Vulgar auteurism

{{short description|Movement in latter-day cinephilia and film criticism}}

Vulgar auteurism is a movement that emerged in early 2010s cinephilia and film criticism associated with championing or reappraising filmmakers, mostly those working in the horror, sci-fi and action genres and whose work has otherwise received little attention or negative reception in the critical mainstream.{{Cite web |last=Brunsting |first=Joshua |date=2013-06-11 |title=What Vulgar Auteurism Gets Wrong |url=https://criterioncast.com/column/what-vulgar-auteurism-gets-wrong |access-date=2022-09-15 |website=CriterionCast |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Tracy |first=Andrew |date=2013-05-31 |title=Trash Humping: On "Vulgar Auteurism" |url=https://cinema-scope.com/cinema-scope-online/trash-humping/ |access-date=2022-09-15 |website=Cinema Scope |language=en-US}} It became a controversial topic in the cinephile community following the publication of an article in the Village Voice in 2013 and has been described as "a critical movement committed to assessing the 'unserious' artistry of popcorn cinema with absolute seriousness."

Background

According to film critic Peter Labuza, vulgar auteurism "seems to have been an unconscious movement before it ever had a name", as the earliest criticism identified as exhibiting "vulgar auteurism" was published in the Canadian film magazine Cinema Scope in 2006 and 2007.{{cite magazine |last=Foundas |first=Scott |title='Pompeii' doesn't suck: Paul W.S. Anderson and Vulgar Auteurism |url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/why-pompeii-doesnt-blow-1201120363/ |magazine=Variety}} Cinema Scope writer Andrew Tracy coined the term in his 2009 article, "Vulgar Auteurism: The Case of Michael Mann".{{cite web |last=Labuza |first=Peter |date=June 3, 2013 |title=Expressive Esoterica in the 21st Century—Or: What Is Vulgar Auteurism? |url=http://www.labuzamovies.com/2013/06/expressive-esoterica-in-21st-centuryor.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140213231319/http://www.labuzamovies.com/2013/06/expressive-esoterica-in-21st-centuryor.html |archive-date=2014-02-13 |access-date=2014-02-26 |publisher=LabuzaMovies.com}} Initially pejorative, the term was repurposed by MUBI user John Lehtonen. Over the years which followed, MUBI's online film magazine began to publish more and more articles defending genres and directors that were unpopular with the critical mainstream.

It derives its name{{cite magazine |last=Brody |first=Richard |title=A Few Thoughts on Vulgar Auteurism |url=http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/movies/2013/06/vulgar-auteurism-history-of-new-wave-cinema.html |magazine=The New Yorker}} from the auteur theory, a key component of film criticism which posits that the director is the author ("auteur") of a film and that films should be analyzed in terms of how they fit into a director's larger body of work.[https://www.westword.com/film/vulgar-auteurism-and-justin-lin-5120777 Vulgar auteurism and Justin Lin|Westword] Also known as "auteurism," the auteur theory was introduced by French critics associated with the film magazine Cahiers du cinéma during the 1950s and popularized in the United States in the 1960s by Andrew Sarris.[https://books.google.com/books?id=iIlSEAAAQBAJ Why It's OK to Love Bad Movies - Google Books (ch. "The Good, The Bad and the Good-Bad")]

In 1981, J. Hoberman coined the term "vulgar modernism"[https://books.google.com/books?id=70i7EAAAQBAJ Japanese Film and the Challenge of Video - Google Books (pg.1981)] to describe the "looney" fringes of American popular culture (e.g. the animators Tex Avery and Chuck Jones, MAD Magazine, controversial stand up comedian Lenny Bruce, TV pioneer Ernie Kovacs and the films of Frank Tashlin).[https://www.rem.routledge.com/articles/vulgar-modernism Vulgar Modernism - Routledge Encyclopedia of Modernism][https://www.artforum.com/print/198202/vulgar-modernism-35630 Vulgar Modernism - Artfourm International][https://books.google.com/books?id=zyRIlJTkuQ4C&dq=vulgar+modernism&pg=PA171 Film Theory - Google Books (pg.171)]

Several critics, including Richard Brody of The New Yorker and Scott Foundas of Variety, have drawn parallels between the earliest French and American proponents of the auteur theory and vulgar auteurism. However, many commentators on the movement consider vulgar auteurism to be distinct from the classical auteur theory, pointing to its concern with visual style over theme. The question of whether vulgar auteurism is a legitimate separate movement or a subset of the auteur theory is a point of disagreement among film critics.

