A world with real monsters

March 14, 2017 11:21 AM

Guillermo del Toro at MIA - Metafilter’s own Max Sparber takes a look at the "At Home With Monsters" show, fascism, and the importance of del Toro’s work right now. Previously.
posted by Artw (11 comments total)

We are so excited about this that we will be making the arduous journey across the mighty Mississippi to see it!
posted by Bacon Bit at 11:53 AM on March 14, 2017 [2 favorites]

This is very cool. Added to my list of things to check out in Minneapolis when I return there next month.
posted by brand-gnu at 12:26 PM on March 14, 2017

I'm trying to convince my spouse that it's time to go to Minneapolis (it's not taking a lot of convincing).
posted by djeo at 1:13 PM on March 14, 2017

Im sure this will be a MOST unpopular comment, but I have never found del Toro to be particularly creative. His work borrows so heavily from others. Watching his movies has always been dissapointing for me. However, I do like the themes he explores so I guess I can give him a bit of a pass on the worn out visuals.
posted by WalkerWestridge at 1:36 PM on March 14, 2017 [1 favorite]

>I have never found del Toro to be particularly creative.

Just curious which films you've seen. Pan's Labyrinth and Espinazo del Diablo are quite different from his other films and are (in my opinion) spectacularly creative and original.
posted by jackbrown at 1:48 PM on March 14, 2017 [3 favorites]

The author of Ecclesiastes no doubt borrowed the phrase "there is no new thing under the sun" from older source material.
posted by tobascodagama at 2:41 PM on March 14, 2017 [2 favorites]

Del Toro (@realGDT) regularly retweets photos from people who have visited his exhibition. You'd think this would get old fast but it's sufficiently varied they've often found some new aspect of it, which is quite fun.
posted by Artw at 3:33 PM on March 14, 2017 [1 favorite]

Yeah! My boyfriend and I visited the exhibit the day it opened and we were able to briefly meet del Toro. I've never actually seen any of his movies but the exhibit was definitely worth seeing.
posted by sucre at 4:07 PM on March 14, 2017

>I have never found del Toro to be particularly creative.

I've had mixed opinions on del Toro's work as well, but I think the exhibit is well-worth visiting (I saw it when it stopped at LACMA in Los Angeles last year). I find that seeing these exhibitions really gives me a greater appreciation for the artists, especially as they really delve into the background and process behind their work. I felt the same way when I saw a Lichtenstein retrospective in Paris once. I may not be the biggest fan of their final product, but seeing how they got there and the immense amount of work and thought involved....I really respect that.

Check it out! It's quite marvelous :)
posted by sprezzy at 8:18 PM on March 14, 2017 [2 favorites]

I saw this at LACMA and really enjoyed it. As I live in the Twin Cities looking forward to seeing the installation here.

Speaking of his movies which I really enjoy, Mimic is a fantastic film, go see it.
posted by misterpatrick at 10:20 PM on March 14, 2017

I loved the LACMA exhibit. It was absolutely beautiful and filled with amazing things and have I mentioned that I want to be his bestest friend so we can have arguments about the best part in The Haunted Mansion and talk about Elmer McCurdy and read Shirley Jackson together in the spooky room that has fake rain in the windows?

I'm glad it's on tour. Go see it.
posted by Katemonkey at 2:27 AM on March 15, 2017