Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 339 - Apocalypse Now

    Uploaded by

    John Matthew
    11 views2 pages
    Coppola's 1979 film Apocalypse Now is about the psychological and emotional trauma of the Vietnam War. The film uses its 153-minute runtime and intense sound design to try and trigger in viewers a sense of the trembling and unrest experienced by veterans. The most damaged scenes show Captain Willard thrashing against his own restlessness and Colonel Kurtz accepting his own monstrousness. Willard's war-induced plunge into the primal and nihilistic parts of human nature cripples his ability to see himself in terms of Western morality. By the end of the film, both Willard and Kurtz have lost their sense of order and discipline, becoming immersed in the Dionysian state of consciousness that

    Original Description:

    Response to Apocalypse Now.

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Report this Document
    Coppola's 1979 film Apocalypse Now is about the psychological and emotional trauma of the Vietnam War. The film uses its 153-minute runtime and intense sound design to try and trigger in viewers a sense of the trembling and unrest experienced by veterans. The most damaged scenes show Captain Willard thrashing against his own restlessness and Colonel Kurtz accepting his own monstrousness. Willard's war-induced plunge into the primal and nihilistic parts of human nature cripples his ability to see himself in terms of Western morality. By the end of the film, both Willard and Kurtz have lost their sense of order and discipline, becoming immersed in the Dionysian state of consciousness that

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    11 views2 pages

    339 - Apocalypse Now

    Uploaded by

    John Matthew
    Coppola's 1979 film Apocalypse Now is about the psychological and emotional trauma of the Vietnam War. The film uses its 153-minute runtime and intense sound design to try and trigger in viewers a sense of the trembling and unrest experienced by veterans. The most damaged scenes show Captain Willard thrashing against his own restlessness and Colonel Kurtz accepting his own monstrousness. Willard's war-induced plunge into the primal and nihilistic parts of human nature cripples his ability to see himself in terms of Western morality. By the end of the film, both Willard and Kurtz have lost their sense of order and discipline, becoming immersed in the Dionysian state of consciousness that

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    of 2

    Boselli1

    JohnBoselli
    Dr.Cooper
    English339
    23April2013
    AfilmaboutVietnamonlyinsofarasitconcernsthepoeticsoftrauma,Coppollas1979Apocalypse
    NowisalittleSaigonofitsown;adreadfulsenseofinfertilityseemstopervadethepicturesjunglesand
    marshes,andits153minuteruntimeandbombasticsounddesignaimtotriggerintheaudienceatremblingthat
    apessomethingofaveteransexperience.BrandosColonelKurtzandhisdepravedpsychologicalwarfare
    wouldbelostonthefilmgoerswithoutSheensinertCaptainWillard.Attheirmostdamaged,weseeshotsin
    whichWillardthrashesagainsthisownrestlessness,andKurtzacceptshisownmonstrousness.(figures1.1,1.2)
    TheramificationsofWillardspsychoticbreakarerehashedinhisbleakmonologuethat
    opensthefilm.WhenIwashereIwantedtobethere.WhenIwasthere,allIcouldthinkofwas
    gettingbackintothejungle,heintones.HiswarmediatedplungeintotheDionysiantheprimal,nihilistic,
    sensualcoreofhumannaturecripplesWesternmoralityfromexertingitsformergripuponhim.Afterhe
    drunkenlyshattersamirrorwithhisfist,ourherocriesbecausehisselfperceptionisnolongercompatiblewith
    Americasgoodevilethicalstandards;therehasbeentoomuchdepravity.
    OurglimpseofKurtz,asheaddressesacaptiveWillard,showshimrubbinghisgleamingscalpamong
    fiercefirelightandshadows.KurtzhasgrownaccustomedtofeelingtheDionysianconsciousnessthatdriveshis
    assassin,andithasbecomehisnewApolloniantheordered,disciplinedstateofbeing.Associatedwiththe
    sun,Apolloiscertainlypresentintheotherworldlyglowoftheshot.WeseeBrandoscranium,theseatof
    Kurtzsintellect,ofthecolddistancingmechanismheusestosurvive.Ashelaydying,herediscoversthe
    devastatingweightofhumansuffering(Thehorror!Thehorror!);heisawashintheagonyoflifeinwar,and
    thefutilityofhisexperiences.Wemustwonder,though,ifWillard,too,needdieinorderforthefilmsnarrative
    tobeover;hiscoldcommitment(thefamousfogshot)tobutcheringKurtzsuggestsasmuch.

    Boselli2

    figure1.1

    figure1.2

    You might also like