Arts Explorer #5: Eternal Sunshine

Art word of the week: Balance

"Balance involves how an artist uses positive and negative space"  (Schirrmacher & Fox, 2009, P 142). I chose this word because it metaphorically speaks for the movie. The balance between removing the negative space of remembering someone you use to love and the positive space between wanting them. 

This is the conversation that my partner Krystal and I had about Eternal Sunshine.

Krystal: Hey girl how did you find the movie Eternal Sunshine?

Katherine: It was good. weird at first, didnt get it, but near the end....things started coming together. How about you?

Krystal: At first I was very confused. The beginning started of oddly

Katherine: I agree. half way through the beginning, the introduction came on...saying the actors and the publication...i was lost! lol

Krystal: Exactly!!

Katherine: I really liked how you were able to see the process of him forgetting about clementine 
Krystal: I found that pretty interesting and I liked the twist at the end when she went to go get Joel erased from her memory. I found the whole aspect of removing your memories pretty interesting

Katherine: How would you feel if there was a way to remove someone from your memory completely? would you do it?

Krystal: Honestly I don't know if I would consider removing someone from my memory. I believe people come and go from your lives for a reason. There is a purpose why they came into your life at that time. Whether it's a positive or negative. how about you?

Katherine: The concept of removing someone is definitely interesting but i wouldnt erase someone, especially on Valentines Day. People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. And simply by removing them just because they broke your heart or because of hatred, it just isnt ethical

Krystal: I completely agree. The concept of removing someone is interesting but what happens if they erased some of your other memories by accident?

Katherine: That’s what im afraid of. For example, for me n Tim...if i erased the memory of us going to the AGO and seeing the King Tut Exhibit...because hes in that memory, ill probably loose it. And like you said, how can someone be sure that other memories wont get erased. WHAT i also found interesting was when he wanted to wake up and tell them to stop....THAT would freak me out!

Krystal: Exactly! Joel wanted some of the good memories he had with Clementine and he couldn't tell them to stop erasing. That was sad and kinda scary at the same time.I liked how they would use the artifacts, how they made them feel and what memories they were attached too. That was pretty neat how they would use those to find the memories to be erased.

Katherine: Yeah! I liked that too! And it shows how significant those artifacts mean to you. You may think a fork is just a fork but its the memories behind it. i also liked the way things started disappearing in the background

Krystal: It's pretty interesting how we as individuals attach meanings to such small things that mean such a big deal to us. Yeah, showing how there memories were being erased right in front of them.

Katherine: The idea of memories is a very sacred thing and i think its what makes us human. If we dont have memories, then..in my opinion....we wouldnt be able to continue our everyday lives. would you recommend this movie to someone???

Krystal: I agree, we all create memories and that;s what keeps us healthy and living by creating new ones. I would recommend this movie to someone BUT I would tell them you have to pay close attention throughout or you'll become confused and lost very easily.

Katherine: I’m not one for movies that are confusing and try to make you think but i guess thats why they are so popular...try watching inception...now thats...weird. Why do u think this movie was an independent film?

Krystal: But it keeps you watching and guessing throughout the entire movie. You don't loose interest quickly. Inception was an amazing movie had to watch it twice made more sense the second time. It is an independent film because it has more of a creative aspect and not everyone interested in the arts 
Krystal: Well Katherine it was a joy discussing this independent film with you!!

  

Reference
Schirrmacher, R., & Fox, J.E. (2009). Art and creative development for young children 

        (6th Ed.). Belmont, CA: Delmar