Jackie Chan Vs Harold Lloyd Essay Example for Free

Jackie Chan Vs Harold Lloyd Essay Originality or the issue of authenticity is a paragon of any discussion. Arguing who or what is original is tantamount to debating which came first whether the egg or the chicken and which came first, language or notion. Several critics are bombarded with the originality factor in evaluating a piece; be it literary, performing arts, scientific discovery, etc. The talk about the first to do this and that should be set a side as far as criticism is concern because there is no such thing as original. If there is this one original thing in the realm of concepts and tangible things, it could be traced on the immediate before and/or after of Earth’s primordial soup status. Taking the writing techniques of the modern time as an example, it started long time ago when the ancient people vandalized in caves and stones. The markings in the caves and stones that are evident up to the present evolved to writings in the leaves and other minute things that are easily carried. Generations passed by and the people learned to devise the scrolls and parchment to better preserve the writings that contained the manuscripts of what happened in their time. At present, with the help of the fast developing technology, and with the desire of the people to carry things and information to the next generations in a handy manner, writings can now be saved in electronic gadgets. Thus, the emerging technological advancement that caters to the preservation of writing in the present time has no right to argue with their precedent on originality, so as the other way around. People should understand that absolute authenticity can never be achieved since every new product that comes into the market is an innovation of an old product. This issue is also the same as the idolatry issue. It is improper to claim oneself as an origin of many things that are like him or her in one way or another. Movie actors and actresses for example copied their styles and techniques from the elders in their industry. However, these â€Å"elders† cannot deny the fact that their strategies and styles were adaptations of those older than them, example: people from the realm of theater. Yes, the adaptation of movie actors from theater actors is possible because the later people emerged in the entertainment industry earlier. But this theater people could not be considered the point of origin of acting as performing arts, note that prior to the development of theater, rhetoric in the form of public speaking was practiced by Phaedrus and many others during the ancient times. And the chain backed track on and on and on. Idolizing other people should not be taken negatively. In the first place, people idolize other people because of the inspiration that ones get from its idol. For a healthy society that evolves progressively through time, idolatry is normal. In fact it should be acknowledged and encouraged because it ignites innovativeness in the part of those who idolize; since they are inspired to reach what their idols got and even more that what their idol got. This is supported by Bob Ong, a Filipino writer—author of ABNKKBSNPLAK, Bakit Baliktad Magbasa ang mga Pinoy, Paboritong Libro ni Hudas, Almat ng Gubat, and Stainless Longanisa. In one part of his latest book, Stainless Longanisa, he said that idolizing helps people progress. He confessed that he is never ashamed of claming Robert Fulghum as his idol in writing because Robert figuratively pushes him to go further, reaches Robert, and even surpass Robert. A very fine example of this talk is Jackie Chan and Harold Lloyd. If we are to examine Jackie Chan’s comedy style, it is apparently influenced by Harold Lloyd. However, we have to put into our consciousness that the authenticity is out of the talk. In comparing and contrasting the two actors, the aim should be: to distinguish the specific effects or influence of Harold to Jackie and to differentiate their style if there is any identified difference. The comparison of the two can only be limited to the identification of their commonalities and difference and their style’s effects to the viewers because it is impossible to evaluate who is better between the two of them. First, they do not belong to the same generation. It would be unfair to Harold because during his time, movie and television technology is not that advanced compared to the time of Jackie. And second, the two have different set of audience so it would be a joke if we are to contest them based on a specific period of time e. g. Harold’s time or Jackie’s time. The evaluation of their appeal to their audience should be evaluated contextually. Harold’s evaluation should be based on his period and Jackie in Jackie’s period. One commonality of the two is that they both do stunts. Both Jackie and Harold hanged on helicopters, buildings, and busses. Jackies willingness to do his own stunts, originally the trademark feature of his movies, has gave him various injuries. Even though he is not scared of doing stunts, he admitted that he is Scared of needles and hates retaking shots. Because of the know-how on martial arts and stunts, Jackie personaly do these parts in his movies. While this claim was not scrutinized, he fells previledged on doing the most of them, including other character’s stunts if their faces will not be focused on the camera. In effects, his fondness build up an lengthy list of injuries. This is the reason why he is insurance companies all over the world do not risk of accepting any of his insurance applpications. While filming Armour of God He in 1985, death was near him. He fractured his skull when accidantally fell from a tree in an exhibition scene. In Jackie’s autobiographical sketch, he mentioned he originally created his screen persona in pattern to Bruce Lee with a mixed comedic style from many screen performers before him like Charlie Chaplin and Harold Lloyd. By looking into the comedy style of Jackie Chan, Harold Lloyd’s influence could be traced. In looking into the contributions and achievements of Lloyd in the American comedy film industry, the silent film era should be looked into. The era developed when Buster Keaton accomplished in his project with Arbuckle at the Talmadge Studios in New York City, where Arbuckle signed a contract to Joseph M. Schenck. Schenck provided him his own production unit, The Keaton Studio. He filmed several two-reel comedies which including Cops (1922), One Week (1920), The Playhouse (1921), and The Electric House (1922). He graduated to pantomime, full-length features after the success of these shorts. These films elevated Keaton making him one of the most popular comedians in the globe. At the time, he was speculatively the third most well known comedian in America behind Harold Lloyd and Charlie Chaplin. Harold Lloyd as one of the most famous and in demand comedians made nearly 200 comedy films, both sound and silent, from 1914 to1947. The film Glasses Character made him known as an innovative, success-seeking go-getter who was perfectly in timing with 1920s era America. His films subsequently featured thrill sequences of chasing scenes and daredevil physical features, which marked in the showbiz industry up to the present. One of his images that awed the people was that when he was hanging from the hands of a ticking clock that in Safety Last (1923), which was one of the most enduring scene in all of silver screen. Lloyd actually performed many of these dangerous stunts withut a double, despite having extremely injured in an accident when a prop bomb was blown up that resulted in the loss of his his right hand’s index finger and thumb. To measure the effectiveness of the two in their respective audiences, a contextual analysis was made. In this part, their educational background in relation to their profession and the recognitions that the received were considered. Both Chan and Lloyd have the sufficient background in their field of specialization, comedy.