Single Idea 20425

[catalogued under 21. Aesthetics / C. Artistic Issues / 4. Emotion in Art]

Full Idea

One notices in the visions of the cinematograph that whatever emotions are aroused by them, though they are likely to be weaker than those of ordinary life, are presented more clearly to the conscious.

Clarification

'Cinematograph' of 1909, pre- Charlie Chaplin

Gist of Idea

In the cinema the emotions are weaker, but much clearer than in ordinary life

Source

Roger Fry (An Essay in Aesthetics [1909], p.25)

Book Reference

Fry,Roger: 'Vision and Design' [Penguin 1937], p.25


A Reaction

Fry had probably only seen very simple melodramas, but the general idea that artistic emotions are weaker than real life, but much clearer, is quite plausible.