Broughton and Brakhage

Both artists have a passion for film. They revel in their pursuits as proprietors of a divine calling.  They encourage the viewer to find their passions by emphasizing in very different prose the active pursuit of seeing in a new way with a camera.
James Broughton uses metaphors to guide new filmmakers into a deep appreciation for the art in the chapter "coming into focus" from his book Seeing the Light.  He draws parallels between poets and prophets who have shaped the meaning of transcendent vision and an artist with a camera. The capacity to see or not to see in a revolutionary way is why he and other artists pursue voyaging imagination.  Broughton gives the reader a sort of pocket guide of various philosophies that film artists may choose to live by, in order to become a re-birthed viewer/artist.

Brakhage shares a similar view about the nature of film in his article, "metaphors on vision". Brakhage is a sort of anarchic poet because of his use of metaphors that defy a typical understanding of film making. With this, he attempts to justify his opinion that film making is the most current, novel medium to discover resonant material.  He is seemingly the epitome of what Broughton was defining as an artist who is actively separating himself from creative drainers such as producers and academics. Brakhage, as well as Broughton, are comparable to Picasso who proclaimed, "it takes a long time to become young".  Similarly, Brakhage says "one can never go back, not even in imagination". Within their creative pursuits behind the camera eye, they are regaining that childlike quality that makes them unique in the ability to see.