What is the Ecstatic Truth - Assignment Example

What is “ecstatic truth?” Herzog said "I elevate [erheben] the spectator, before he has even seen the first frame, to a high level, from which to enter the film. And I, the author of the film, do not let him descend from this height until it is over. Only in this state of sublimity [Erhabenheit] does something deeper become possible, a kind of truth that is the enemy of the merely factual". Ecstatic truth is giving the viewer a high expectation of the central character reaching his highest goal.

There is an element of existentialism as we become part of the central character as we become so involved with the film. Ecstatic truth is beyond the apparent fact. It transcends reality and is a manifestation of what goes on within the person. Where does Werner Herzog find this truth in the videos by Timothy Treadwell? Werner Herzog finds this truth in two points in the set of videos. He shows the museum curator explaining that Treadwell did something the Indians hadn't done in 7000 years. Tim was a man overly obsessed with nature and crossed the territory bounds that were never meant to be crossed.

Men were not made to associate with bears. When the father killed the cub so the mother would stop lactating, Tim never acknowledge that the bears were carnivores. He was sad and cried. Herzog showed that this obsession lead to his demise. The film started on the positive point that death is without fear. Treadwell talks about death, perseverance, and being a samurai. A fearless death is where you survive. He shows an unreality in wanting to become a bear or fight like a bear. In the thirteen years he was going to Alaska, he learned their behaviors.

He cried when they suffered; he cried when they ate each other. His thought his friendship with them was real. Herzog's changes the truth of Treadwell's insight into nature as becoming the insight into our inner beings. His insight into nature also becomes the viewers insight into Ted's inner character. How is “ecstatic truth” like and unlike Bazin’s celebrated "objectif"? Andre Bazin's objective reality shows documentaries as facts without any deviation from what is on the screen. The camera is a tool to show realism as though the viewer is watching the events himself.

The "ecstatic truth" starts with an optimistic portrayal of the facts as a means of personal growth or transformation. They are both similar in the first 5 minutes; in their stating the events, but then the ecstatic truth deviates by showing a divergence of different movements: personal growth or descent, different motives or other emotions. Objective reality is without emotions. Ecstatic truth has the viewer sitting on the edge of his chair; expecting him to hold his breath until the end of the film.

An example of an Objective Reality would have been the HBO "The Queen" which was a documentary about the life and daily events of Queen Elisabeth. It was interesting; to the point; and had no emotional involvement from the audience. Timothy Treadwell's videos shows a human interest story which contain fact and personal involvement with a life dream. They also show a transformation from a troubled man to a man at peace with the nature. He learned to love nature but never learned to master it. We as viewers were enthralled that he was so obsessed with the idea that he could control natures' instincts.

Something he never did. Word Count: 580