Avante- Garde Cinema

Avante- Garde Cinema

• in opposition of mainstream cinema ( e.g. opposite of hollywood ) 
• non linear/ non figurative / non narrative - not explained or no story
• open rather than closed
• requires a different kind of spectatorship (unpassive)

experimental, artists cinema 

no real definition 

'Un Chien Andalou' (1929) Dir. Luis Bunuel

There are many Freudian readings of this film 

Matthew Barney- 'Cremaster 3' (2002)

• A modern version of the film above similar style 

'Spirals' (1924-26) Oskar Fischinger 

• developed with modernism 
• no people, 
• seeing what could be done with cinema, experimental
• early abstract cinema
• playing with optics

'Lapis' (1960) James Whitney

• abstract 
• tried to create a film that is at the same speed as brainwaves of a person resting
• American 
• optical illusion
• romantic, lyrical , mystery
• poetic in its explanation

'Black Ice' (1994) Stan Brakhage

• one of the most famous abstract film makers
• scratched into the reel and painted

'Mothlight' Stan Brakhage

'Window Water Baby' Stan Brakhage

hypnogogia - the state of being asleep and awake

He attempts to recreate this in this film

Andy Warhol 'Empire State Building'

• 10 and a 1/2 hour film 
• static camera
• film just of the empire state building