Of Mystery and Rats

Saw me the remaining of the Wes pieces of art. Exercises in artistry, they were, but as good as the Swan and the Sugar story, they were not. The Rat Catcher featured a cute little blocking (that is, stage direction) skill where objects and creatures were mimed or very much told-not-shown through fourth wall-breaking narration by an unblinking character. It’s like Wes the artist is keen on creating the most novel and interesting of cheaply, almost childishly, made stage plays on screen. This was hinted at a bit in his last feature, the one with the alien landing and all the cute flirtations.

What more can I — oh, yes. The ending. The ending of The Rat Catcher ended with a bit of an ambiguous line that hinted at character and gave your dear Conjurer of Words a bit of a queasy think-about-it.

This ties in loosely with this book I’ve been reading at the recco of a friend called, The Art of Mystery by Maude Casey, a book about — from as well as I can tell, but I’m still early in its pages — writing with a touch of that ambiguity that leaves questions (and therefore, I feel, more interaction) with the reader. Always leave ‘em wanting more, I once heard be a hallmark of a story told well.

Oh, what questions we aspire to have, if only answers weren’t so tempting.