Avant Garde Film

This is another name for experimental films. Film scholars say that studying experimental films deepens one’s understanding of the film medium. Although a wide array of films fall under this type of films, they have some things in common.

• They portray things differently from the way mainstream film did and still does in both technique and subject of film.
• Many times they are “personal projects” for its director(s). For example, it could be something that is just meaningful to their own selves.
• They are produced within a small budget.

• It is said to be “visual poetry”. It wasn’t made to convey a storyline or plot, rather its images just strewn together.
• If you ask, “What does this film mean?”…you probably wont be able to answer it.

Meshes in the Afternoon (1943)

This movies was done by a husband and wife team, Alexander Hamid and Maya Deren. Maya was a poet, teacher, dancer, and her films were to some extent, characterized by these.

Watch this film and you will notice that there are images used as symbols heavily. Symbolism that one explains in the film are interpretation of critics usually. Interpretations such as the flower representing a chance at life. Shrouded mirror representing death. Key representing opening one’s life. Phone off the hook representing a lack of communication. The list goes on.

Some themes that one can pick out are the feeling of being trapped, fear of the bedroom, marital/relationship issues. All this is done through the imagery.

A Movie (1958)

A Movie was a collage film produced by Bruce Conner consisting of footage from other films. The material was selected, and structured in a certain manner with added music. Some call this a documentary of sort.

This film is different in the fact that repeatedly you see the title and the producer of the film show on screen through out, as if Bruce Conner is saying, “hey look, I made the film”

Scorpio Rising (1963)

A experimental/avant garde documentary film by Kenneth Anger about a motorcycle gang of New York. You will notice that in this film, in place of dialogue and traditional background music, plays a series of popular 80’s songs to a “storyline.”

Something that the viewer may think about is, “What is the relationship between the soundtrack and the film’s images?” One thing to note is that, the images portray male sexuality on film. The way the camera movement characterizes that action itself. Films rarely portray the male figure in this way, but considering that the director behind the camera is gay, is understandable.

Some of the themes portrayed in the film are:

• Self-image
• Idolizing a figure
• Modeling behaovir, dress, character
• Following. Conformity in the name of “individuality”

Its interesting how the links imagery of Hitler, a gang-leader, and Jesus with disciples together to stress the themes they are pushing forward.

It’s interesting how the director is one of the founders of The Church of Satan, which is an organization for those who have a focus on materialism and individualism, and practice self-preservation as instrcuted in the The Satanic Bible written by Anton LaVey.

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Personal Comments:

Although many of the well known experimental films are not up to the moral standards of Islam, they directors prove that imagry and symbolism are strong tools to use in the visual medium. Tools can be used for good or bad, how they are used depends on the weilder.

     

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