Week 5 - Question

 

  • What are the implications and benefits of 'manifestos', lists of limitations or rules for creative practice generally including your own activities?

A manifesto is a set of rules set out by an individual or group that have to be followed to be deemed part of that group. A famous film manifesto was the Dogme 95 film manifesto, within this there were rules set out to bring cinema to it's core values i.e focus on performance over special effects. This was a very famous film manifesto and could be deemed successful, but it definitely came with limitations as well as benefits.

The main limitation of this manifesto and others similar to it, is it can put you in a box. With 5 - 10 rules all set for you to follow it can be hard to find some uniqueness within that manifesto as there can be little room for maneuver. It can also create an issue with the creatives themselves, as if they are focusing to stay within the criteria of the manifesto, they are not necessarily letting their creativity show or develop. This was in fact one of the factors as to why the Dogme 95 movement ended when it did in the early 2000's. 

Although it puts you in a box, by having a manifesto and a set of rules it can begin to make it possible for people to adjust and follow the cause. For example, with Dogme 95, by having a set of rules, it was possible for anyone to see them and follow them. They may possibly be putting you into a box, but by doing so they allow for people to understand and follow the manifesto.

It also can highlight issues within the field the manifesto is about. Again looking at Dogme 95, the manifesto highlighted the issue of the core values of film being neglected with an over use of effects and technology. By highlighting the issue it could allow for change within that field; Dogme 95 was unable to do so, but other manifesto's could. 


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