Likes and Dislikes

The films we saw on Monday all touched me in a different way. I enjoyed some and hated the others. The films we saw during the first two weeks of classes done by Snow and Dorsky, for example, were not interesting to me and left me sleepy. However, the more recent films we've seen like "Theme Song," "Birthday Suit," and "A Letter to Jonas," have managed to keep my attention and were much easier to stay awake during. The video diary by Dorsky, to me, was a variety of nature scenes that over-all lacked excitement. I found myself dozing off in the silence. Similarly, "Commingled Containers," by Brackhage, did about the same for me. The various ways to shoot water by playing with reflections and heightened the balance failed to keep my attention. The films by Nishikawa and Kitchen were no different; as much as I tried to pay attention, I was not interested. Also, as much as I enjoy nature, I cannot find pleasure in watching it on film.
In contrast to this, I found the films that we saw on February 5th to be much more interesting and exciting. I wonder if I need to see human interaction on the screen as well as hearing actual sound to be intrigued. "Theme Song" is a perfect example of this. The communication done by face to face contact in this film was what I most enjoyed. The intimacy of Vito Acconci talking to the viewer as if he/she was right there was essential. The viewer can get the feeling that they are being spoken to and drawn in by the filmmaker. Because the camera remains stationary, Acconci successfully grabs hold of the viewer's attention and doesn't let go. Another film that really caught my attention was Lisa Steel's, "Birthday Suit." The camera is much more "in your face," as well as intimate. It is as if Steel is making a confession on camera, and it is hard to look away and ignore. Also, the nudity is a different kind of direct address. It is a specific and passive was of her telling us her story. These films are what make me glad I took the class.
The films we saw on Monday, February 12 were a variety of types of artwork and I enjoyed some and disliked others. The Renato Umali web piece, "I Learn Something New Every Single Day," was something I couldn't take my eyes off. I found it hard to listen to Carl when watching the screen. I enjoyed the way Umali would sometimes morph into a new image slowly. Also, when I could read the captions on the screen, I liked the variety of subject matter he wrote about. His captions ranged from his current crush, to items he wanted, to serious events going on in the world. His picture diary was an inspiring way to remember each day of any one's life. Because I was so intrigued by the screen, all I have written in my notes for his work is simply, "I loved it."
"A Letter to Jonas Mekas," left me in a very relaxed mood. I liked how he talked to the camera and laughed at himself at times. It seemed like a "good-morning" note for Jonas. He recorded all of the quiet and peaceful sounds as if he was waiting. However, as much as he enjoyed the peacefulness, he kept remarking on how much he missed New York.
"Gently Down the Stream," by Su Friedrich, was similar to Snow's but a much different experience. I enjoyed the fact that it was not as easy to read and how the scratching on the film strip to make the words made the film much more interesting than something like Snow's. The in stable fluttering of the words created sounds when there weren't any. Also, the changing of the size and placement of the words had the same affect and made the silent film, non-silent. However, no matter how enticing it is, a silent film always makes me sleepy. The film is like a scrapbook with its use of text and imagery. I liked how the basis of the film was on a series of dreams. The imagery in the film, including water and religious iconography was creepy and unclear. This made the film such a success to me because it made me feel like I was dreaming. The way that the words and images were so hard to read/understand gave the effect that Carl was talking about, where it seemed almost like an "aqueous state reflective of a dream state."
Lastly, I found the "Data Diaries," by Cory Arcangel to be overall repelling and obnoxious. I hated the noise with its piercing sound. I kept waiting for someone to turn it down. I was expecting the unreadable images to disappear and to see some kind of video game character on the screen. It was interesting when someone commented on how it was as if the computer had its own language that only it could understand. While I never want to see the "Data Diaries" again, I did like the way the screen would randomly (or purposefully) show signs of order, almost as if it had a mind of its own.