The Power of Nightmares : Dir. Adam Curtis
A tangential post but one very worthy of notice (shortsville is dead). 3 Part documentary that was screened in the UK and Cannes yet will never recieve US distribution. Purposefully distributed for free via net.
A very enlightening and very expressive doc that poses the question: "Did Johnny Mercer bring down the World Trade Center?" An absolute must see.
Before anyone jumps in to correct my posting etiquette (is this a music video!?) I ask that you peruse this piece as it's not only constructed like an experimental film (the birth pangs of music videos) but also gives insight and reason behind a certain blame of false consciousness our world is entangled in and gives a kind of ideological context for all artists (mv directors included) that challenges the reality of one's internal space, as opposed to the reality of what's actually happening.
Again, a must see.
Definitely makes you think for sure... you can download a full DVD version here:
Definitely worth watching - also for the bursts of Eno music throughout!
lusk81: as far as I'm concerned you can post this on every board you find. I'm a huge fan of curtis' work and feel that his is a new kind of form altogether, a rich media lyrical argument.
You've probably seen it already, but if you haven't, "Century of the Self" is an absolute must see -- here I've posted it on one of my website and all are free to download: www.dfoaya.com
The quality isn't great but the content is all there.
such quality work. thx lusk. (oh, and: shortsville dead?)
coady: Wow awesome, thank you man. I have not seen. I'm downloading as we speak.
As for the form, I agree. It's a kind of experimental approach to journalism. Expressive journalism if you will. A kind of reappropriation of banal imagery that takes on a new charge - think:
- ROWS OF WHITE HELICOPTERS WITHOUT BLADES coupled with the idea of neocons spreading democracy.
- THE SETUP OF A TV SHOOT WHERE SOMEONE MOVES A LARGE WALL coupled with politicians' loss of power.
- THE BATTERED BUT STILL SYMMETRICAL ROOF PANELS OF AN OPEN HALLWAY coupled with the attacks of Sept 11th.
- And so on and so on...
This is the magic of experimental film. The collision of imagery to form newer, highly charged meaning(s). The piece is filled with this kind of structural and editorial approach.
btw, Does anyone know who the OFFLINE (not online) editor was?
P: I think shortsville is done for. There's MAYBE a new comment a month and MAYBE a new post every 2 weeks. That's a terribly weak pulse for something with blood in the veins.....
Cool. You're gonna love it. Power of Nightmare is amazing but Century of the Self is almost like taking the blue pill in the matrix.
I'll be interested to hear what you think of it. Curtis wanted them to work together and I think you'll see that they do.
I love the way he cuts to the essential: crowd control in the age of mass democracy is the theme of this one.
Shortsville had 43 posts in the last 60 days, averaging 5 posts per week. 27 comments in the same time period, low on the commentage.
Stash had 52 comments on their last 30 days' worth of posts. I'd guess about 130-160 comments in the last 60 days.
Great post!
Century of the Self is also on gv video.google.com
coady: Thanks again man. I downloaded and am watching now. What is your email - I'll drop you a line with thoughts. Is it:
rockwellian AT rockwwellrock.com
...?
lusk81: no, use normancoady at hotmail dot com. look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Thanks Kevathens!
L33t tip #27: E-mail addys posted on the web are easily found by spambots. Try using AT or DOT to break it up.
adam curtis q&a; he's not an uncontroversial documentarian. (he's made several other films.)
MAYFAIR SET:
