Similarities Between Style Wars and Cave of Forgotten Dreams - Essay Example

Similarities between Style Wars and Cave of Forgotten DreamsThough the two documentaries listed above are just one generation apart in years released, the films focus on “writers” who are eons apart: the cave painters of the Chauvet-Pont-d'Arc Cave in southern France, and the graffiti writers of New York City during the initial hip-hop movement. The artists in both setups try to bring out the historic aspect of the human race (Bradshow, 1). Those in Cave of the Forgotten Dreams lived in the early days, and they did their painting and art on walls of caves while those in Style Wars are the New York youths who used walls of structures to showcase their art talent.

In the documentary of cave of the forgotten dreams, paintings dating back to nearly 5,000 years were found in the Chauvet cave in southern France. These paintings signify some of the historical activities carried out by the early man. Likewise, Style Wars writers brings out the history and evolution of hip hop in the late twentieth century in New York City. Most of the New York City’s youth did graffiti and break dancing as it was their culture by then. The two documentaries are historic because they bring out the two end points: the beginning and end of man’s evolution and some activities carried out by man in the past.

In the production of both documentaries there were hiccups and huddles that had to be faced to attain the final product. In Style of Wars, funding was a major problem though unfavorable climates for graffiti drawing also did hinder the production. On the other hand in Cave Of The Forgotten Dreams there were some notable difficulties in working with the 3-D cameras (Bradshaw, 1). At the time of production, 3-D films were typically shot on stages with heavy use of digital manipulation. Often, foreground and background elements would be shot separately and digitally composited into the finished shot.

Techniques for 3-D filmmaking in natural environments with a single camera and no compositing were largely undeveloped, and had to be worked out experimentally by the crew in post-production. The producer (Herzog) in seeking permission to film the inside of the cave had to labor for the government of France at a salary of one euro (Bradshaw, 1). In the long run, both sets are provided with assistance with Style Wars getting finances from the corporation for public broadcasting while in Cave of the Forgotten Dreams, Herzog succeeded in his quest to film in the cave Artists in Style wars did engage in other activities like bboying and rapping though in a lesser extent (Delerme, 1).

The writers in the documentary Cave Of The Forgotten Dreams did engage in music as portrayed by the musical instrument found in another cave. The instruments resembled tiny twig with spaced holes. Style Wars play a great roll in preserving public art that does not exist today in New York City. It is worth noting that this category of art will definitely be of great importance to the coming generation. Similarly, works from the Cave Of The Forgotten Dreams are of great importance to the current and coming generation.

This is because there has been a cultural preservation through various works of art in addition to musical instruments. It will be paradoxical to forget noting that both writers from Style Wars and Cave Of The Forgotten Dreams play a great roll in the preservation of culture through their fascinating artistic work. Producers from both documentaries used archaic ways of expressing their passion in art. Cave Of The Forgotten Dreams existed in an era where writing material were yet to be discovered and produced and the only way to express oneself in writing was by putting it on tablets that were stone walls in caves.

Artists in Style Wars had all the advantage of technology, but they chose to hold on to what their forefathers started, writing and painting on walls. In due course, they had to face the wrath of the mayor Ed Koch and the police because of their continuous infringement of rights of property owners’ rights by drawing and painting on their walls. In both cases, the artist put their day to day life encounters in drawings and graffiti. For instance: in the Cave of Forgotten Dreams the drawings were of animals given the fact that man was a hunter while in Style of Wars the artists were musicians, and they drew their favorite musicians and dance moves on the walls of structures (Bradshow, 1).

These two films form an integral part in the relaying of cultural information from one generation to another though they are eons apart. The legendary kings of graffiti and b-boys of New York own a special place in the hip hop pantheon with Style Wars becoming an emblem of the original embrace as it spread from underground towns, uptown streets, club and playgrounds to the whole world. The Cave of Forgotten Dreams provides an unforgettable cinematic experience that brings out an extraordinary glimpse of human hand’s pristine artwork dating back to over 30,000 years ago.

Works CitedBradshaw, Peter. “Cave of Forgotten Dreams- review.” 2011. Web. 17 Dec. 2012. Delerme, Felipe. “Style Wars Revisited.” 2012.Web. 17 Dec. 2012.