American Experimental Film & Video

Albert G. Nigrin Office: #018 Loree Building-Douglass Campus/Rutgers Film Co-op/NJMAC and Program In Cinema Studies/Rutgers University Telephone/Email: (848) 932-8482: [email protected] Office Hours: T+Th 5PM in the American Studies Office in Ruth Adams Bldg. #024 and by appointment

American Experimental Film & Video: A Private View Instructor: Albert Nigrin Course #: 01:175:265:01; Cross-listed with 01:050:265: Section 1 Dates: Fall 2012 Semester Day/Time: Tuesday & Thursday 5:35-6:55 PM with some Thursday screenings going till 7:30PM. Plus one Sunday evening screening Location: Ruth Adams #001, Douglass Campus, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ

Course Description: A survey course focusing on the history and development of the various American experimental cinema movements from its beginnings to the present. In-depth analyses of the structure and content of films by Andy Warhol, Maya Deren, Stan Brakhage, Sidney Peterson, Kenneth Anger, Bruce Baillie, Yoko Ono, and others. Emphasis on the "mise-en-scene," editing, narrative form, sound, and special effects in the films of these celebrated experimental filmmakers. Warning: some films may contain nudity, sexual situations, violence, profanity, substance abuse, and disturbing images.

Required Reading: Lab Fee/Xerox Packet of Articles = $70 (includes $15 for the Xerox Packet and a $55 Lab Fee for many in-class film/video rentals and licenses) from the instructor between September 6-13, 2012 at the beginning and end of class.

Course Requirements and Grading: Attendance is mandatory. Three Exams [Short Answer/Essay Questions]. Class Participation: 15%; Attendance: 10%; Exam #1: 25%; Exam #2: 25%; Exam #3: 25%

Learning Goals: By the end of this course students will have a better understanding of what experimental films are and how they are made. Students will also have a better understanding of film analysis and will be able to apply this understanding to other films they see by these and other acclaimed filmmakers.

Attendance and Absences: I will overlook one absence from class; thus, take your absences seriously. In addition, more than one absence will affect your attendance score and I will be less flexible in considering your overall grade. The opposite also holds true: if your attendance and class participation are consistently strong, you may enhance your final grade. Students are expected to attend all classes; if you expect to miss more than one classes, please use the University absence reporting website https://sims.rutgers.edu/ssra to indicate the date and reason for your absence. An email is automatically sent to me.

Exams: You should take careful notes during class; both exams will be based directly on the material we cover in class, the readings assigned, and the films viewed for class. The first exam will cover the first third of the syllabus; the second exam will cover the second third of the syllabus, etc. If you are caught cheating in this course the penalties are as follows: an automatic “F” on that exam, a report to the dean, and other disciplinary actions.

Required Screenings: All students must attend the New Jersey Film Festival film screenings listed below. Cost= $9 per screening and you must sign the attendance sheet at the door. 1- The Extraordinary Voyage/A Trip to the Moon Restored on Th-9/13/12 beginning at 6 PM in Ruth Adams #001-DSS. $9

Nigrin/Experimental Film/page 2

Required Screenings continued: 2- Dreams That Money Can Buy on Th-9/20/12 beginning at 6 PM in Ruth Adams #001-DSS. $9 3- American Experimental Films #1 on Th-10/4/12 beginning at 6 PM in Ruth Adams #001-DSS. $9 4- The Smile, Paolini’s Last Words, HyperLightness as absurdum on Su-10//7/12 beginning at 7 PM in Voorhees Hall #105-CAC. $9. 5- American Experimental Films #2 on Th-10/11/12 beginning at 6 PM in Ruth Adams #001-DSS. $9 6- Drained, Deep Note, Ditchwork on Th-10/18/12 beginning at 6 PM in Ruth Adams #001-DSS. $9.

Syllabus: 9/4 +6 Introduction Precursors - Thomas Edison, Lumiere Brothers, Films: Edison shorts, Lumiere Shorts

9/11+13+ 18 George Melies, Dada and Cubist Cinema - Man Ray, Marcel Duchamp, Ferd. Leger, Rene Clair Films: A Trip to the Moon, Return To Reason, Starfish, Emak Bakia, Ballet Mecanique, Entr’acte, Surrealist Cinema - Luis Bunuel/Salvador Dali Films: An Andalusian Dog

9/20 Surrealist Cinema - Film: Hans Richter’s Dreams That Money Can Buy

9/25 The Films of Maya Deren Films: Meshes of the Afternoon, At Land,

9/27 The Films of Maya Deren Films: Ritual In Transfigured Time, etc.

10/2 No Class

10/4 Art in Cinema Sidney Peterson, Marie Menken, Willard Maas, Bruce Conner Films: The Petrified Dog, Hurry Hurry, Glimpse of the Garden, Geography of the Body, Cosmic Ray, etc.

10/9 Exam #1

10/11+16 Art in Cinema - Bruce Baillie, Storm de Hirsch. Shirley Clarke, Hollis Frampton Films: Mass For The Dakota Sioux, Peyote Queen, Bridges Go Round, Zorns Lemma

10/18+23 Found Footage - Bruce Conner, Stan VanderBeek Films: A Movie, Breakaway, Science Friction, etc.

10/25+30+ 11/1 Counter Cultural Films #1- Kenneth Anger Films: Fireworks, Rabbit’s Moon, Scorpio Rising

Nigrin/Experimental Film/page 3

11/6 Exam #2

11/8+13 Counter Cultural Films #2 - Kenneth Anger Films: Lucifer Rising, etc.

11/15+27 Structuralist Films Stan Brakhage, Jordan Belson, and Chuck Hudina Films: Mothlight, Window Water Baby Moving, Music of the Spheres, Ikarus

11/20+22 No Class

11/27+29 Women’s Films - Yoko Ono and Gunvor Nelson, Carolee Schneemann Films: Bottoms, Fly, Take Off, Fuses Contemporary Films: A.G. Nigrin, Jem Cohen, etc. Films: Mental Radio, etc.

12/4 Exam #3

12/6+11 No Class