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Love it or hate it, The American Cinema by Andrew Sarris is a pivotal book in the history of film criticism. A proponent of the autuer theory, the idea films should be seen through lens of the director who is equivalent to the author of a novel, is popularized and explained. Sarris never claims auteur theory is the final word on criticism, but merely a lens with which to understand movies.
The book changed the way film goers about movies, in particular movies from the studio era. For a long time those films were viewed as no different Fords coming off an assembly line, the overwhelming majority serving as mediocre entertainments. Directors were viewed more as orchestra conductors instead of artists. Along with French New Wave filmmakers who energized by American film, these movies and their directors took on an entirely new meaning.
The book uses a creative ranking system, starting with the "Pantheon Directors." These were directors who not only innovators, but laid the foundations of cinema. Some of the list include Alfred Hitchcock, John Ford, Fritz Lang, Orson Welles, and Charles Chaplin. Many, many more directors are covered ranging from the familiar to the obscure. Ranging from near great to overrated, some of the essays are jaw dropping in their dismissals, especially for John Huston and Stanley Kubrick. Agree or disagree, there's a verve and power to the writing.
American Cinema should still be read by any student or fan of film. In a recent interview, Quentin Tarantino recalled stealing an edition from his school library. Good criticism should get under the skin and Sarris is not afraid for the occasional takedown. The book also calls for the reevaluation and unearths many forgotten films from directors no one remembers, serving as a crash course in film. Sarris allows the reader to look at film in a critical way - and makes you think about why you like what you like.
Limitations are also apparent. The work of female directors is for the most part ignored. Cinematography is mentioned, but there should be more on its relationship to direction. But Sarris freely admits the auteur approach may only apply to certain directors, those with a deep enough filmography.
One wonders how Sarris managed to see all these films long before home video. They were only available on television or maybe through available prints, living in New York may have given him more access. Regardless, the book is an impressive feat for its vivid prose and encyclopedic approach to film history.
One of the many concerns that have emerged from the Covid-19 pandemic has been elections and their integrity. America is in the middle of an election year with a general election scheduled for November. Wisconsin held in-person voting this week for their Primary, going against the advice of public health officials during a time when social distancing should be paramount. Hopefully, we will have seen the worst of this pandemic by November, but the problem will not have disappeared. Besides, there are many reasons for going to a Vote-by-Mail system beyond the current public health concerns.
Ohio took the drastic step of postponing their March Primary and has been encouraging voters to vote by mail. I received mine today as I've done in previous elections. Here are some advantages.
1) Avoid Election Day Lines - There's a sense of civic ritual of going into vote that's been highly valued in American history. But waiting in lines for hours on end on a weekday seems absurd in this day and age. It's too easy NOT TO VOTE under a system like this (speaking from personal experience). Getting a ballot by mail will bypass the obstacle of "election day."
2) Research the Candidates - There's no pressure with home voting either. You can do your own vetting of the candidates and come to a deliberate decision (as opposed to rushed one). The prominent positions get all the attention, but local positions are critical and all candidates should be vetted online.
3) Paper Ballot - A return to paper voting would alleviate technology concerns. We know hostile countries have tried to hack into American elections. So taking technology out of the equation would help ensure the integrity of the system and put those hackers out of business.
4) It's safer for all citizens - Public health concerns aside, voting by mail would make it easier for senior citizens to vote. Working families with busy schedules would not have to worry about getting to the polls in time.
5) Bi-Partisan Support - Despite statements by the President and some Republicans who fear voting by mail would favor Democrats since it would mean higher turnouts, there's little evidence to support the claim. As a NY Times article points out, there's actually widespread support in both parties for Vote-by-Mail. In fact, many Democrats have concerns about minority turnout if election goes to all mail, although the Times article never explains why. Republican officials here in Ohio have encouraged all mail voting - so evidence points to bi-partisan support.
6) Allows Elections to be Extended - Why not extend voting by a month, allowing everybody an equal chance to vote without scrambling at the last minute. Doing it all in one day always seems like a recipe for disaster as we saw in 2000 with Bush v Gore.
7) Curb Voter Suppression - Unfortunately voter suppression is on the rise. America has a long history of preventing African-Americans and other minorities from voting. Legislation during the Civil Rights era in the 1950s and 1960s was designed to stop literacy tests and poll taxes, common practices in the Jim Crow South to suppress the black vote. Recently, voter ID laws have been used to deny American citizens the right to vote. Without a picture ID, you can be denied your vote on election days. Limits on registration drives have also cut into turnout. These practices are anti-democratic and must be called out and stopped.
An informed citizenry is the lifeblood of democracy, mail-by-vote would allow for more and better informed voting. Not only is it critical every American have the right to vote, but the assurance their vote will be counted. Citizens voting from the comfort of their homes or designated locations will improve turnout and the health of democracy. So, stay at home and vote!
