Talk:Koyaanisqatsi/Archive 1

Film's rights

 * Francis Ford Coppola's was also contending for the film's rights, as it had been funded through his American Zoetrope studio.

Coppola himself was contending for copyright, or his studio was? Koyaanis Qatsi 14:20 May 2, 2003 (UTC)

Glass and Smetana
Anyone else think there are some similarities between Glass's music for Koyaanisqatsi and elements of Bedrich Smetana's Ma Vlast? In particular, Pruitt Igoe reminds me strongly of the beginning of the fourth part, From Bohemia's Forests and Fields. Another part of Koyaanisqatsi (though I forget which), is also reminiscent of the fifth part of Ma Vlast (Tàbor), with the repeated single note motif having the same rhythm and sound to it. Maybe a musicologist or someone who can put both pieces back to back to make a comparison (sadly my CD of Koyyanisqatsi got badly scratched and won't play) could either confirm this or say it's a load of hogwash! Either way I don't mind but for me the resemblance is there. What it might mean I don't know. GRAHAMUK 05:37, 21 Aug 2003 (UTC)

Single article
Mmmmh. I think (for the reader's benefit) the trilogy could have a single article and redirects from the three. Something like Qatsi trilogy and the three pages (Koyaanis, Powa and Naqoy) going there? Pfortuny 18:49, 22 Oct 2003 (UTC)


 * That would perhaps be confusing, since Koyaanisqatsi, Powaqqatsi, and Naqö`yqatsi are not only the titles of the movies, but are concepts important to Hopi culture which are difficult to translate into English (thus experts use those terms rather than English translations). "qatsi" simply means "life", whereas, for example, "naqö`y" means "war", so from an international point of view that isn't considerate of Hopi-speaking Wikipedians as it could lead to confusion, and until now Wikipedia practice (not sure if our policy says so) has been to use full movie names in article titles.

Chrono
I saw a short movie called Chrono on TV. It has the same style as Koyaanisqatsi. Are these two movies related?


 * Its director, Ron Fricke (also known for the similar movie, "Baraka"), takes inspiration from Koyaanisqatsi, et al, and finds new ways of doing similar things, but I don't believe that he is connected with the makers of Koyaanisqatsi. 24.19.93.104 04:15, 6 August 2006 (UTC)


 * Actually, Ron Fricke was the cinematographer on Koyaanisqatsi before he went on to make Chrono and Baraka.

Documentary
In the article, the movie is called a "documentary movie". Where exactly would the work would be factual? I'd call is a "collage". Pilatus 00:09, 21 Nov 2004 (UTC)


 * How exactly are you arguing that the movie is not factual? It's footage without commentary.  Seems more likely to be factual than most documentaries I can think of.  Koyaanis Qatsi 03:39, 21 Nov 2004 (UTC)

Music Clip
While the article is in need of just more in terms of information, I think the article is wholly incomplete with out a sound clip from the musical score. Anyone wanna contribute? I'm No Parking and I approved this message 22:32, 13 January 2006 (UTC)

The Strokes
I wanted to add a section under "Influence", referring to the video for Hard To Explain by The Strokes. I've often considered that this video must have been very heavily inspired by Koyaanisqatsi, as it is very similar both in the way it's made and in the tone of its imagery.

After a Google search, however, I found reference to the fact that the clips used in the video are in fact from Koyaanisqatsi itself, rather than simply inspired by it. As the video is directed by none other than Roman Coppola, it's not a huge stretch to believe this, although the fact that I found it referenced no more than a couple of times within the first few pages of search results has left me hesitant about putting it in the Wiki entry as fact.

Can anyone with better knowledge of/access to the film and the video in question confirm whether or not the clips used are in fact from the film? That way a comment can be added either way.

Seb Patrick 16:10, 21 February 2006 (UTC)


 * There's no "Spoilers End Here" tag. --711groove 02:31, 11 August 2006 (UTC)


 * Certainly not all of the clips are from Koyaanisqatsi. Watching the Strokes video, I notice they use at least three pieces of footage that are also featured in this movie: Ground-level close shot of the Titan boosters firing, a vertical pan across several floors of criss-crossing escalators at some kind of mall, and the dance club with the colorful flashing floor tiles.  Hope this helps. 00:24, 18 October 2007 (UTC)  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 129.79.148.26 (talk)

Documentary?
Funny the powers that be at wikipedia choose to call it a documentary - its a wildly manipulative selection of pictures and sound. Its art, but its not a documentary. IceHunter 22:13, 16 April 2007 (UTC)
 * The real funny thing is that the "power that be" is you. If you think it should be changed, you can change it, or discuss it here.  If you wish to discuss it, I think a definition of what a documentary is would be a good place to start.  I think that Koyaanisqatsi actually fits one of the definitions given at documentary film:  "creative treatment of actuality".  What definition are you using that makes you conclude that Koyaaniqatsi fails to be a documentary?  Cheers, Doctormatt 22:27, 16 April 2007 (UTC)

Documentaries are never impartial; some seem that way, but all films have a subtle (or not so subtle, or even unintentional) message for the viewer. The notion that documentaries must be impartial is odd to say the least.

