Comments on: Oscar-winning Saul Bass short on the nature of creativity http://boingboing.net/2011/01/23/oscar-winning-saul-b.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Tue, 21 May 2013 14:53:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: princeminski http://boingboing.net/2011/01/23/oscar-winning-saul-b.html#comment-1003531 princeminski Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1003531 No. No.

]]> By: Cowicide http://boingboing.net/2011/01/23/oscar-winning-saul-b.html#comment-1003533 Cowicide Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1003533 Did anyone else notice the Beck song at about 10 min in? Did anyone else notice the Beck song at about 10 min in?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/01/23/oscar-winning-saul-b.html#comment-1003537 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1003537 I just located a copy of this a few days ago. (The exact same copy that got posted to You-Tube.) I had been looking for a copy for about 30 years. (They used to show this in school when I was a kid.) Do a Google search and you can find a torrent for this. BTW, the only DVD I can find for this short film retails for $125. It is prices like this that turn people to video piracy. (Like William Marshall, RIP.) I just located a copy of this a few days ago. (The exact same copy that got posted to You-Tube.) I had been looking for a copy for about 30 years. (They used to show this in school when I was a kid.)

Do a Google search and you can find a torrent for this.

BTW, the only DVD I can find for this short film retails for $125. It is prices like this that turn people to video piracy. (Like William Marshall, RIP.)

]]> By: elliotharmon http://boingboing.net/2011/01/23/oscar-winning-saul-b.html#comment-1003566 elliotharmon Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1003566 The $125 price is for schools and libraries. Individuals can buy it for $50 (which is still a little steep). http://www.pyramiddirect.com/cart/productpage.html?title_id=1312 The $125 price is for schools and libraries. Individuals can buy it for $50 (which is still a little steep). http://www.pyramiddirect.com/cart/productpage.html?title_id=1312

]]> By: Mark Crummett http://boingboing.net/2011/01/23/oscar-winning-saul-b.html#comment-1003569 Mark Crummett Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1003569 Wow, does that bring back memories of high school English class! The part that stayed with me for 40 years? "Allah be praised! I've invented the zero! " What?" "Nothing, nothing." Wow, does that bring back memories of high school English class! The part that stayed with me for 40 years? “Allah be praised! I’ve invented the zero! ” What?” “Nothing, nothing.”

]]> By: Cowicide http://boingboing.net/2011/01/23/oscar-winning-saul-b.html#comment-1003576 Cowicide Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1003576 <blockquote>$125</blockquote> Ugh.. dumb price. They might as well host the torrent file there right under the price.

$125

Ugh.. dumb price. They might as well host the torrent file there right under the price.

]]> By: agreenster http://boingboing.net/2011/01/23/oscar-winning-saul-b.html#comment-1003592 agreenster Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1003592 Great handwriting! Great handwriting!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/01/23/oscar-winning-saul-b.html#comment-1003865 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1003865 Wow, thanks so much for this. In the late 1970s, my best friend's dad worked for Pyrimid (this educational film company). It all seemed really exciting to me, and I even got to dub my voice for one sentence in one of his films (which was probably convenient, to have free child voice actors). My friend's dad went on to work on the (then new) Star Trek movies, then for Lucas, which meant the family moved away. Dads like this really inspire kids to do creative stuff, and look toward interesting vocations. Wow, thanks so much for this. In the late 1970s, my best friend’s dad worked for Pyrimid (this educational film company). It all seemed really exciting to me, and I even got to dub my voice for one sentence in one of his films (which was probably convenient, to have free child voice actors). My friend’s dad went on to work on the (then new) Star Trek movies, then for Lucas, which meant the family moved away. Dads like this really inspire kids to do creative stuff, and look toward interesting vocations.

]]> By: katkins http://boingboing.net/2011/01/23/oscar-winning-saul-b.html#comment-1003624 katkins Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1003624 Like Planettom, I've remembered this since Junior High School but had no idea how to find it. "I'm not a bug, not a germ, not a bug, not a germ..." Yay!! Like Planettom, I’ve remembered this since Junior High School but had no idea how to find it.

“I’m not a bug, not a germ, not a bug, not a germ…”

Yay!!

]]> By: daemonsquire http://boingboing.net/2011/01/23/oscar-winning-saul-b.html#comment-1003632 daemonsquire Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1003632 At 7:18, her milkshake brings all the boys to the yard. At 7:18, her milkshake brings all the boys to the yard.

]]> By: planettom http://boingboing.net/2011/01/23/oscar-winning-saul-b.html#comment-1003393 planettom Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1003393 This came out in 1968. When I was in junior high school, 1979 or so, the teachers would show it in our 7th and 8th grade art classes. Years later, I was trying to figure out what the heck that was, but, that was pre-Internet. I remember posting some messages on some BBS systems, asking, "Does anybody know what that little animated short is where they build a tower of history?" This came out in 1968. When I was in junior high school, 1979 or so, the teachers would show it in our 7th and 8th grade art classes. Years later, I was trying to figure out what the heck that was, but, that was pre-Internet. I remember posting some messages on some BBS systems, asking, “Does anybody know what that little animated short is where they build a tower of history?”

