Kubrick

Stanley Kubrick is a highly-revered filmmaker who directed classic films, such as 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Shining, and Full Metal Jacket. I think Kubrick is a genius in many ways, and much of this is in the technique of his films. Perhaps the most prominent qualities of his cinematography are the composition and depth of the images. For instance, think of the twin girls in The Shining that are positioned in the center of the frame while in the middle of a long hallway. While at a Kubrick exhibit last year, I discovered that he once worked as a photographer for a magazine. It was then that I recognized his keen eye for motion pictures perhaps stems from his experience in capturing individual moments and telling stories through images.

The above image is captioned as: a shoeshine boy taking laundry to the laundry mat. Though this is discernible from the image, which conveys several layers of information. The character: the boy in the center of the frame. The objective: the boy carries a heavy bag and stops. The location: the apartments in the background indicate a city (New York) and the print on the window mentions wash, rinse and soap. From this single image, Kubrick is able to convey a story. I also appreciate the effect of the picture being taken from inside the store. The shadows and wood texture contrasts with the bright exterior and brick buildings.

I was immediately intrigued by the image shown above. Perhaps I am simply curious how the little fellow reached the top of the fence. Maybe it is the manipulation of size within the frame. In this image, Kubrick shows an environment much larger and daunting than the little boy. Even his position on the fence adds to the notion of danger since he is rather high up. I also like Kubrick’s use of foreground, middle ground, and background, demonstrating his use of depth. In that regard, there are three different stories or worlds being shown within the image, one is the boy, another is the apartment in the middle, and the other is the building far in the back.

One thing for sure about Stanley Kubrick is that he often creates strange images that appear confusing, but hold deeper significance. I won’t pretend that I know the true meaning behind this image. Though it is clear that Kubrick distorts reality by showing the small girl as equal in size to the massive roller coaster. This is largely accomplished through a low-angle shot and the appropriate distance between the girl and roller coaster. Unlike the other images, this isn’t simply an instance where Kubrick captures the moment, but a shot in which Kubrick creates his own image and meaning.