74.98.232.171 06:56, 26 June 2007 (UTC)

longest shot?
"The sequence entitled 'Vessels' contains the film's longest single take: a three minute and thirty-two second long shot of two United Airlines commercial passenger Boeing 747s taxiing on a runway. 'Vessels' also contains shots of traffic patterns on the Los Angeles freeway and a shot of a large parking lot. This is followed with stock footage of tanks lined up in rows and a B-1 Lancer military aircraft."

Not really true. Strictly speaking many of the time lapse shots later in the movie were from takes with durations of several hours; yet, after being sped up, they only lasted on screen for fractions of a minute. Perhaps this could be rewritten to emphasize this.
 * Perhaps you are right. Feel free to edit the article.  Cheers, Doctormatt 05:21, 27 May 2007 (UTC)

Producer
Acording to IMDb Coppolla is only the "executive producer", so I'm going to edit the infobox appropriately. It ties in with the info on my ancient old VHS copy. I'll also mention the origin of the "FFC Presents..." credit, which I'm surprised wasn't already in here. --DeLarge 13:42, 2 June 2007 (UTC)

Fair use rationale for Image:Koyaanisqatsi album2.jpg
Image:Koyaanisqatsi album2.jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

If there is other other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images uploaded after 4 May, 2006, and lacking such an explanation will be deleted one week after they have been uploaded, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.BetacommandBot 05:23, 5 June 2007 (UTC)

Fair use rationale for Image:Koyaanisqatsi album1.jpg
Image:Koyaanisqatsi album1.jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

If there is other other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images uploaded after 4 May, 2006, and lacking such an explanation will be deleted one week after they have been uploaded, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.BetacommandBot 05:24, 5 June 2007 (UTC)

Screenshot
The screenshot is not very representative of the film; I am looking for a better one. C.anguschandler 06:58, 26 June 2007 (UTC)
 * I think it's ok. But if you can't stand it try http://www.spiritofbaraka.com. Drewcifer3000 08:04, 26 June 2007 (UTC)

WikiProject class rating
This article was automatically assessed because at least one WikiProject had rated the article as start, and the rating on other projects was brought up to start class. BetacommandBot 19:28, 28 August 2007 (UTC)

Expansion for GA status
I really want to expand this article and get it to GA-status, but I'm only willing to do so if I can find others out there who are willing to help. After writing 99% of U2 3D on my own, I really want to start collaborating more on these articles. If anyone is interested in expanding this with me, let me know. – Dream out loud (talk) 04:44, 29 June 2008 (UTC)

Green Adzem (talk) 23:26, 31 August 2008 (UTC)

Coppola

 * In an interview, Godfrey Reggio says "...[Coppola] would like to do everything possible to make this available to the public, so he put his name on it".

Surely his name at the very beginning is not only because Reggio decided it would promote the film. An earlier version of this article said that Coppola's Zoetrope Studios financed the film. Is this true? Needs to be in the article. In any case the article needs to say what exactly was Coppola's involvement. Tempshill (talk) 04:51, 12 February 2009 (UTC)

Which rocket exploded?
I removed a claim just now in the article that the exploding rocket at the end was an Atlas (rocket) from the Mercury program; there were only 4 Atlases in Mercury, and none exploded. Does anybody have a reliable source stating what rocket it was that exploded? is a forum in which one poster says it's the first Atlas-Centaur in May 1962. Tempshill (talk) 06:37, 12 February 2009 (UTC)

Looks like an Atlas B (3 Engines, no Tower on the Tip (Compare Atlas A/B/D http://www.astronautix.com/graphics/a/atlasabd.jpg)). Atlas B had, according to its Article, 4 Failures. First Atlas B Failure reached an Apogee of 10 kilometres, other 3 100 kilometres and beyond. So only the first was in visual/Video Range when it exploded or set to explode for safety. Guess that points pretty clear to the first Atlas B, Serial/Name 3B from 1958-07-19. Greetings from de:User:Maron W --78.52.195.182 (talk) 13:48, 16 June 2009 (UTC)
 * The clip on Youtube quite clearly shows an Atlas-Centaur. It looks like the first flight. -- G W … 09:37, 27 June 2009 (UTC)

