David Cronenberg :: essays research papers

David Cronenberg People can interpret different things in different ways. Some people look at the Eiffel Tower and say that it is a work of genius. Others may look at it as if it were the ugliest thing in Europe. Two opposing views creates controversy. People look at the work of the well known director, David Cronenberg, the same way. In my essay, I will not take a side, but I will clearly and concisely outline and detail both sides of his work. David Cronenberg was born May 15, 1943 in Toronto Ontario. His childhood was rather disturbing, with abusive parents, and living a very sheltered life in the suburbs of Toronto for most of his life. He went to the University of Toronto, where he studied film and producing and direction. David’s first big screen success came to him in 1969 when his simple and tasteful film "Stereo" got shot down at the box office. David was somewhat discouraged by this and in 1970 would shock the world with his first film of the horror or shock film industry that broke all the limits. "Crimes of the Future" was a large success at the box office and at he 1970 Cannes Film Festival. Little did the public know, David Cronenberg was not finished there. The ideas he had stored in his uncanny mind of his were peculiar, odd and extraordinary. With his continuing success artistically, the public began to find his work vulgar and disturbing. In 1983, David Cronenberg produced and directed the highly sucessful "The Fly." From that film on his work was very controversial. The artists found his work deep, and meaningful, while the ordinary person though it to be the work of a madman. He had 5 more films to direct. "Dead Ringers" , "Naked Lunch", "Madame Butterfly", "Crash" and "ExistenZ." As his films progressed they got either more artistic and meaningful or more sickening. Naked Lunch was once again cheered at the 1991 Cannes Festival, but less than he previous successes. His work is often stylish and experimental. With plots concerning the aftermath of some disastrous biological mishap. The Fly and The Dead Zone prove this point. These two movies in the 1980s have given David his cult status. David Cronenberg’s 1993 entitled, Madame Butterfly enraged critics even more but the artists found his work compelling. It was at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival that the bomb was dropped.