Vulgar auteurism explained

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.^{[1] [2]} 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.^[3] Cinema Scope writer Andrew Tracy coined the term in his 2009 article, "Vulgar Auteurism: The Case of Michael Mann".^[4] 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^[5] 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.^[6] 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.^[7]

In 1981, J. Hoberman coined the term "vulgar modernism"^[8] 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).^{[9] [10] [11]}

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,^[12] critic Ignatiy Vishnevetsky, became the co-host of the television program , 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.^{[13] [14]}

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."^[15] 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."^[16]

Notable directors associated with the movement

• Paul W. S. Anderson^{[17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28]}
• Michael Bay^{[29] [30] [31] [20] [21] [25] [26] [32] [28]}
• Kathryn Bigelow^{[33] [34] [35]}
• Joe Carnahan^{[27] [22] [25]}
• John Carpenter^{[33] [35] [36] [24]}
• Brian De Palma^{[37] [38] [36]}
• Roland Emmerich^{[39] [40] [41] [42] [43]}
• Abel Ferrara^{[44] [35] [36]}
• Justin Lin^{[33] [45] [46] [22] [26]}
• Michael Mann^{[33] [26] [47] [32] [48]}
• John McTiernan^{[4] [49] [50]}
• Takashi Miike^[51]
• Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor^{[35] [21] [22] [32]}
• Tony Scott^{[29] [52] [53] [54] [21] [24] [55] [47] [26]}
• Zack Snyder^{[56] [57] [43]}
• Steven Soderbergh^[35]
• Paul Verhoeven^{[4] [35] [24]}

See also

Related movements

• American New Wave
• Arthouse action film
• Cinéma du look
• French New Wave
• Minimalist and Maximalist film
• New French Extremity
• Postmodernist film
  • Modernist film
• Social thriller
• American independent cinema

Related genres

• B-movie
• Blockbuster film
• Classical Hollywood cinema
• Direct to video
• Erotic thriller
• Exploitation film
• Extreme cinema
• Giallo
• Grindhouse
• Midnight film
• Music video
• Neo-noir
• Pop culture fiction
• Postmodern horror
• Video nasty

