Cinema Unbound: Lecture #1

In this lecture on Paracinema and the Ephemeral Image, Cinema Unbound takes an in-depth look at and discussion of the experimental film movement coined “paracinema” by avant-garde pioneers Ken Jacobs and Bradley Eros. This movement presents performances that foreground the act of projection and the ephemeral film strip itself, often deconstructing the given meaning of what a film projection experience is all about.

In many cases, as in the work of New York-based Bradley Eros, the film strip is burned or destroyed as it passes through the projection machine, destroying the given assumption of the lasting memory that film generally represents. Ken Jacobs, a legend in performance-based ground-breaking filmic shadow-play, has spent years creating complex stroboscopic projection machines that involve no actual film, but instead intense flickering shadow performances that hearken back to the earliest days of projection possibilities.

These are but a few of the artists whose work will be discussed and shown, in addition to the radical “extra-cinematic” performances of Tony Conrad and Paul Sharits, in which the film strip was completely removed from its viewing structure and re-contextualized for totally different purposes. Come hear about this radical and inspiring form of performance art/filmmaking practice that opens infinite possibilities to the act of cinematic ritual and expanding perception itself.

Cinema Unbound is a continuing discussion panel and lecture series dedicated to furthering the public understanding and appreciation of radical forms of film and video. Created and presented by filmmaker and media artist Anthony Buchanan, the series began informally as “Shamanic Cinema” in 2009 at CCA Santa Fe.

Videos of the lectures and references to the work and scholarship concerning the artists are available. Unless otherwise noted, artists discussed will not be present for the viewing of the work. Cinema Unbound is constantly on the look-out for innovative and exciting radical forms of cinematic experimentation; among Cinema Unbound’s upcoming events are : Experiments in Cinema: Curated by Bryan Konefsky and Anthony Buchanan, and Living No Wave: An Evening Discussion with underground legend Jon Moritsugu.

Santa Fe Complex, 632 Agua Fria
$5 Suggested Donation