Politically charged?
I read on several online forums about Koyaanqatsi is biased in favor of sociopolitical liberal ideologues by some conservative critique on the movie's themes. Right-wing/conservative political analysists felt the movie contains a subliminal but obvious "liberal/left-wing" emphasis on environmentalism and other stereotypical liberal viewpoints of humanity & the world. So, if anyone watches the movie trilogy, they will develop more of a "far left"ist/progressive political ideology? Philip Glass is no politican, but an artistic film director made a movie that appealed or catered to the notable feelings or opinions shared by many in the progressive/ liberal left movements in the United States. + 71.102.2.206 (talk) 21:16, 16 May 2009 (UTC)

Latest OST ALBUM ART
I have uploaded the lastest Album Art for the 2009 OST re-release. I can't get three album art covers to show up. I think the template only supports 2. But I think the OST (Original Sound Track) re-release should be placed in place of the the re-recording. But this is matter of opinion. Any thoughts? The file has been uploaded and is available for linking. Frankk74 (talk) 08:31, 14 October 2009 (UTC)



Assessment comment
Substituted at 15:13, 1 May 2016 (UTC)

Boobs!
I should start by warning anyone who is going to assume this is vandalism to check the film. Now... in the segment called The Grid, within the "channel surfing" montage, there are four frames of an actress whom I believe to be Marilyn Chambers. In three out of the four frames, she appears topless. Just something I thought worthy of note, since I don't think the film had an R rating for its initial release. Enjoy! MaxVolume (talk) 05:41, 21 June 2010 (UTC)
 * Yes, that is true that there are a few frames where a topless woman is seen (actually two different women at two different times). The film was never rated by the MPAA, and this little tidbit about the film really isn't very notable and I can't see any reason to add it to the article. – Dream out loud (talk) 06:02, 21 June 2010 (UTC)
 * That's a 'titbit', and rather appropriately so. :) SeverityOne (talk) 22:27, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

United States only?
The article states the following:

"[...] photography of cities and many natural landscapes across the United States."

In the 'Vessels' segment, you can clearly see an Air Malta plane taxiing (the one with the big Maltese cross on the tail). They only fly to destinations in Europe and North Africa, and somewhere on the internet it is claimed that the airport in question is Reggio Calabria, southern Italy. So, should that sentence be corrected? SeverityOne (talk) 22:27, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

Reggio only shot in the U.S. The shot you refer to may be a piece of stock film. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 208.57.244.8 (talk) 23:14, 1 July 2011 (UTC)


 * It's possible that Air Malta once flew to the U.S. back in the 1970s when the film was shot, but the Gold reference in the article specifically states that the aforementioned shot was filmed at LAX. – Dream out loud (talk) 06:38, 2 July 2011 (UTC)

Working towards GA-class
Koyaanisqatsi is my absolute favorite movie of all time and I've been wanting to clean up this article for a while now. The problem was locating sources about its production, since just about every source about the film is either a review/analysis or deals with Glass' score. After using all the university library resources possible, I found two sources that can finally save this article (article by Gold, book by MacDonald). So I really want to get this to GA-class within the next couple months (or sooner) and if anyone is interested in helping out, please let me know and I'd be happy to send you PDF copies of the sources I am using. – Dream out loud (talk) 23:03, 28 June 2011 (UTC)

Hopi language film category
I do not feel as if this article is appropriate for the Hopi-language films category because the only "language" in the film are three prophecies that are sung at the end. There is no speech in the film, which makes it appropriate for Category:Films without speech, and adding that category with a language category seems contradicting. If Hopi was spoken throughout the film, that would be different, but there is no dialog spoken. – Dream out loud (talk) 20:27, 11 July 2011 (UTC)


 * Do song lyrics count? What do other editors think? —hike395 (talk) 01:33, 12 July 2011 (UTC)


 * I'm inclined to agree with . To describe a film as a Hopi-language film to me suggests a film that has a substantial amount of dialogue or narration in that language. There must be plenty of examples of, say, English-language films that include French song lyrics, or German-language films with English songs. I think Category:Films without speech is probably the most appropriate for Koyaanisqatsi, and the same argument would also apply to Powaqqatsi and Naqoyqatsi. --Deskford (talk) 07:44, 12 July 2011 (UTC)


 * That's also a good point. If a film full of nothing but English dialog has a Spanish song playing in the background of one scene, it doesn't belong in the Spanish language films category. I'm going to go ahead and remove the category. – Dream out loud (talk) 04:49, 13 July 2011 (UTC)

Table
I don't see the need, but it contains invalid HTML. See (ignore the 'ul' errors as they occur on all pages). ---— Gadget850 (Ed)  talk 19:57, 20 August 2011 (UTC)
 * I just had to change  to  . The table is only temporary right now. Track listing needs to be fixed so it doesn't create whitespace on some browsers when it is next to another template. I've posted at Template talk:Track listing so hopefully it will be resolved soon. – Dream out loud  (talk) 20:33, 20 August 2011 (UTC)