Jacqueline Thornley: Drama in the Movies (Class Reading #2)

On pages 77-78 of Sacred and Profane Beauty Van Der Leeuw talks about drama. He states that drama consists of movement and countermovement. He also describes drama as being a combination of dance, poetry, and music. Perhaps it is because I recently watched this movie, but when I think of drama, I immediately think of movies such as Gangs of New York, or any other movies considered in the drama category. These movies, especially in the latter, are centered on war and violence. Though I had never thought of it like this, the violent struggle between the rival gangs is almost a dance, certainly with movement and countermovement. There is also music and poetry throughout the movie which compliments the story. Upon gaining this new perspective of the genre, I began to watch the movie differently, with an appreciation I didn’t have before. I found beauty in the drama, not just entertainment in the action and story.