If you judge everything by how photographically real it looks

Opening Scene
The room is softly lit, the light from the table lamp casting a warm glow across the space. Jack and Jeeny sit at the kitchen table, their mugs of tea resting between them. The quiet of the evening feels inviting, the kind of space where meaningful conversation can unfold. The world outside is distant now, its noise muffled by the walls. There’s a calm in the room, but a lingering sense of curiosity and depth in the air.

Host: The stillness in the room feels almost deliberate, as if the moment has been set aside for something more profound to emerge. Jeeny looks at Jack, her expression thoughtful, before speaking, her voice reflective but calm.

Jeeny: (gently, her voice thoughtful) “I was reading something by Ben Wheatley recently, and it really resonated with me. He said, ‘If you judge everything by how photographically real it looks, then you’re missing out on a lot of what art is about and what communication is. There are ambiguities in life, and that should be reflected in art, cinema, and storytelling, I think.’ Isn’t that an interesting perspective?”

Jack: (nodding slowly, his voice reflective) “It really is. Wheatley is pointing out that art isn’t just about depicting things realistically, about capturing the world in the way a camera sees it. It’s about the layers beneath the surface — the emotions, the ambiguity, the things that can’t be easily defined. Art isn’t just a reproduction of life; it’s a way to explore and communicate the complexities of life.”

Jeeny: (smiling faintly, her voice gentle) “Exactly. We’ve become so focused on hyper-realism, on making things look as close to reality as possible, that we forget what art is truly about — capturing the essence of life. The beauty of art, cinema, and storytelling is in how they reflect the uncertainty of the world. They don’t always have to give us clear answers. Sometimes, the power of a story lies in its ambiguities.”

Host: The quiet in the room deepens, as if the weight of their words is settling into something more meaningful. The flickering light from the candle adds to the atmosphere, casting soft shadows on the walls as Jack shifts in his seat, his fingers lightly tapping the edge of his cup. The conversation seems to have opened a new perspective, one that goes beyond just the visual aspects of art.

Jack: (his voice softer, almost contemplative) “I think it’s a shift in how we approach storytelling. When everything is depicted so literally, we lose the chance to experience the deeper, more nuanced parts of the human experience. Life isn’t always clear-cut. It’s messy, it’s full of gray areas, and I think great art reflects that. It makes us feel something, even if it doesn’t make sense right away. It’s about the emotions, the confusion, the complexity of living.”

Jeeny: (nodding, her voice reassuring) “Yes, exactly. Ambiguity in art gives us space to interpret, to question, to think. It invites us into a conversation with the piece, rather than just telling us how to see it. The best stories and the best films are the ones that don’t give us all the answers. They leave us thinking, feeling, exploring what the characters or situations represent, not just what they are.”

Host: The stillness in the room deepens, like a quiet understanding is taking root between them. The flicker of the candle adds a sense of intimacy to the space, as if their conversation is unfolding not just in words, but in a shared realization. Jack leans back slightly, his gaze softened by the weight of the conversation.

Jack: (with a small, reflective smile, his voice calm) “It’s funny, isn’t it? How much we’ve come to rely on clarity in art and media, wanting everything to be straightforward and easily understood. But life isn’t like that. It’s full of contradictions, uncertainties, and moments we can’t explain. Maybe the power of art is in its ability to reflect those complexities, to capture the human experience in all its messiness.”

Jeeny: (smiling warmly, her voice gentle) “Yes, that’s what makes it so powerful. Art, cinema, storytelling — they give us a window into the uncertainty of life. They show us the emotions that can’t always be expressed in words, the questions we don’t have answers to. They remind us that it’s okay to not know everything, to not have everything figured out.”

Host: The light from the lamp continues to flicker, its glow casting long shadows that add to the sense of reflection. The conversation has shifted from discussing just the technicalities of art to the deeper meaning it holds, the way it reflects the complexities of life. Jack and Jeeny sit in the quiet understanding that art’s true power comes not from clear answers, but from its ability to leave us with something to think about, to feel, to explore.

Jack: (his voice gentler, almost in awe) “So maybe the best art isn’t the one that’s the most polished or realistic. It’s the one that leaves us with a sense of wonder, that makes us question and reflect, that shows us the messy beauty of life itself.”

Jeeny: (nodding, her voice affirming) “Exactly. The ambiguity, the unknown, is what makes art so rich and meaningful. It mirrors life, with all its contradictions and complexities. And that’s where the true magic lies.”

Host: The evening stretches on, but the room feels calmer now, filled with the realization that art, in all its forms, is more than just a mirror of reality. It’s a reflection of the human experience, with all its beauty and confusion. Jack and Jeeny sit in the shared understanding that the power of art lies not in its ability to be perfectly clear, but in its ability to evoke emotion, to challenge us, and to leave us thinking long after the moment has passed.