Student Choice Film

For this post, find a film about a visual artist that you'd like to watch for the "students' choice" movie on Nov. 17. Explain why you chose the film and what you think it would contribute to the course. You may not have seen the film you choose, but do your best to express why you believe we should watch it in this class. A good place to start is the Internet Movie database: http://www.imdb.com/ (link to the right of the page).

The film that I would be interesting in seeing is "The Agony and the Ecstasy," which is a film about Michelangelo and his Sistine Chapel frescoes. The plot on imdb.com describes the movie as such: "The biographical story of Michelangelo's troubles while painting the Sistine Chapel at the urging of Pope Julius II." I think this movie would be really fascinating to watch for several reasons. First, the movies we have seen in class so far have been about "contemporary" artists-or at least artists in the 1900's (obviously, Artemisia is going to be the exception). It would be interesting to see how the director portrays an artist that we don't have any live interviews or life accounts from. Secondly, I am a big Michelangelo fan. I think his work at the Sistine Chapel is absolutely stunning. The work that he was able to do in such an extreme environment is exquisite. Lastly, I think the movie would be interesting to see if Michelangelo is depicted as a "troubled artist." When discussing artists that seem to have issues, I feel that Michelangelo's name is often neglected from the conversation. Was he mentally ill? Did he suffer from a different kind of addiction-possibly the addiction to fame? This movie has the potential to answer some questions we may have about one of the greatest artists of all time.