Bazin,.Andre.-.What.Is.Cinema. - fading aesthetics

What Is Cinema?furthermore supremely true that comic form and aesthetic valueowe nothing to surprise. The latter is exhausted the first timearound and is replaced by a much more subtle pleasure, namely thedelight of anticipating and recognizing perfection.Charlie and TimeWhatever the facts, one can clearly see that the gag referred toabove opens up under the initial comic shock a spiritual abysswhich induces in the spectator, without giving him a chance toanalyze it, that delicious vertigo that quickly modifies the tone ofthe laughter it provokes. The reason is that Charlie carries to absurdlengths his basic principle of never going beyond the actualmoment. Having got rid of his two wardens, thanks to his capacityto exploit the terrain and whatever objects are to hand, once thedanger is past he immediately stops thinking about building up areserve store of supplementary prudence. The consequence is notlong delayed. But this time it is so serious that Charlie is not able tofind an immediate solution-rest assured that he soon will-he can~not go beyond a reflex action and the pretence at improvisation.One second, just time enough for a gesture of dismissal and thethreat, in illusion, will have been effaced by the derisory stroke ofan eraser. Let no one, however, stupidly confuse Charlie's gesturewith that of an ostrich burying its head in the sand. The wholebearing of Charlie refutes this; it is sheer improvisation, unlimitedimagination in the face of danger. The swiftness of the threat,however, and above all its brutal nature in contrast to the euphoriouscondition of the mind in which it takes conscious shape, doesnot allow him, this time, to escape immediately. Besides who cantell-because of the surprise it gives to the warden who was expectinga gesture of fear-if his action will not in the end allow himthat fraction of a second that he needs to make his escape? Instead148