Red and green are complimentary colors. In the context of a painting, they can be placed side by side for an eye catching effect. The pigments viewed in parallel, appear to be loud or more intense. If you mix them, a curious thing happens; the fight for dominance ends and they cancel each other out.
In class, the practice mystified me. They were stark in close proximity, but together they were mute. I also tried purple and yellow, and then orange with blue; each mixture produced a different gray, but the results were very similar. The best way I can describe it, is the joining of two elements to make a unique third. There is no visible clue of origin, and the parent colors lose their identities.
I think you can look at complementary art, in much the same way. Poems and paint are very different things, but with just enough of each, you can create something that stands alone. Reasonably then, we can also suppose that in juxtaposition, they become more pronounced. For proof, consider movies and music together, before imagining them apart.
Classic Movie Trailers - Fantasia (1940)
Over time, this film has developed a loyal following, but for me it disappoints in a significant way. If we could interpret the segments ourselves, we would take so much more from the experience. As it is, the meaning and origin of the art is dictated to us, before we even see it. They are interesting facts, and they add spoken word to a movie without dialogue, but they take away so much.
Had I been there, I would have argued that interpretation is vital. Movies are not lectures, and we shouldn't prepare for a test at the end. The methods behind the art are harmful distractions, and Fantasia's focus is crystal clear. Sounds and sights are happily married, in a way that is mutually beneficial.
Synchronization is nothing new. I doubt the forties dawned it's invention. If we examined cinema closely, we would see it's presence everywhere. Action and dialogue draw us away, but here they didn't have to; here, they could have followed behind.
The missed opportunity negates all the positives. Despite that conviction however, I'm convinced they still exist. Audio is never so beautiful, when devoid of matching imagery. When they are together though, no explanation is necessary.
I pray you'll forgive the same crime, but I think an admission is warranted; music inspires painting and is inspired by it. You've probably considered that, but experience is the best teacher. Revelation shines a light brighter than facts do alone. The key displayed before the puzzle steals a valuable exercise.
Consider yourself for a moment, and assume you hold a creative genius. This priceless thing is locked away and is yet to be discovered. Daily life is spent with a barrier you have failed to acknowledge. It prevents you from progressing, but a few notes can erode that strength. A simple breach could be the catalyst for an incredible breakthrough.
What we see in this movie, is artwork made under crippling conditions. Invisible chains were secured and they held the animators back. I'm dismayed by thoughts of what could have been, if they were laid aside. Unfortunately, they weren't left with a puzzle; the key was provided to them in advance and it limited all the results.
We were still treated with centaurs, and Pegasus lived alongside his family. Flora danced before fauna, and the planet was born somewhere in between. Maybe the art is more remarkable, given the limitations. Ultimately however, there is no way to know the alternatives.
What I can say, is an important note regarding creativity. Writers need writing and artists need art, but those aren't the only requirements. A medium that looks frequently inward cannibalizes itself. If the crop is to survive, there has to be cross-pollination.
I can give you the information college has given me. I can tell you about certain colors, and how they work together in equal quantities. What I can not do, is explain what happens when they are mixed unequally. Some things can't be told, and life is about discovery.
Trailer Here.
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See "Fantasia" on Netflix!
Next Week: "Mulan"
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