“Blind Representation”: On the Epic Naiveté of the Cinema (original) (raw)

This essay explores Theodor Adorno's reflections on the cinematic medium through the lens of aesthetic rationality and the historical context of technological advancement. It analyzes the paradox of computer-generated imagery in films, such as Terminator 2 and Jurassic Park, highlighting the need for these images to be 'degraded' to match traditional filmic aesthetics. Furthermore, it addresses the implications of montage as a convergence of artistic autonomy and external rationalities, ultimately discussing the transformative nature of epic language and its relationship to representation and meaning.