ESSAY:

The Beautiful Chaos That Is Rose Gold

By Quinton Bishop
03/20/2023

On my first viewing of Rose Gold, I was left - confused, to say the least. Or more so overwhelmed by the overlapping dialogue, fast paced edit, and overarching concepts and ideas presented. But that was the point. “They invented this color, Rose Gold, and I’m mesmerized”. This very first line may just seem like a man excited about the new Apple Iphone color, but in this film it is much more. How quickly he was mesmerized by this color says a lot about the world. Shots of the Trump Tower and a Gucci building, both wrapped in gold, seemingly signifying status, power and wealth. And that is what we as a people are supposed to believe. We as a people are so quick to get sucked into the next new thing. Wanting to be the first to have something is often a thought that comes before “is this even worth it?” Apple is no stranger to this marketing tactic. Every year presenting something new, but most times just another version of the old.

“Like I was watching an unorthodox, old school educational video.”

Being shot on film, along with the composition of shots, made this feel very nostalgic in a way. Like I was watching an unorthodox, old school educational video. This further shines light on the point that this is nothing new. Also provoking my mind to think this idea of making something look and feel new has been ingrained into our heads, similar to what these educational videos would do in elementary school.

“What to buy? How will this change or help my image? What will make me feel a certain way?”

Similar to the rose gold iPhone, every time Apple comes out with a new color, I want it. The excitement behind being the first to have a new color of an already new thing that's greatly sought after takes over. Sara Cwynar mentions melamine and how it was marketed as indestructible. It was used in a lot of dinnerware and made in a lot of different, bright colors. The new look and seemingly better product made families in the 40’s and 50’s buy these products only to later realize that it was not indestructible and the color would soon fade. Luring people with a new, pretty product only to disappoint is nothing new.

The overlapping dialogue was a lot at first, but nothing in this film is arbitrary. I resonate with the quick switches of statements and ideas because that is how my brain operates. Constantly thinking of something else before my first idea is even fully finished. This also is a great representation of how quick we as a people are to move on to the next “new” thing without even appreciating or getting the most out of what we already have. The fast paced, quick cuts further push this narrative. So many things presented at once it's often hard to choose what to look at. But the shiny, bright things always seem to stick out. With all these options in our everyday life, we begin to question ourselves. What to buy? How will this change or help my image? What will make me feel a certain way?

Cwynar doesn’t expect the viewer to understand the beauty behind this chaos at first. How would we? These ideas of the next new thing, new idea, new color have been in our faces for years and it still gets overlooked. “What is a good life when something you desire is actually an obstacle...?”. The constant “new” is making the world accustomed to thinking that old is no longer good or relevant. That is simply not the case. Me being a filmmaker, I will use a filmmaking analogy. The newest cameras will not always tell the best stories. This philosophy can be applied to anything whether it be material items, ideas or even people. New does not always equate to better.

Written by Sara Cwynar

Directed by Sara Cwynar

Cinematography by Sara Cwynar

Edited by Sara Cwynar

Here’s the link to watch the full short film: Rose Gold