Martin Scorsese Biopics: visual memory for the future

Abstract

The aim of this text is to analyze three biopics by Martin Scorsese, questioning whether they can function as a source of visual memory/testimonial for the future even if subjectivity interferes in the documentaries montages about Cinema and Theatre, Literature and Music. Regarding the tone and construction of the biopics, we nominated them as “selfie-biopic”, “accomplice-biopic” and “tribute-biopic”. The main corpus of this study includes documentaries in three media: an “accomplicebiopic” about the film and theatre director Elia Kazan, A letter to Elia (2010); a “selfie-biopic”, Public speaking (2010), about the writer Fran Lebowitz; and a “tribute biopic” about Music, George Harrison, living in the material world (2011), portraying the Beatles guitarist. The theoretical frame of reference includes Beatriz Sarlo´s concepts of subjective memory and Julia Kristeva's study of intertexts. Bill Nichols and Fernao Ramos´ concepts are relevant for the definition of modern documentaries as well as Deane Williams´ history of documentary.