Similar debates

• Rockism and poptimism
• Telephilia
• Video games as an art form

Notes and References

1. Web site: Brunsting . Joshua . 2013-06-11 . What Vulgar Auteurism Gets Wrong . 2022-09-15 . CriterionCast . en-US.
2. Web site: Tracy . Andrew . 2013-05-31 . Trash Humping: On "Vulgar Auteurism" . 2022-09-15 . Cinema Scope . en-US.
3. Foundas . Scott . 'Pompeii' doesn't suck: Paul W.S. Anderson and Vulgar Auteurism . Variety.
4. Web site: Labuza . Peter . June 3, 2013 . Expressive Esoterica in the 21st Century—Or: What Is Vulgar Auteurism? . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140213231319/http://www.labuzamovies.com/2013/06/expressive-esoterica-in-21st-centuryor.html . 2014-02-13 . 2014-02-26 . LabuzaMovies.com.
5. Brody . Richard . A Few Thoughts on Vulgar Auteurism . The New Yorker.
6. https://www.westword.com/film/vulgar-auteurism-and-justin-lin-5120777 Vulgar auteurism and Justin Lin|Westword
7. 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")
8. https://www.google.com/books/edition/Japanese_Film_and_the_Challenge_of_Video/70i7EAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1 Japanese Film and the Challenge of Video - Google Books (pg.1981)
9. https://www.rem.routledge.com/articles/vulgar-modernism Vulgar Modernism - Routledge Encyclopedia of Modernism
10. https://www.artforum.com/print/198202/vulgar-modernism-35630 Vulgar Modernism - Artfourm International
11. https://books.google.com/books?id=zyRIlJTkuQ4C&dq=vulgar+modernism&pg=PA171 Film Theory - Google Books (pg.171)
12. Web site: Patches . Matt . February 21, 2014 . The Other Paul Anderson: The Psychotic Action Vision of 'Pompeii' Director Paul W.S. Anderson . Grantland.
13. News: Singer . Matt . Some Refined Discussion About Vulgar Auteurism .
14. News: Kenigsberg. Ben. From the Wire: Pinkerton's Notes on Vulgar Auteurism. Indiewire.
15. Web site: Pinkerton. Nick. BOMBAST #96. SundanceNow. 2014-02-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20140302090231/http://blog.sundancenow.com/weekly-columns/bombast-96. 2014-03-02. dead.
16. https://defector.com/indie-cinema-is-now-genre-cinema Indie Cinema Is Now Genre Cinema|Defector
17. 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
18. 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
19. 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
20. 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)
21. https://keyframe.fandor.com/daily-what-is-vulgar-auteurism/ Daily | "What Is Vulgar Auteurism?" - Keyframe
22. https://books.google.com/books?id=itUkDwAAQBAJ The Elusive Auteur - Google Books
23. 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
24. 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
25. https://www.popoptiq.com/vulgar-auteurism-needs-to-drop-the-vulgar/ Vulgar Auteurism Needs to Drop the "Vulgar" - PopQptiq
26. https://filmkrant.nl/artikel/filmslot-vulgar-auteurism-as-low-as-it-goes/ FilmSlot: Vulgar Auteurism: As Low As It Goes - Filmkrant
27. 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
28. https://www.google.com/books/edition/Film_Criticism_in_the_Digital_Age/etnuCQAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1 Film Criticism in the Digital Age - Google Books (ch."The Persistence of Auteurism")
29. 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
30. https://www.macleans.ca/culture/movies/the-artistic-genius-of-michael-bay/ The artistic genius of Michael Bay – Macleans.ca
31. 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
32. https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/pieta/ Review: Pieta - Slant Magazine
33. http://filmtheory.org/vulgar-auteurism/ Vulgar Auteurism-Film Theory
34. 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
35. 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
36. 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
37. https://mubi.com/lists/for-love-of-the-vulgar For Love of the Vulgar - MUBI
38. 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
39. 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
40. 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
41. https://mubi.com/notebook/posts/secret-defense-roland-emmerichs-anonymous Secret Defense: Roland Emmerich's "Anonymous" on Notebook|MUBI
42. 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
43. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vulgar-auteurs/id1511610356 Vulgar Auteurs on Apple Podcasts
44. https://nowtoronto.com/ms-45 Ms.45 - NOW Magazine
45. 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
46. https://www.filmstories.co.uk/news/the-rise-and-fall-of-auteur-theory/ The rise and fall of auteur theory - Film Stories
47. 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
48. https://criterioncast.com/column/for-criterion-consideration/for-criterion-consideration-sofia-coppolas-marie-antoinette FOR CRITERION CONSIDERATION: SOFIA COPPOLA’S MARIE ANTOINETTE - CrriterionCast.com
49. https://mubi.com/notebook/posts/back-to-basic Back to "Basic" on Notebook|MUBI
50. 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
51. https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Encyclopedia_of_Japanese_Horror_Film/tfasDAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1 The Encyclopedia of Japanese Horror Films - Google Books (pg.12)
52. https://mubi.com/notebook/posts/smearing-the-senses-tony-scott-action-painter Smearing the Senses: Tony Scott, Action Painter on Notebook|MUBI
53. https://mubi.com/notebook/posts/tony-scott-a-moving-target-movement-a Tony Scott: A Moving Target—Movement A on Notebook|MUBI
54. 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
55. https://www.filmlinc.org/daily/heavens-gate-and-the-film-maudit/ "Heaven's Gate" and Film Maudit Culture - Film at Lincoln Center
56. 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
57. https://the-artifice.com/zack-snyders-worst-to-best-movies/ Zack Snyder's Worst to Best Movies|The Artifice