research and inspiration: experimental cinema

i've been sucked into the history of the avant-garde movement, it's merely all for the love of art; depicting to an audience an artist's conceptual or creative expression without a price tag. the original push of the movement was for the elite society to broaden their perspective and validate the artwork of the expressionist - however, when this was achieved, avant-garde no longer became avant-garde, but simply the accepted "modern art". people could no longer see the meaning in the artwork because they were too consumed by what it was worth. similarly, a novel was sorely judged by whether it was best seller, and music succumbed to rating charts.

it's amazing how people forget the real value of art but chose to create work that would only please society instead of challenging society's boundaries! a true artist creates a work of art out of true passion, to communicate an idea or conceptual strategy, they strive to portray their world without giving a damn for public success or profit. this is what experimental cinema is about, it is opposed to mainstream and commercial film making, it requires the active participation of the viewer.
its most defining characteristic is the way it makes conscious use of the materials of cinema in a way that calls attention to the medium - it makes the audience aware that they are watching a film instead of sucking them into a linear narrative that unfolds in the theatrical space of mainstream narrative. it lacks any recognizable narrative at all. the film maker rapidly and unpredictably cuts the film in a way that calls attention to the editing itself - a feature that is usually hidden from us so cleverly in mainstream films.

the perfect example of an experimental film is Dog Star Man by Stan Brakhage - one of the most experimental film makers of the 20th century.

"it's not about metaphors, symbolism, or storylines. that's the mistake people make - they think he's trying to make snooty "high brow" art. he's not. his art is primal, not intellectual and certainly not narrative. In other words, Brakhage isn't making "movies," he's creating a purely sensory experience that stimulates and invigorates your brain.
think of it as an acid trip without any of the nasty side effects of drug addiction."