{"id":17215,"date":"2022-09-09T23:04:56","date_gmt":"2022-09-09T23:04:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mediashower.com\/blog\/?p=17215"},"modified":"2022-09-22T15:00:58","modified_gmt":"2022-09-22T15:00:58","slug":"spielberg-vs-scorsese","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mediashower.com\/blog\/spielberg-vs-scorsese\/","title":{"rendered":"Spielberg Vs. Scorsese: How Two of Hollywood’s Finest Directors Use Film to Communicate"},"content":{"rendered":"

TLDR:<\/strong> Spielberg and Scorsese reflect differing approaches to cinematic storytelling. The former creates a wide range of universally appealing films, while the latter dives deep into personal themes.<\/p>\n

So what?\u00a0<\/strong>These directors show how opposing tendencies can both create enduring works of art. Despite different emphases, their film techniques tend to converge.<\/p>\n

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Starting in the late 1960\u2019s, the American film industry entered a period often called “New Hollywood” or the “Hollywood Renaissance.” The decades-old Production Code<\/a> fell out of use, allowing for a wider range of artistic expression. The studio production system eroded, giving directors more power over their films.<\/p>\n

The result was a period of unmatched creative output. Many famous directors started their career during this time including Francis Ford Coppola, Woody Allen, Steven Spielberg, and Martin Scorsese.<\/p>\n

Spielberg and Scorsese are particularly noted for their cinematic masterpieces. While their directing styles were inversely opposed, their filmmaking techniques were often quite similar.<\/p>\n

Universal Vs. Personal: The Dichotomy of Spielberg and Scorsese<\/h2>\n

Spielberg\u2019s work embodies universal mythology, while Scorsese\u2019s communicates a personal realism.<\/p>\n

Spielberg\u2019s films are noted for their wide appeal and are cited as paradigmatic examples of the term \u201cblockbuster.\u201d Many have become absorbed into the subconscious of American culture.<\/p>\n

Scorsese\u2019s films mostly revolve around a smaller set of themes that are relevant to his Italian-American upbringing: crime, drug abuse, and religion. They tend to be gritty, dark, and realistic.<\/p>\n

Compare Indiana Jones<\/em> to Goodfellas<\/em>, or ET\u00a0<\/em>to Raging Bull<\/em>. Spielberg\u2019s films tell heartwarming stories based around the monomyth of the Hero\u2019s Journey.<\/a> Scorsese\u2019s films are dark depictions of violent reality.<\/p>\n

While Scorsese keeps things down to earth, Spielberg\u2019s films tend to veer towards the fantastic. Indiana Jones, Jaws, ET, AI<\/em>, and Hook\u00a0<\/em>are all infused with supernatural and sci-fi elements.<\/p>\n

Even Spielberg\u2019s historical pieces tend to create uplifting myths out of events rather than attempt to depict them with gritty reality. These films include Saving Private Ryan, Amistad<\/em>, and Lincoln<\/em>.<\/p>\n