Comments on: Resurrecting the Dead With Computer Graphics http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/2012/04/resurrecting-the-dead-with-computer-graphics/ A history of the future that never was Fri, 17 May 2013 21:40:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4 By: Laura http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/2012/04/resurrecting-the-dead-with-computer-graphics/#comment-2190 Laura Fri, 12 Apr 2013 16:55:27 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/?p=2396#comment-2190 I agree with dog, with the added question of, "how dare we?" It seems disrespectful (to say the least) to digitally resurrect someone who, being dead, has no capacity to consent to whatever performance they are being made to give. The whole idea just grosses me out. I agree with dog, with the added question of, “how dare we?” It seems disrespectful (to say the least) to digitally resurrect someone who, being dead, has no capacity to consent to whatever performance they are being made to give. The whole idea just grosses me out.

]]> By: Jeff http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/2012/04/resurrecting-the-dead-with-computer-graphics/#comment-767 Jeff Mon, 17 Sep 2012 00:19:02 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/?p=2396#comment-767 I would like to see Marilyn Monroe's last, uncompleted film, SOMETHING'S GOT TO GIVE, completed but too much material of any star recreated this way would cause me to lose interest. With SOMETHING'S GOT TO GIVE, we already have real footage of a film that truly begs for completion. I would like to see Marilyn Monroe’s last, uncompleted film, SOMETHING’S GOT TO GIVE, completed but too much material of any star recreated this way would cause me to lose interest. With SOMETHING’S GOT TO GIVE, we already have real footage of a film that truly begs for completion.

]]> By: dog http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/2012/04/resurrecting-the-dead-with-computer-graphics/#comment-593 dog Mon, 11 Jun 2012 20:55:45 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/?p=2396#comment-593 I find the whole idea of "resurrecting" the dead and making them perform for us to be intensely distasteful. These aren't just characters on a screen--these were real human beings who lived and died and had their own hopes and dreams and fears. And for actors and other artists, that's a huge part of what made their work so enduring. Computer-generated resurrections have an effect similar to watching someone puppeteer a corpse. I'm not just referring to the uncanny valley, but seeing a seemingly "live" version of someone you know is quite dead, whose performance is being created by someone else. There's no reason for it that doesn't come across as really gross--it's either a cash grab or a refusal to let go of an idol. There is no role that could be played by Marilyn Monroe's digital ghost that couldn't be played just as well (or better) by a living actress. I find the whole idea of “resurrecting” the dead and making them perform for us to be intensely distasteful. These aren’t just characters on a screen–these were real human beings who lived and died and had their own hopes and dreams and fears. And for actors and other artists, that’s a huge part of what made their work so enduring.

Computer-generated resurrections have an effect similar to watching someone puppeteer a corpse. I’m not just referring to the uncanny valley, but seeing a seemingly “live” version of someone you know is quite dead, whose performance is being created by someone else. There’s no reason for it that doesn’t come across as really gross–it’s either a cash grab or a refusal to let go of an idol. There is no role that could be played by Marilyn Monroe’s digital ghost that couldn’t be played just as well (or better) by a living actress.

]]> By: Corbin Supak http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/2012/04/resurrecting-the-dead-with-computer-graphics/#comment-514 Corbin Supak Wed, 16 May 2012 15:31:03 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/?p=2396#comment-514 I think we will continue to see this. I'm waiting for the first performer who is completely synthesized, and has no reportable 'death' - that's the ultimate cash cow for the entertainment industry. Animation icons, of course, have this advantage already. But for humans, I think it could be someone like Tom Cruise, who gradually morphs into a synthetic, and we just don't get to see the aging version, only the 'healthy adult' version that we are used to who continues to perform in film after film. Don't know how promotion gets handled, but hey - the more that's online, the more it can feature synthesized subjects. I think we will continue to see this. I’m waiting for the first performer who is completely synthesized, and has no reportable ‘death’ – that’s the ultimate cash cow for the entertainment industry. Animation icons, of course, have this advantage already. But for humans, I think it could be someone like Tom Cruise, who gradually morphs into a synthetic, and we just don’t get to see the aging version, only the ‘healthy adult’ version that we are used to who continues to perform in film after film. Don’t know how promotion gets handled, but hey – the more that’s online, the more it can feature synthesized subjects.

