Cinerama and "Glimpses of the USA"

            The two readings this week both relate to technology and its impact on the American way of seeing. As Beatriz Colomina stated in her article “Enclosed by Images: The Eameses’ Multimedia Architecture,” the American way of seeing during the 1950’s was through television. Lowell Thomas and Merian C. Cooper’s This is Cinerama attempts to immerse the audience in their film. They altered the technology of cinema and television to include a curved screen. Their goal for this was to make the audience feel as if they are actually in the film and feel as if they are experiencing everything that happens in the film. For example, the film includes a roller coaster sequence that is shot from the perspective of the front seat rider. This sequence illustrates best how well the film immerses the audience. Moreover, this film and the Eameses’ film Glimpses of the U.S.A., portray how concerned America was with television and film. Glimpses of the U.S.A. is exactly what it sounds like. It is a movie portraying America, or the common idea of what America is, through various images. This is Cinerama also portrays America in a similar way.

            In addition, Cinerama reminded me of Imax and how filmmakers today are still trying to improve the affect motion pictures have on audiences. Imax and 3D were also created to make audiences feel as if they were in the film. They also created HD to enhance the viewer’s experience and to make the movie/show closer to reality. Even though there is Cinerama, people still seem to want to improve their viewing experience. This reminds me of how we are still trying to improve on technology and how our wants will never be fully satisfied.