| ________________ CM . . .
. Volume VIII Number 3 . . . . October 5, 2001
War and media have long had a symbiotic relationship. While newspapers, television and the Internet are used as tools in propaganda campaigns, these same media use the graphic depiction of violence to help sell their product to the public. When did this interdependence begin, and why did these powerful subjects capture the imagination of a boy from southern Alberta? Moving Pictures is an autobiographical look at Canadian film maker and artist Colin Low's near-obsessive interest in war imagery. From his early days captivated by horses and fine engraving to his fascination with computers, Low began to see a parallel between the detailed workmanship of war art and the design of military technology. As the weapons evolved, so, too, did the ability to record their increasingly horrific impact on the human race. For Low, this realization was brought closer to home through the death of family and friends and work in a wartime mental hospital and ultimately had a profound impact on his art. Directed and narrated by Low, himself, Moving Pictures is a collage of black and white photos and footage, computer images, recreated battle scenes and close-ups showing the minute detail of early engravings. Throughout the film, Low uses his experiences to link art with war, revealing his passion for artistic skill and his dismay at the tragedy it records. While Moving Pictures will likely have limited interest for most young adults, its multi-layered approach makes it suitable for those interested in film making or military technology. The film also provides a fresh angle to discussions on the media and its role in armed conflicts, while introducing a lesser-known Canadian whose work has received numerous awards. Recommended. Tom Knutson is a public services librarian with Greater Victoria Public Library and past chair of the Young Adult and Children's Section of the BC Library Association.
To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca. Copyright � the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission. Published by NEXT REVIEW | TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THIS ISSUE - October 5, 2001. AUTHORS | TITLES | MEDIA REVIEWS | PROFILES | BACK ISSUES | SEARCH | CMARCHIVE | HOME |