]]> By: Bruce http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/2012/04/resurrecting-the-dead-with-computer-graphics/#comment-509 Bruce Tue, 15 May 2012 07:12:27 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/?p=2396#comment-509 Its alittle controversial to some seeing long dead stars resurrected. I don't know the legalities of such a thing but movies are technically resurrected all the time. Like a release of Wizard of Oz on Blu Ray etc. I surmise the same will occur in the future while old classics make their jump to new medium, first 3d recreations like Titanic. Then holographic and later interactive. When movies become interactive immersions where audiences can branch off and make their own alternate ending to movies like Gone with the Wind, the lines will be blurred between what is allowed by post humorous performances of late stars of the yesteryear. Its alittle controversial to some seeing long dead stars resurrected. I don’t know the legalities of such a thing but movies are technically resurrected all the time. Like a release of Wizard of Oz on Blu Ray etc. I surmise the same will occur in the future while old classics make their jump to new medium, first 3d recreations like Titanic. Then holographic and later interactive. When movies become interactive immersions where audiences can branch off and make their own alternate ending to movies like Gone with the Wind, the lines will be blurred between what is allowed by post humorous performances of late stars of the yesteryear.

]]> By: Lucifar http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/2012/04/resurrecting-the-dead-with-computer-graphics/#comment-483 Lucifar Wed, 02 May 2012 16:41:54 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/?p=2396#comment-483 this is really stupid, the dead are dead, why want to bring them back to life this is really stupid, the dead are dead, why want to bring them back to life

]]> By: Ted http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/2012/04/resurrecting-the-dead-with-computer-graphics/#comment-482 Ted Wed, 02 May 2012 14:20:15 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/?p=2396#comment-482 Why do we need to resurrect anybody? Is not the interest in potentially doing so not a sign of the paucity of true acting talent available today? Our current crop of talent is not good enough, attractive enough, charming enough to hold our interest? We have to bring the dead back to life? I suspect this is either nostalgic narcissism, or narcissistic nostalgia. Either way, it's a bad commentary. Why do we need to resurrect anybody? Is not the interest in potentially doing so not a sign of the paucity of true acting talent available today? Our current crop of talent is not good enough, attractive enough, charming enough to hold our interest? We have to bring the dead back to life? I suspect this is either nostalgic narcissism, or narcissistic nostalgia. Either way, it’s a bad commentary.

]]> By: Nancy http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/2012/04/resurrecting-the-dead-with-computer-graphics/#comment-481 Nancy Tue, 01 May 2012 21:58:06 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/?p=2396#comment-481 No technology could duplicate distinctive voices like those of Gregory Peck or Gary Cooper. No technology could duplicate distinctive voices like those of Gregory Peck or Gary Cooper.

]]> By: Paul http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/2012/04/resurrecting-the-dead-with-computer-graphics/#comment-480 Paul Tue, 01 May 2012 20:09:56 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/?p=2396#comment-480 This was all before the "Uncanny Valley" was truly appreciated. Getting a simulated person sufficiently close to real to avoid the UV is a seriously difficult problem. This was all before the “Uncanny Valley” was truly appreciated. Getting a simulated person sufficiently close to real to avoid the UV is a seriously difficult problem.

]]> By: Benoit http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/2012/04/resurrecting-the-dead-with-computer-graphics/#comment-479 Benoit Tue, 01 May 2012 17:23:05 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/?p=2396#comment-479 Instead of resurrecting the dead, I see more interest to stage actors more young than they are . Imagine Lauren Bacall playing herself in a movie today and looking 25 ! Instead of resurrecting the dead, I see more interest to stage actors more young than they are . Imagine Lauren Bacall playing herself in a movie today and looking 25 !

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