Vulgar auteurist ideas gained currency when one of the movement's leading proponents,{{cite web |last=Patches |first=Matt |date=February 21, 2014 |title=The Other Paul Anderson: The Psychotic Action Vision of 'Pompeii' Director Paul W.S. Anderson |url=http://grantland.com/hollywood-prospectus/the-other-paul-anderson-the-psychotic-action-vision-of-pompeii-director-paul-w-s-anderson/ |work=Grantland}} critic Ignatiy Vishnevetsky, became the co-host of the television program Ebert Presents: At the Movies, produced by Roger Ebert. However, while "vulgar auteurist" criticism was becoming popular, the term and the movement to which it corresponded remained obscure until the publication of an article by Calum Marsh, "Fast & Furious & Elegant: Justin Lin and the Vulgar Auteurs", in The Village Voice on May 24, 2013.{{cite news |last=Singer |first=Matt |title=Some Refined Discussion About Vulgar Auteurism |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2013/06/some-refined-discussion-about-vulgar-auteurism-127801/}}{{cite news|last=Kenigsberg|first=Ben|title=From the Wire: Pinkerton's Notes on Vulgar Auteurism|url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/criticwire/from-the-wire-pinkertons-notes-on-vulgar-auteurism|work=Indiewire}}

=Controversy and criticism=

Marsh's article was immediately controversial. While some took issue with the films and filmmakers being championed by the proponents of vulgar auteurism, others took issue with the idea that vulgar auteurism was a movement distinct from the auteur theory.

Former Village Voice critic Nick Pinkerton has been associated with vulgar auteurism, as he has written essays in praise of directors championed by the movement and whose 2012 article "The Bigger and Better Mousetraps of Paul W. S. Anderson" has been described as vulgar auteurist. However, Pinkerton has been critical of the movement; in an article written in response to Marsh's, he decried the term "vulgar auteurism" as "a shameless attention grab", arguing that "no persuasive argument has yet been made for why the phrase should be vitally necessary to modify old, fuddy-duddy Auteurism."{{cite web|last=Pinkerton|first=Nick|title=BOMBAST #96|url=http://blog.sundancenow.com/weekly-columns/bombast-96|publisher=SundanceNow|access-date=2014-02-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302090231/http://blog.sundancenow.com/weekly-columns/bombast-96|archive-date=2014-03-02|url-status=dead}} He further objected to the argument that film critics routinely panned the works of directors included within the movement, writing, "Fast & Furious 6, which we're assured is scorned by critics the world over, currently stands at 61% at Metacritic, above The Great Gatsby (54%), and within striking distance of arty jazz like Simon Killer and Post Tenebras Lux."

Soraya Roberts, in her article "Indie Cinema Is Now Genre Cinema" written for the website Defector, stated that "Vulgar auteurism has given way to capital auteurism."[https://defector.com/indie-cinema-is-now-genre-cinema Indie Cinema Is Now Genre Cinema|Defector]

