The Art and the Artist
Are you not entertained? Screams Maximus (played brilliantly by Russel Crowe) in the movie “Gladiator” after singlehandedly taking down a horde of warriors in the colosseum. The question belies the rage, the frustration and the sadness the character feels and the audience ignorantly goes on to cheer his achievements and gives him a standing ovation. At that moment, as the camera pans across his face Maximus you can see that Maximus is not elated at the reception but is rather exasperated. The cinematography brilliantly conveys the disconnect between the warrior and the crowd to the viewer without the need for words. Every time i see somebody perform in front of the crowd my mind juxtaposes this image. Do we really understand the message the artist is trying to convey or do we blindly seek to validate our selfish interests? We the people, have an insatiable yearning for action, humor and drama. The earliest documented form of theater is from the 5th century! Even today, offi...