]]> By: Phlip http://boingboing.net/2011/01/23/oscar-winning-saul-b.html#comment-1003396 Phlip Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1003396 Sweet holy f----balls, I was just thinking about that short yesterday! Thank you BB! Same back-story as planettom. Darn that internet for making information much TOO accessible! Sweet holy f—-balls, I was just thinking about that short yesterday! Thank you BB!

Same back-story as planettom. Darn that internet for making information much TOO accessible!

]]> By: rwmj http://boingboing.net/2011/01/23/oscar-winning-saul-b.html#comment-1003398 rwmj Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1003398 It's worth tracking down "Phase IV" directed by Saul Bass. For years and years it wasn't available on video, but a decentish DVD was released a couple of years ago. Definitely the best intelligent ants film ever :-) It’s worth tracking down “Phase IV” directed by Saul Bass. For years and years it wasn’t available on video, but a decentish DVD was released a couple of years ago. Definitely the best intelligent ants film ever :-)

]]> By: jimkirk http://boingboing.net/2011/01/23/oscar-winning-saul-b.html#comment-1003412 jimkirk Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1003412 Very nice. I was glad to find another Oscar winning short available on youtube; "Great!" by Bob Godfrey, an animated biography of Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Part 1 starts here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHg1W9kArwQ and some background info here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073068/ Sort of a blend of Terry Gilliam's animation and School House Rock. I first saw it on the old PBS show "Academy Shorts", spotlighting those films that win Oscars but few people get a chance to see. Gosh I miss that program. And oh yes, I remember seeing Phase IV in a theater, I'll have to look for that. Very nice. I was glad to find another Oscar winning short available on youtube; “Great!” by Bob Godfrey, an animated biography of Isambard Kingdom Brunel.

Part 1 starts here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHg1W9kArwQ
and some background info here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073068/

Sort of a blend of Terry Gilliam’s animation and School House Rock.

I first saw it on the old PBS show “Academy Shorts”, spotlighting those films that win Oscars but few people get a chance to see. Gosh I miss that program.

And oh yes, I remember seeing Phase IV in a theater, I’ll have to look for that.

]]> By: jeligula http://boingboing.net/2011/01/23/oscar-winning-saul-b.html#comment-1003679 jeligula Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1003679 Saul Bass was one groovy cat. Is it just me, or does that era as depicted seem so hopelessly pathetic and dark? Saul Bass was one groovy cat. Is it just me, or does that era as depicted seem so hopelessly pathetic and dark?

]]> By: Birdseed http://boingboing.net/2011/01/23/oscar-winning-saul-b.html#comment-1003426 Birdseed Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1003426 I "like" how the entire history section with hundreds of characters contains two women, one in a tutu and one bare-chested. I “like” how the entire history section with hundreds of characters contains two women, one in a tutu and one bare-chested.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/01/23/oscar-winning-saul-b.html#comment-1003685 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1003685 anyone else OUTRAGED about the anachronism in showing tchaikovsky before beethoven? anyone else OUTRAGED about the anachronism in showing tchaikovsky before beethoven?

]]> By: MadRat http://boingboing.net/2011/01/23/oscar-winning-saul-b.html#comment-1005225 MadRat Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1005225 Seems like most of us who've seen it, saw it in middle school/junior high. You'd think someone would find all the Oscar winning shorts and put them on DVD at least. I mean c'mon, they're Oscar winners, that has to count for something! It's impossible to find the nominees. Seems like most of us who’ve seen it, saw it in middle school/junior high. You’d think someone would find all the Oscar winning shorts and put them on DVD at least. I mean c’mon, they’re Oscar winners, that has to count for something! It’s impossible to find the nominees.

]]> By: SMurph http://boingboing.net/2011/01/23/oscar-winning-saul-b.html#comment-1003440 SMurph Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1003440 Trivia note: you can see part of this film in the second X-Men movie; in the scene at the museum near the start of the film it's showing on a monitor in the background... Trivia note: you can see part of this film in the second X-Men movie; in the scene at the museum near the start of the film it’s showing on a monitor in the background…

]]> By: VagabondAstronomer http://boingboing.net/2011/01/23/oscar-winning-saul-b.html#comment-1003467 VagabondAstronomer Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1003467 Like Planettom and Philip, similar back story though a few years earlier (1976). I doubt they'd show anything like this today here in the business mecca of the deep south. Thanks Cory, good memories here. Like Planettom and Philip, similar back story though a few years earlier (1976). I doubt they’d show anything like this today here in the business mecca of the deep south.
Thanks Cory, good memories here.

