Conference
My paper was accepted to the UChicago Conference on Expanded Cinema! Now I just have to write it... taking on more work is hardly advisable, but this will keep me honest.
I wanted to amend the earlier post and give some more clarity, when my parents humbly asked, 'what's expanded cinema, anyway?' As far as I know, the term is applied to what has been otherwise described as avant-garde. Usually, these films have no narrative (or a very minimal narrative). These films are often made by people who call themselves artists / filmmakers, unlike Hollywood movies that are big expensive productions that require a lot of specialized labor - these films are often made (and financed solely by individuals). As a result, they take on a very personal aura and many times explore subjective themes like dream-states, interior psychology, and in some cases, replicate the processes of vision. Additionally, a sub-genre of these films explore the basic medium of film and exploit technology (like extreme zooms, manipulate camera operation to achieve a certain effect). You could also classify these films as non-commercial (rarely do they turn a profit), they tend to be about a reel long (under 25mins), and are exhibited to more of an art house crowd in places other than the neighborhood megaplex (unless you live on the Lower East Side, where your neighborhood movieplex is Anthology Film Archives). Usually, they are filmed on 16mm film-stock, unlike Hollywood's 35mm standard. That's the gist of it - and this is basically the kinds of film I study for fun. If it interests you, you should check out Stan Brakhage (many of his films were released on a handsome Criterion Collection last year), Andy Warhol, Jack Smith, Kenneth Anger, Maya Deren, Paul Sharits, Ernie Gehr, or Michael Snow. In general, the films are somewhat hard to track down outside of a hip city or an academic classroom, but sometimes you'll be lucky enough to stumble upon a traveling museum show or another coincidental screening. That clears up one question...
My paper is about Jonas Mekas (just as I thought I put that paper topic to bed) and the many recurring images in his diary films that re-create or suggest the early Lumiere Brothers films (these are images most viewers are familiar with - the train coming into the platform, workers leaving a factory). Anyway, I want to point out some of these recurring images and also probe the traditional distinctions - actualite films, home movies, documentary, personal diaries, and see what a comparison can yield a viewer. More on that as April approaches, but I think it merited some explanation...
I crashed when I came home from school today - now I have a fairly hefty agenda for myself tonight. Jeremy comes to town tomorrow afternoon, so I'd like to be up on my readings and really enjoy the visit with him. As soon as my laundry is done, it's all Arnheim for me & maybe even some Abel if I am feeling ambitious.
posted by lmjasinski at 11:47 AM
