Critical Writing Index

Lights, Camera, Bad Art: Jeni Baker goes to the movies

by Jeni Baker

Oval Office, Sept. 1998, v. 2, no. 2

Jeni Baker discusses a trend in film, especially Hollywood film, in which directors "...delight in making anyone remotely connected to the art world cringe". Baker argues that Hollywood films present the art world in a ridiculous, embarassing and off-putting light, with performance artists getting the most flak. Baker also discusses some films that portray the art world insightfully.

ITEM 1998.104 – available for viewing in the Research Centre

Videos, Artworks and Artists Cited

The GeneralJohn Boorman

The Letter WriterVermeer

2 Days in the ValleyJohn Herzfeld

As Good as it GetsGraham Knuttel

If Lucy FellJames Brooks

Great ExpectationsEric Schaeffer

Age of InnocenceAlfonso Cuaron

Life LessonsFrancesco Clemente

SeinfeldMartin Scorsese

Legal EaglesMartin Scorsese

Surviving PicassoIvan Reitman

BasquiatJames Ivory

Lust for LifeJulian Schnabel

La Belle NoiseuseVincente Minnelli

Jacques Rivette