IMDb Poll Board: Most Groundbreaking Director

@jeorj_euler​ 

You overthink it. You do not need a degree in philosophy to understand my poll. You can suggest any director that you think experimented with the image, the sound or the editing of films.

The only aesthetical philosophy book I have read is Kant's Critique of Aesthetic Judgment. I will apply to this poll what I have read as good as I can. But, I am not a philosopher.

As long as picks are justified by aesthetical arguments (e.g. I like Spielberg's film editing is nice), and not by moral arguments (I agree with Spielberg's depiction of Nazis) I will allow them. In this poll, someone could nominate D. W. Griffith or Leni Riefenstahl. You can disagree with a director's politics, and still consider that he (or she) made invaluable contributions to the art.

I've only seen one film by D.W. Griffith, and he failed in the casting (even makeup) department despite succeeding in apparently all others for the time period. I've also only seen one film (a documentary) by Leni Riefenstahl, and it was recording of things already very fancy (or aesthetically-pleasing) without her feedback. Both are very groundbreaking apparently, setting the stage for others to be inspired. I'm far from being thoroughly knowledgeable about the history of cinematography and film-editing, so the only thing that really stands out in my mind presently is the Vertigo effect, introduced by Alfred Hitchcock in the film originating the term's namesake. Stanely Kubrick has done some interesting things with lenses, particularly in regards to Barry Lyndon, but it is subtle, yet he was always doing something unusual and fantastic. Since Kubrick might be associated with many examples, I could pick him. Now, there is also George Lucas, of course, but there isn't really anything about his directing in and of directing's self that was really groundbreaking, just that he did introduce some key science fiction concepts: the targeting computer, the hologram, the lightsaber. He was always much more of a businessman who also imaginative and artistic to a degree. Most of his best work happened outside of the recording and editing processes, on account of the many cinema effects companies he founded and which helped other filmmakers have better special effects, and his contribution to the motion control camera aspect of the behind-the-scenes technical underpinnings. None of stuff of Lucas really has anything to do with aesthetics, though.

@Tsarstepan​ 

added (8 months late)

@dan_dassow​ 

added

Gland to see your feedback, Ruby. Even though I did find the topic puzzling, I do believe the thread deserves more attention.

@rubyfruit76​ added

@rubyfruit76​ 

I like this idea! It's so hard to choose but five come to mind immediately:

1.  Louis Lumière 

(If I had to choose just one, I'd say him.)

2. David Lynch

3. Sean Baker

4. Spike Lee

5. Claire Denis

Perhaps it'd be easier to choose if this were divided into a few eras. Although mine are weighted heavily toward contemporary directors, even among those four, it's difficult because Sean Baker is standing on the shoulders of Lynch, Denis, and Lee. And then of course, all filmmakers from Charlie Chaplin to Haoyo Miyazaki are really standing on the shoulders of Louis Lumiere. 

I think I will do that. And, I will also make sure to be more specific because I think that the poll went awry. It was about directors who  "allowed cinema to advance". I know it is somewhat subjective, but I also think that not all suggestions received were made taking into account that rule. 

@Breumaster​ 

Terry Gilliam