FAMU International
ALTERNATE PERSPECTIVES
Spring
2009
Contact: henry@henryhills.com
Class times: Tuesdays
9:00-12:15 classroom 3
Course Description:
Alternative Perspectives is an intensive viewing class,
focusing principally on films that are not seen in other classes in this
school, being principally radical, non-narrative, experimental films, sometimes
long and often difficult, although certain classic silent and early sound films,
which are frequently discussed but rarely viewed, will also be explored,
insofar as they represent some of the most innovative departures in film
history in the practices of montage (Intolerance, Battleship Potemkin) and
sound design (M, Vampyr). As the primary focus of this class is analysis based
on the direct experience of projected works, attendance is mandatory.
Evaluation Criteria:
Several of the classes will be screenings only,
where the professor is forced to be absent due to other professional
obligations (as either editor or director); missing these classes without prior
arrangement will likely result in failure for the course. There may be
unannounced pop quizzes, but otherwise the main assignment on which students
will be evaluated is: Students
must keep a JOURNAL of experimental films they see, both in class and outside.
This should include sufficient information to convince me that you have seen
the films, plus commentary indicating that some of what you have seen has given
you some thoughts. These are due (by e-mail) the end of the last week of
classes.
Class 1 (Feb 10)
Etienne Jules Marey
CHRONOPHOTOGRAPHIES
Ken Jacobs
CAPITALISM: CHILD LABOR
Lumieres selected films
Melies selected films
Segundo de Chom—n LE KIRIKI ACROBATES JAPONAIS
Billy Bitzer WESTINGHOUSE variations
THOSE
AWFUL HATS (dir.: D.W.Griffith)
Rene Clair/Francis Picabia ENTRÕACT
Henri Chomette
5 MINUTES OF PURE CINEMA
JEUX
DES REFLETS ET DE LU VITESSE (Plays of Reflexions & Speed)
Ferdnand Leger and Dudley Murphy BALLET MECANIQUE (silent version)
Paul Leni REBUS-FILM No. 1
Class 2 (Feb 17):
Sergei Eisenstein
STRIKE
BATTLESHIP
POTEMKIN (plus ÒOdessa StepsÓ study film)
Class 3 (Feb 24):
Dziga Vertov
MAN
WITH A MOVIE CAMERA (silent, with narrated commentary)
ENTHUSIASM (Kubelka restoration)
Class 4 (March 3): ABSTRACT FILM:
Walther Ruttmann
OPUS
1 (1921)
WEEKEND
(1928)
Hans Richter
FILM IS RHYTHM (Ò1921Ó)
Viking Eggeling
SYMPHONIE DIAGONALE (1924)
Oscar Fischinger
SPIRALS
(1926)
STUDIE
Nr. 7 (1931)
ALLEGRETTO
(1936-43)
RADIO
DYNAMICS
Mary Ellen Bute
DADA
ESCAPE (Synchromy # 3)
Len Lye selected films
Harry Smith
NUMBER THREE (3 versions)
Robert Breer
EYE WASH (2 versions)
Jordan Belson
SAMADHI
Class 5 (March 10):
Isadore Isou
VENOM
AND ETERNITY
Class 6 (March 24) : VIENNESE ACTIONISM & VIENNESE STRUCTURALISM:
Kurt Kren
6/64
MAMA AND PAPA (Muehl)
7/64
LEDA AND THE SWAN (Muehl)
9/64
O TANNENBAUM (Muehl)
10/65
SELF-MUTILATION (Brus)
16/67
SEPTEMBER 20th
VALIE EXPORT
MANN
& FRAU & ANIMAL (1970-73)
...REMOTE...REMOTE...
(1973)
Kurt Kren
3/60
B€UME IM HERBST (3/60 TREES IN AUTUMN)
15/67
TV
31/75
ASYL (31/75 ASYLUM)
36/78
RISCHART
Martin Arnold
PIECE
TOUCHEE (1989)
PASSAGE
Ë LÕACTE (1993)
ALONE.
LIFE WASTES ANDY HARDY (1998)
Peter Tscherkassky
MOTION
PICTURE (1984)
OUTER
SPACE (1998)
Class 7 (Nov 25): BRITISH STRUCTURALISM + :
Malcolm Le Grice LITTLE DOG FOR ROGER (1967)
Peter Gidal HALL (1969)
Lis Rhodes DRESDEN DYNAMO (1971)
Mike Leggett SHEPHERDÕS BUSH (1971)
Chris Welsby FFOREST BAY II (1973)
Guy Sherwin AT THE ACADEMY (1974)
MAN WITH MIRROR (1976/2006)
also
Margaret Tait A PORTRAIT OF GA
HUGH MACDIARMID - A PORTRAIT
Paolo Gioli
IMAGES DISTURBED BY AN INTENSE PARASITE
Class 8 (April 7):
Bunuel & Dali LA CHIEN ANDALOU and LÕAGE DÕOR
Class 9 (April 14)
Andy
Warhol SELECTED SCREEN TESTS
Stan
Brakhage selected films including:
RIDDLE
OF LUMEN
THE
ACT OF SEEING WITH ONES OWN EYES
THOT
FALLÕN
Class 10 (April 21)
Fritz
Lang M
Karl
Dreyer VAMPYR
Class 11 (April 28):
Ken Jacobs NEW YORK GHETTO FISH MARKET
Class 12 (May 4)
D.W.Griffith INTOLERANCE
Class 13 (May 11,
exam week):
George
Kuchar I, AN ACTRESS
WEATHER
DIARY
Craig
Baldwin TRIBULATION 99