Today, we looked at 3 different silent films by early filmmakers who were experimenting with film in the 1920s. These films are part of a series called "Light Rythms".
The first film was by Man Ray. This film, "Le Retour a la raison" (return to reason), has no actors or spoken words. This film is clearly a part of the Dada movement. The music and changing images are very important.
The second film was Ballet Mecanique by Leger and Dudley Murphy. This film is a take on the machine age and there are many changing/swinging images which reflect movement and machines. The film seems to represent the relationship between machines and humans.
The final film was Anemic Cinema by Marcel Duchamp. This film alternates between two basic concepts. The first is swirly black and white lines. The second is swirly quirky words. Each time, the images and words change slightly, but are still of this basic concept. The music is extremely important as it changes with each changing image.
Each of the films has a great deal of energy and repitition. They all seem to be reflecting on the modern age and its relationship to humanity.
We completed class by discussing the differences and similarities between Avant garde cinema and Hollywood Classical Cinema.
Avant Garde= difficult to identify with in the same way as classical, deals with unconscious, surrealism
Classical= wants to present normal/average perspective, humanistic identification
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