A Life in 6 Minutes

“A Brief History of John Baldessari” uses specific film techniques to characterize John Baldessari as an artist whose importance is only exceeded by his humility. In less than 6 minutes, the director splices quick snippets of Beldessari’s art to encompass his entire career. Grainy film and a classical overture supply an old-school aesthetic that makes Baldessari’s life story feel timeless and his art look classic. With so much information given in just a few minutes, it would be easy for the film to get chaotic. Yet the director balances the film’s frenetic energy by switching images and shots to the beat of the music and making the narrator speak at a conversational pace.

 

Baldessari responds to the overview of his career with laughably humble quotes. He sits at his desk, completely surrounded by books (showing his productivity) and mumbles a matter-of-fact statement (“[My beard] is pretty much the same color as my hair.”) that accentuates his humility during an explosively successful career. During the interview snippets with Baldessari, the camera stays in the same level position to keep the focus on the subject, Baldessari, instead of the camerawork. It stands at eye-level perspective with the artist to show that he relates to the audience, as if they’re having a casual conversation. The shot’s central composition places Baldessari in the middle, once again keeping the focus on him.

 

The film is packed with humor, too. Tom Waits narrates, “Baldessari wonders about Clint Eastwood’s height,” as a picture of a gun-slinging Eastwood pops onto the screen. Then Baldessari mumbles, “How tall is he?” with a drawl that makes him sound like he’s someone’s confused pap-pap instead of a world-famous artist. Instantly, a close-up of Eastwood’s scowling face pops up next to the words “Tall Enough,” punctuated by a gunshot sound. The quick succession of these images makes the humor more immediate. The director never gives a comedic pause after the punch line but instead jumps into the next barrage of facts. All of these elements work together to condense an impressive life to 6 minutes using Baldessari’s style and wit.