Watch: Buster Keaton and The Art of The Gag
We have posted a few videos from Tony Zhou’s Every Frame a Painting before, and if you’ve watched them, you know that he is a big fan of inventive use of framing to tell jokes. Recently, he took a look at one of the greatest, most influential visual comedians of all time: Buster Keaton. Zhou examines how Keaton used the camera and the frame in inventive ways that filmmakers have been copying ever since.
I’ve been on a huge Buster Keaton kick lately since I read this book with my son. (Keaton’s life is endlessly fascinating, by the way. Fun fact: He got his nickname from Harry Houdini when he was a toddler.) We watched a bunch of Keaton’s movies and gags, and they all still work. This video essay will tell you why Keaton’s incredible gags hold up so well. Check it out.
Before Edgar Wright and Wes Anderson, before Chuck Jones and Jackie Chan, there was Buster Keaton, one of the founding fathers of visual comedy. And nearly 100 years after he first appeared onscreen, we’re still learning from him. Today, i’d like to talk about the artistry (and the thinking) behind his gags. Press the CC button to see the names of the films.
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Music:
Alexandre Desplat - Escape Concerto
Paul Simon - Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard
Mark Mothersbaugh - Piranhas Are a Very Tricky Species
Mark Mothersbaugh - Bookstore Robbery
Alexandre Desplat - The Lutz Police Militia
English Chamber Orchestra - Playful Pizzicato
Alexandre Desplat - Kristofferson’s Theme
Devo - Gut Feeling
Recommended Reading & Viewing:
The Gag Man by Matthew Dessem - http://thecriticalpress.com/books/the-gag-man/
Keaton by Rudi Blesh - http://www.amazon.com/dp/0025115707/
Buster Keaton: A Hard Act to Follow (1987) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjCDuNzv6yM
Studs Terkel Interviews Buster Keaton - http://studsterkel.wfmt.com/blog/interview-with-buster-keaton/