Experimental Film and Politics
- Giovanni Peresson
- Nov 17, 2023
- 4 min read
By Giovanni Peresson 17/11/2023
Introduction:
Experimental film has never been shy about politics. Both in "normal" experimental film and especially within the documentary genre. I would like to explore this from the early history of experimental film to the modern day. I once heard someone say that "short films are the films that create real change in society" and I believe this statement is also true for experimental film. For this blog, I am mainly going to be focusing on the documentary genre of experimental film, although I will be discussing other formats too.
Experimental film's role in propaganda:
Experimental film's role in propaganda is clear. Or be it anti eststablishmentism. In a way I see that experimental film can be very political in nature, A film I have referenced a couple of times throughout my blog The holy mountain is a strong example of this. These films will highlight political issues and using different methods such as satire or using violence will emphasise the pain and hurt institutions and governments inflict upon their own citizens to keep the power and wealth among the elitists.
An experimental Documentary I watched The Man with a movie camera. This film set in the Soviet Union pre World War 2 uses a non-narrative structure showcasing daily life through work by showing the viewer machinery which highlights the importance of the working man in the communist regime just as the hammer and sickle emblem of the Soviet flag represents. The other aspect the film uses is sports and people at play to show that recreation is also a key aspect and that there is an abundance.
Today we know it is a different story. Yes, at the time the people of the Soviet Union probably believed this was true, but of course this was not. The people of the Soviet Union were practically worked to death and were paid with vodka to suppress them. This brilliant although clearly propaganda film was used as a tool to control the people and give them a false sense of hope and prosperity for their country and encouraged people to work harder in the hopes of then having more recreation and pleasures in life.
This film was highly influential and became a staple in the documentary filmmaking world, and techniques used in that film are still used to this day. I personally believe this film is where the poetic documentary mode originated. This is a good case of experimental films that were so influential they inspired the mainstream, and you can see these techniques to this day.
Censorship
Censorship has been one of the greatest challenges for experimental film ever since it began. As soon as governments and organisations realised that a lot of experimental film used nudity, graphic visuals or themes that go against the government or religious groups, there was a swift response to put a stop to it. On the web there, it is shocking how little information is available on the censorship of experimental films. This in itself shows just how effective censorship can be as a tool to silence one's opinions.
I myself am strongly against censorship of any kind, even content that does not align with my own personal beliefs or morals I still believe it has a place as to someone it is their form of expression and this right should be protected. During my research, I discovered a film called Paint Drying. This is a 10-hour experimental film of a painted wall being left to dry. The creator of this film made it to protest the BBFC film age rating organisation, as he wanted to make someone in the organisation watch it for hours and to then give it a rating. The film was eventually given a "U" status, meaning that anyone can watch it. It costs money to have your films rated, and The creator managed to crowd fund over £5000 to have it rated. There is something quite ironic about this. It reminds me of a story of Danish artist Jens Haaning who was commissioned £84000 to create a painting for the Kunsten Museum of Modern art, and she created a painting titled "take the money and run" which was ironically a blank canvas. Earlier this year, she was forced to pay the commission back, excluding living costs. In both of these pieces, I admire the blunt honesty in their creativity. It is a punishment that fits the crime.
Conclusion
At times, there can be a very strong connection between experimental film and politics. Film, even to this very day, can be a very powerful tool in the propaganda machine. Filmmakers even make use of this tool for other purposes, such as advocating for change, highlighting issues in society and to sway the minds of the people. It is a tool that can be used by any side. I myself in a documentary series I am creating titled: reclaiming lives am I taking inspiration from poetic/experimental documentary in the aspect of using metaphorical and highly meaningful imagery that emphasises the issue at hand without being direct and bluntly showing it.
Bibliography
"The holy mountain",(1973), A Jodorowsky,
Richard Sowada, (2022), "The Experimental Propagandist: Frank Capra and the Shape of Truth", Sense Of Cinema, available at:
http://www.sensesofcinema.com/2022/feature-articles/the-experimental-propagandist-frank-capra-and-the-shape-of-truth/ Accessed 14/11/23
The Man with a movie camera (1929) D. Vertov, All-Ukrainian Photo Cinema Administration, Dovzhenko Film Studios
c. Drachko,( april 24th 2014),"Man With A Movie Camera: Social Commentary and Technological Influence", Uoregon, available at: https://blogs.uoregon.edu/eng110spring2014/2014/04/20/man-with-a-movie-camera-social-commentary-and-technological-influence/ accessed 14/11/23
Zita Whalely, (21st September 2023) "How 'Man with a Movie Camera' Changed Documentary Filmmaking", Culture Trip, available at: https://theculturetrip.com/europe/russia/articles/how-man-with-a-movie-camera-changed-documentary-filmmaking accessed 14/11/23
"Censored and Salvaged", National Galler of art, available at: https://www.nga.gov/features/experimental-cinema-in-eastern-europe/censored-and-salvaged.html
accessed 15/11/23
paint drying, 2016, C. Shackleton
Nathan Williams, (May 2nd 2023),"Paint Drying: The Greatest Cinematic Protest in History, Explained", MovieWeb, available at: https://movieweb.com/paint-drying-protest-history/ accessed 15/11/23
Bill Chappell, (September 29th 2021) "For $84,000, An Artist Returned Two Blank Canvasses Titled 'Take The Money And Run'", NPR News, available at:
https://www.npr.org/2021/09/29/1041492941/jens-haaning-kunsten-take-the-money-and-run-art-denmark-blank accessed 15/11/23
This Blog has been written for educational purposes as part of CIN506 Experimental Film Week 7 Blog.
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