As lockdown continues, many enthusiasts are turning more and more to films to waste their time with. Here are the Toon Lampoon’s recent top three:
1. Clingfilm
Where to begin? Clingfilm is a classic. Used in kitchens across the world to help in the preservation of food. Its malleability and self-adhesive qualities make it perfect for closing and covering all types of containers and food items. American readers may know this better as Saran wrap, a classic example of the country’s tendency towards brand genericisation.
Clingfilm has also been employed in other areas such as dressing burn wounds or new tattoos. Truly a versatile film. However, it does often stick to itself, which is annoying.
4/5
2. Soap film
I have no formal film studies training. As an amateur film appreciator, I couldn’t explain the science behind soap film, but I know it’s very pretty. Soap films are crucial in the formation of bubbles and foams. Something on the molecular level in its structure messes with light waves and causes soap films to have beautiful iridescent colours not unlike a rainbow. Imagine where we’d be without rainbows and bubbles?
3.5/5
3. Photographic film
Do you ever look at your phone camera and think: “Wow, I wish there was a much less convenient way of doing this with thin strips of chemically-coated plastic”?
Well, 570 years ago that very thing existed. Renaissance inventor Claude de Burgundy found out a way to transfer light onto photographic film, and so capture images of real life scenes. Obviously, this didn’t catch on for a few centuries – the general public found they preferred the look of paintings – until 1936 when American artist Jonathan Bigsmal thought it would be funny to unearth this ancient piece of technology for a satirical art show. The rest is history.
In recent years, creative artists have been experimenting with looking at different photographic film images really quickly one after another until it looks like the images are moving. Critics say the potential to tell stories about super-powered humans and pro-US military propaganda is huge. At The Toon Lampoon we are just as excited.
5/5
