Searching for Anxiety of Influence in cinema: The example of Short Cuts (1993) and Magnolia (1999)

With the formation of a rich past in literature over time the works have begun to be examined not only individually but also together and comparatively. One of the relationships between the works examined comparatively is the relationship of influence. Thereupon, various interpretations and theories have been developed by the author, theorists and critics on influence. Among these theories, Harold Bloom's The Theory of Anxiety of Influence which reminds intertextuality, is important. With this theory, Bloom, by establishing a successor-predecessor relationship between poets, stated that the history of literature cannot be considered separately without being affected. It is possible to observe the relationship of influence in cinema as well as in literature. The relationship of influence in cinema defines a network of relationships that connects movies, directors or movements from the beginning of cinema to today. Since the aforementioned relationship network is also suitable to be examined through the relationship of influence approach brought by Harold Bloom for literature, the example of The Anxiety of Influence in cinema will be presented in this study. The aim of the study is to reveal how the relationship of influence between the two films is formed and whether the successor director has created an original and valuable film with this influence. Therefore, two selected films, Short Cuts (Robert Altman, 1993) and Magnolia (Paul Thomas Anderson, 1999), will be analyzed in the context of narrative analysis. Then, philosophical criticisms of the films will be made in order to reveal the essences (ideas) and values of both films. Finally, the relationship of influence between the two films and whether Magnolia is an original and valuable work despite being affected will be interpreted through Harold Bloom's The Theory of Anxiety of Influence.