Theo van Gogh
Theo van Gogh

Summary/Abstract: Jelińska Manders reviews the storylines and aesthetic guidelines of van Gogh’s films, accentuating the director’s inclination to become strongly involved in political issues. Dutch director and provocateur Theo van Gogh was brutally murdered by a Moroccan religious fanatic on November 2, 2004. Van Gogh played the part of a clown in a Dutch society, not hesitating to express highly controversial opinions. An outspoken person, he took the liberty of ridiculing others and was an advocate of free speech; he broke taboos and used mediation. He believed in the functional role of expression. He even defended his most offensive comments as essential for social communication. Van Gogh’s strong involvement in politics caused that his opinions started to be interpreted too literally and the rules of the game and reference points got mixed up. But it turns out that while the roles of the artist and intellectual seem to be widely understood, then at a time when these comments touch upon sensitive social issues, their meanings clash and their implications become unclear.

• Details
• Contents