The Neo-Baroque cinema focuses on complex narrative structures, profound explorations of human nature, exaggerated dramatic performances, and elaborate visual effects and film set designs. “Neo-baroque cinema seeks to multiply order to the point where it becomes more invested in its own complex movement and patterning than in the desire to explicate the world for the audience. ” (Schraa, 2007). Post-cinema has been influenced by these characteristics, leading to a group of directors willing to experiment with complex narrative structures, such as Christopher Nolan and David Lynch. Their films share a common feature – they do not compromise for the mass consumer market. For instance, films like “Inception” and “Mulholland Drive” have highly intricate narrative structures.

In the era of new media, computer software for post-production editing has made editing and storytelling more flexible, further promoting the development of nonlinear narrative structures. To some extent, the anti-narrative system advocated by the Neo-Baroque genre correlates with the nonlinear storytelling in post-cinema. Both challenge the singularity of traditional narratives and strive for emotional depth and complexity. In the film “The Wolf of Wall Street,” director Martin Scorsese employs fast-paced editing and dramatic performances to depict Wall Street’s seemingly glamorous yet ultimately corrupt world. The technological advancements in post-cinema can give the Neo-Baroque greater expressiveness and impact. The film’s protagonist, Jordan Belfort, occasionally interacts with the audience and directly narrates the story, a narrative technique in post-cinema that enhances the audience’s connection with the characters, fostering deeper emotional resonance.

“A neo-baroque “aesthetic of repetition” concerns variation rather than unoriginality and invariability. ” (Ndalianis, 2005) The emergence and prevalence of streaming media have also reshaped the Neo-Baroque genre. This portable and on-demand media brings about variability, breaking the constraints of film viewing locations. Movies can now played on the giant IMAX screens in theaters or on the mobile devices in our pockets. Due to a shift in operating models from advertiser-funded models to subscriber-funded models on streaming platforms, content creators are less restricted by advertisers’ limitations. This shift has allowed for content creation with increased visual complexity and impressive visual effects. The emphasis on visual grandeur, a hallmark of the New Baroque style, can be expressed even more exquisitely in the era of streaming media.

Reference:

Schraa, M. (2007) Figure, Ground and Framing in Contemporary Hollywood Cinema. Double Dialogues, 22(7).  Available from https://doubledialogues.com/article/figure-ground-and-framing-in-contemporary-hollywood-cinema/ [accessed 22 November 2023]

Nolan, C.(dir.) (2010) Inception [DVD]. Warner Bros. Pictures

Lynch, D.(dir.) (2001) Mulholland Drive [DVD]. Les Films Alain Sarde

Scorsese, M.(dir.) (2013) The Wolf of Wall Street [DVD]. Red Granite Pictures and Appian Way Productions

Ndalianis, A. (2005) Neo-Baroque Aesthetics and Contemporary Entertainment. Cambridge: The MIT Press.

By Shuangshuang Ma 33748491