Notable directors associated with the movement

Paul W. S. Anderson[https://thefilmstage.com/monster-hunter-review-paul-w-s-anderson-crafts-a-hyperkinetic-faithful-videogame-adaptation/ Monster Hunter Review: Paul W.S. Anderson Crafts a Hyperkinetic, Faithful Videogame Adaptation|The Film Stage][https://thefilmstage.com/new-to-streaming-to-the-wonder-monster-hunter-nomadland-test-pattern-more/ New to Streaming: To the Wonder, Monster Hunter, Nomadland, Test Pattern & More|The Film Stage][https://www.theringer.com/tv/2022/7/14/23210034/resident-evil-netflix-series-review-albert-wesker-joy-umbrella The Never-ending Quest to Adapt 'Resident Evil' - The Ringer][https://books.google.com/books?id=iIlSEAAAQBAJ&dq=vulgar+auteurism&pg=PT111 Why It's OK to Love Bad Movies - Google Books (ch.5, pg.168)][https://keyframe.fandor.com/daily-what-is-vulgar-auteurism/ Daily | "What Is Vulgar Auteurism?" - Keyframe][https://books.google.com/books?id=itUkDwAAQBAJ The Elusive Auteur - Google Books][https://letterboxd.com/journal/direct-action-scott-adkins-dtv-film-evolution/ Direct Action: how stars like Scott Adkins are landing more hits direct to viewers · Journal · A Letterboxd Magazine · Letterboxd][https://www.escapistmagazine.com/mortal-kombat-shouldnt-forget-the-pulpy-fun-of-paul-w-s-andersons-original/ Mortal Kombat Shouldn’t Forget the Pulpy Fun of Paul W.S. Anderson’s Original - The Escapist][https://www.popoptiq.com/vulgar-auteurism-needs-to-drop-the-vulgar/ Vulgar Auteurism Needs to Drop the "Vulgar" - PopQptiq][https://filmkrant.nl/artikel/filmslot-vulgar-auteurism-as-low-as-it-goes/ FilmSlot: Vulgar Auteurism: As Low As It Goes - Filmkrant][https://www.columbiatribune.com/story/entertainment/2015/04/02/start-your-engines-seventh-furious/21767493007/ Start your engines: Seventh ‘Furious’ film provides winning shot of adrenaline - Columbia Daily Tribune][https://books.google.com/books?id=etnuCQAAQBAJ Film Criticism in the Digital Age - Google Books (ch."The Persistence of Auteurism")]
Michael Bay[https://www.rogerebert.com/balder-and-dash/the-real-vulgar-auteurs-three-great-directors-of-direct-to-video-films Fresh blood: Three Great Directors of Direct-to-Video Action|Balder and Dash|Roger Ebert.com][https://www.macleans.ca/culture/movies/the-artistic-genius-of-michael-bay/ The artistic genius of Michael Bay – Macleans.ca][https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-reviews/ambulance-movie-review-drinking-game-1332529/ The Michael Bay 'Ambulance' Movie Review Drinking Game - Rolling Stone][https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/pieta/ Review: Pieta - Slant Magazine]
Kathryn Bigelow[http://filmtheory.org/vulgar-auteurism/ Vulgar Auteurism-Film Theory][https://blog.commarts.wisc.edu/2013/06/11/vulgar-auteurism-out-with-the-new-in-with-the-old/ "Vulgar Auteurism": Out with the New, In with the Old|Antenna][https://web.archive.org/web/20130413233326/http://mubi.com/lists/vulgar-auteurism-a-guide-or-the-mann-scott-baysians Vulgar Auteurism: A Guide Or: The "Mann-Scott-Baysians" - MUBI]
Joe Carnahan
John Carpenter[https://www.tasteofcinema.com/2022/the-10-most-underrated-american-independent-films-of-the-1990s/2/ The 10 Most Underrated American Independent Films of The 1990s - Page 2 - Taste of Cinema]
Brian De Palma[https://mubi.com/lists/for-love-of-the-vulgar For Love of the Vulgar - MUBI][https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/25/movies/homevideo/dressed-to-kill-and-the-hunger-so-lethal-so-very-fashionable.html 'Dressed to Kill' and 'The Hunger': So Lethal, So Very Fashionable]
Roland Emmerich[http://facets.org/blog/exclusive/the-golden-age-of-tv-rise-of-the-television-auteur/ The Golden Age of TV: Rise of the Television Auteur|Facets Features][https://theendofcinema.net/2013/04/16/army-of-milla-resident-evil-and-modern-auteurism-3/ Army of Milla: Resident Evil and Modern Auteurism-End of Cinema][https://mubi.com/notebook/posts/secret-defense-roland-emmerichs-anonymous Secret Defense: Roland Emmerich's "Anonymous" on Notebook|MUBI][https://www.slashfilm.com/997073/why-clint-eastwood-cant-buy-into-the-idea-of-an-auteur-director/ Why Clint Eastwood Can't Buy Into The Idea Of An 'Auteur' Director|/Film][https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vulgar-auteurs/id1511610356 Vulgar Auteurs on Apple Podcasts]
Abel Ferrara[https://nowtoronto.com/ms-45 Ms.45 - NOW Magazine]
Justin Lin[http://outlawvern.com/2013/06/10/vern-tells-it-like-it-is-those-damn-vulgarians/ Vern Tells It Like It Is: Those Damn Vulgarians-Vern's Reviews on the Films of Cinema][https://www.filmstories.co.uk/news/the-rise-and-fall-of-auteur-theory/ The rise and fall of auteur theory - Film Stories]
Michael Mann[https://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1015&context=film_studies_theses Obsessed With the Image: Vulgar Auteurism and Post-Cinematic Affect in the Late Films of Tony Scott by Ethan Cartwright|Chapman University][https://criterioncast.com/column/for-criterion-consideration/for-criterion-consideration-sofia-coppolas-marie-antoinette FOR CRITERION CONSIDERATION: SOFIA COPPOLA’S MARIE ANTOINETTE - CrriterionCast.com]
John McTiernan[https://mubi.com/notebook/posts/back-to-basic Back to "Basic" on Notebook|MUBI][https://mubi.com/notebook/posts/the-noteworthy-rip-nagisa-oshima-1932-2013-the-formative-years-of-cinema-foreign-languages The Noteworthy: R.I.P. Nagisa Oshima (1932–2013), The Formative Years of Cinema, Foreign Languages on Notebook|MUBI]
Takashi Miike[https://books.google.com/books?id=tfasDAAAQBAJ The Encyclopedia of Japanese Horror Films - Google Books (pg.12)]
Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor
Tony Scott[https://mubi.com/notebook/posts/smearing-the-senses-tony-scott-action-painter Smearing the Senses: Tony Scott, Action Painter on Notebook|MUBI][https://mubi.com/notebook/posts/tony-scott-a-moving-target-movement-a Tony Scott: A Moving Target—Movement A on Notebook|MUBI][https://www.wbur.org/news/2021/05/14/top-gun-35-years-tony-scott-tom-cruise 35 Years On, Why I've Never Lost That Loving Feeling For 'Top Gun'|WBUR][https://www.filmlinc.org/daily/heavens-gate-and-the-film-maudit/ "Heaven's Gate" and Film Maudit Culture - Film at Lincoln Center]
Zack Snyder[https://lwlies.com/articles/a-serious-look-at-zack-snyder-batman-v-superman/ It's time to take a serious look at Zack Snyder - Little White Lies][https://the-artifice.com/zack-snyders-worst-to-best-movies/ Zack Snyder's Worst to Best Movies|The Artifice]
Steven Soderbergh
Paul Verhoeven