]]> By: usfoodpolicy http://boingboing.net/2011/01/23/oscar-winning-saul-b.html#comment-1003727 usfoodpolicy Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1003727 There is so much fascinating history that lies outside of that much-recounted linear story running through cavemen, pyramids, Greeks, Romans, dark ages, Renaissance, France, England, America. Related to another recent boingboing post, one reason I have liked Wikipedia so much in recent years is that it lets you follow history in other directions. The right navigation sidebars to historical articles are very well done. You can follow a royal family, or a map, or a national history, or some other link, to put the story together in your own way. Hard to explain the line of searches that connected these Wikipedia pages: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varangians">Varangians</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_of_Brazil">Empire of Brazil</> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_Tolstoy">Tolstoy</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tecumseh">Tecumseh</a> But it feels like an amateur reader could spend a lifetime reading great and true stories that never showed up in the "edifice" in that video. There is so much fascinating history that lies outside of that much-recounted linear story running through cavemen, pyramids, Greeks, Romans, dark ages, Renaissance, France, England, America.

Related to another recent boingboing post, one reason I have liked Wikipedia so much in recent years is that it lets you follow history in other directions. The right navigation sidebars to historical articles are very well done. You can follow a royal family, or a map, or a national history, or some other link, to put the story together in your own way.

Hard to explain the line of searches that connected these Wikipedia pages:
Varangians
Empire of Brazil
Tolstoy
Tecumseh

But it feels like an amateur reader could spend a lifetime reading great and true stories that never showed up in the “edifice” in that video.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/01/23/oscar-winning-saul-b.html#comment-1003475 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1003475 sorry, but i always thought bass was overrated. he did some fine things, but too much of his work, like this for instance, doesn't age well. sorry, but i always thought bass was overrated. he did some fine things, but too much of his work, like this for instance, doesn’t age well.

]]> By: doingsitups http://boingboing.net/2011/01/23/oscar-winning-saul-b.html#comment-1003732 doingsitups Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1003732 People talk strangely back in those days. People talk strangely back in those days.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/01/23/oscar-winning-saul-b.html#comment-1003490 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1003490 video 2 @ 2:28 bouncy starts saying "boing boing" video 2 @ 2:28 bouncy starts saying “boing boing”

]]> By: Cholice Ketteridge http://boingboing.net/2011/01/23/oscar-winning-saul-b.html#comment-1003491 Cholice Ketteridge Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1003491 is that Donald Sutherland? is that Donald Sutherland?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/01/23/oscar-winning-saul-b.html#comment-1003495 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1003495 Also, the myth that people believed the earth was flat in the middle ages is perpetuated here. Also, the myth that people believed the earth was flat in the middle ages is perpetuated here.

]]> By: CLamb http://boingboing.net/2011/01/23/oscar-winning-saul-b.html#comment-1003505 CLamb Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1003505 I think it just reflects the prejudices of the era in which it was made. It also perpetuates the old bigot's tale about the Church in the middle ages teaching that the earth is flat. A delightful piece of work though. Some of the voices sound like those from the Rocky & Bullwinkle show. Did the same person do the voiceovers? I think it just reflects the prejudices of the era in which it was made. It also perpetuates the old bigot’s tale about the Church in the middle ages teaching that the earth is flat.

A delightful piece of work though. Some of the voices sound like those from the Rocky & Bullwinkle show. Did the same person do the voiceovers?

]]> By: Jack http://boingboing.net/2011/01/23/oscar-winning-saul-b.html#comment-1003765 Jack Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1003765 This is my favorite short film of all time: Help! My Snowman's Burning Down http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwAPV-MvK6w This is my favorite short film of all time: Help! My Snowman’s Burning Down

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwAPV-MvK6w

]]> By: WizarDru http://boingboing.net/2011/01/23/oscar-winning-saul-b.html#comment-1004278 WizarDru Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1004278 Wow. So much outrage, so little time? I'm really stunned what little things seem to bother people about this. A 24 minute film that spends about five minutes on an incredibly abbreviated history of the world and everyone concerned about how literal it is, how accurate it is and so on. Yes, there are plenty of historical inaccuracies...but I think you're missing the forest for the trees, here. The Flat Earth Myth is as popular as the 'you only use 10% of your brain' myth. Worth noting, but getting annoyed at a short subject made over 40 years ago seems a bit silly. There's plenty to be annoyed about, if you're looking to be outraged: a relative lack of representation of any ethnicity but Caucasians and African-Americans; the overall assumption of Christianity, male dominance and western culture; the strawmen of conservative thought, etc. But I think you have to both look to intent (Creativity is GOOD, we create for many reasons) and the time when this was made and then make allowances. As for the 'didn't age well'...well, that's definitely IYHO. Wow. So much outrage, so little time? I’m really stunned what little things seem to bother people about this. A 24 minute film that spends about five minutes on an incredibly abbreviated history of the world and everyone concerned about how literal it is, how accurate it is and so on.

Yes, there are plenty of historical inaccuracies…but I think you’re missing the forest for the trees, here. The Flat Earth Myth is as popular as the ‘you only use 10% of your brain’ myth. Worth noting, but getting annoyed at a short subject made over 40 years ago seems a bit silly. There’s plenty to be annoyed about, if you’re looking to be outraged: a relative lack of representation of any ethnicity but Caucasians and African-Americans; the overall assumption of Christianity, male dominance and western culture; the strawmen of conservative thought, etc.

But I think you have to both look to intent (Creativity is GOOD, we create for many reasons) and the time when this was made and then make allowances. As for the ‘didn’t age well’…well, that’s definitely IYHO.

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