a Texas hustler as he leaves behind his life in Texas with its bad memories, to head for New York City where his goal is to become a monetarily successful hustler.

First of all, the title implies a cowboy. While he may have figuratively been seen as a cowboy, a man unconnected and seeking employment within the bounds of any barn that will have him, he is also a literal cowboy. The character was raised in Texas. While living with his grandmother who abused him physically, sexually and emotionally, he utilized a cowboy fantasy to escape. This fantasy was further emphasized by his grandmother's pet nickname for him (Lil cowboy

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he Chief uses his height to help MacMurphy to climb up and over (flying over the nest ever so briefly) the fence, into the tree and down into the bus that allows them all to have a glimpse of freedom outside of Nurse Ratchett. While fishing, all of them are free. Another character that the audience sympathizes with is that of Billy, who is in the institution voluntarily. Aesthetically, the audience is constantly reminded of the bars on the windows that resemble a bird's cage. Once Billy is given the chance to fly by being served a woman for the night, Ratchett brings to his attention how great the friendship is between his mother and her. He is reduced to his stuttering sputtering fearful self and the canary is forced to sing in another room. Aesthetically, he too escapes the cuckoo's nest, but through death. Another interesting aesthetic point is that of the facts surrounding the cuckoo. The cuckoo is commonly found in Germany. Generally considered a tree bird, cuckoos may also be found outside of the forest. Aesthetically, Ratchett was a woman of the human race, yet she was in charge of the nest outside the normal special bounds. Each male cuckoo maintains a large territory and defends it against competitors. Aesthetic

Category: Film - F