Rock”N”Roll Cinema

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Rock”N”Roll Cinema Rock’n’Roll Cinema Adam Trainer Bachelor of Arts With First Class Honours in Media Studies This thesis is submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy School of Media, Communication and Culture Murdoch University 2005 I declare that this thesis is my own account of my research and contains, as its main content, work which has not previously been submitted for a degree at any tertiary educational institution. Adam Trainer Refereed Publications Adam Trainer. ‘“Well I Wouldn’t Buy the Merchandise”: David Bowie as Post -Auteur’ in Senses of Cinema 28. September/October, 2003. http://www.sensesofcinema.com/contents/03/28/bowie_postmodern_auteur.html This journal article was derived from Chapter Five Adam Trainer. ‘The Business of Living: Secrets & Lies’ in Australian Screen Education 36. September, 2004. pp. 127-129. This journal article was written in association with research on cinematic realism, as featured in Chapter Four. Adam Trainer. ‘“They Made Me Do It”: The Mad World of Donnie Darko’ in Australian Screen Education 37. January, 2005. pp. 138-142. This journal article was derived from Chapter Three. Adam Trainer. ‘“It’s Not My Fault You Hate My Band”: Perth Art Rock’ in Liverpool of the South Seas: Perth and Its Popular Music. Tara Brabazon ed. Crawley: University of Western Australia Press, 2005. pp. 127-135. This chapter was written in association with research on experimental music, as presented in Chapter Six. Adam Trainer. ‘A Crooked Crooked Reign’ in Liverpool of the South Seas: Perth and Its Popular Music. Tara Brabazon ed. Crawley: University of Western Australia Press, 2005. pp. 155-162. This chapter was written in association with research on indie rock, as featured in Chapter Six Conference Papers ‘The Cinema of the Everyday’. Everyday Transformations: The Twenty-First Century Quotidian. Cultural Studies Association of Australasia Annual Conference. Murdoch University: Murdoch, Australia. 9th – 11th December, 2004. This conference presentation was written an association with research on cinematic realism, as presented in Chapter Four. ‘Transforming the Gaze in the Popstar Vehicle’. Culture Incorporated: Bodies, Technologies, Habitats. Cultural Studies Association of Australasia Annual Conference. Christchurch Arts Centre: Christchurch, Aotearoa/New Zealand. 6th – 8th December, 2003. This conference presentation was derived from Chapter Five. ‘You Are a Target Market’. Sonic Synergies/ Creative Cultures. International Association for the Study of Popular Music Conference. University of South Australia: Adelaide, Australia. 3rd – 6th July, 2003. This conference presentation was derived from Chapter Six. Abstract Popular music and film are separate media, framed by specific discourses, histories of distribution and reception, semiotic relationships and literacies. Through these divergent manifestations and ideologies nodes of convergence exist. At moments of connection, new and innovative textual and contextual possibilities emerge, transforming the ways in which audiences both engage and read these media. Whilst often driven by capitalist goals, both popular music and film capture and tether personal expression and collective memory. Through these processes of signification, popular cultural texts belonging to both media forms are able to resist their commodified origins to inform and construct both collective and individual identities. This thesis charts the movement of popular music across cinema. Rock’n’Roll is utilized not only as an amalgam of texts made up of sounds and images, but also as a critical and interpretative apparatus through which specific cultural identities are configured. This work is concerned with various manifestations of political resistance in popular culture, and the ways in which this resistance is moderated through cultural commodification. Using an interdisciplinary approach – converging film analysis, popular music studies and music journalism – this thesis constructs an ideological framework through which film and popular music can be aligned, and through which this alignment can be researched. Through an engagement with myriad cinematic and popular cultural texts, executed through interdisciplinary methods, this thesis establishes a theoretical framework for understanding and analyzing the convergence of popular music and cinema. Its original contribution to knowledge is an evaluation of the ways in which these media are changed through their alignment and how they inform each other both structurally, as tangible manifestations of specific media codes and structures, and politically, in the ideological embodiment of particular identities and representational realities. This goal is achieved through the selection of specific research materials, especially those which have not been subject to detailed investigation in other scholarly studies. Specific filmic and musical texts are discussed because they embody the aesthetic and political synergy of these two media forms as well as demonstrating the cultural processes through which this synergy is enacted. This thesis offers interdisciplinary dialogue as a valid strategy to understand the processes involved in the creation and reception of texts which are cinematic in nature but utilize the language and discourse of popular music. The textual and contextual manifestations of this process are a primary concern. Emphasis is placed on the implications for film form in terms of the structure of texts and their existence within specific genres, the shifting position of the auteur and the renegotiation of the term and its meaning to film and popular music, and the conjunction and interaction between creativity and commerce. In addressing the political and aesthetic possibilities of the film and popular music hybrid, as well as the cultural implications of their convergence, this thesis provides new perspectives for the analysis of both forms. Acknowledgements I would like to acknowledge the immeasurable support of my supervisor Associate Professor Tara Brabazon in allowing me to undertake this thesis in the manner in which I had always aspired to, whilst simultaneously guiding me through the realities of the doctoral process. I would also like to acknowledge the friendship and mentorship of Dr. Garry Gillard whose support has also been of incredible value to me throughout my tenure. I would like to offer my warmest love and thanks to my family, my partner Michelle and my friends for their insufferable patience and support throughout this process. I would also like to extend my thanks to my postgraduate colleagues and wish them the best with their respective tenures and academic careers. Finally I would like to offer my thanks to all the artists, musicians, directors and performers mentioned within this thesis for their inspiration and their brilliance. Table of Contents Declaration i Refereed Publications/Conference Presentations ii Abstract iii Acknowledgements v Table of Contents vi Introduction 1 Section One: Re-Constructing Anti-Histories Chapter One: Rock’s Increasing Cinematic Visibility 27 Chapter Two: All Singing, All Dancing, All Knowing: The Post-Musical 46 Section Two: “You Don’t Remember, I Remember!” Chapter Three: Cashing In On Nostalgia 90 Chapter Four: The Rockumentary vs. the Biopic 139 Section Three: “Way To Jump on the Bandwagon, Sell Out!” Chapter Five: Transforming the Gaze in the Pop Star Film Vehicle 174 Chapter Six: The Rock Musician as Film Scorer 213 Section Four: “Filth is my politics, filth is my life!” Chapter Seven: Trash Culture and the Cinema of Transgression 263 Chapter Eight: The Rock Aesthetic and Notions of Cinematic Structure: Rock’n’Roll Filmmaking 302 Conclusion 334 Bibliography 348 Introduction Desire becomes its own purpose, and the sole uncontested and unquestionable purpose.1 Zygmunt Bauman We again arrive at the frontier between philosophy and history, between system and existence; and we feel it would not be difficult, yet no small thing, to put some order into all these words or, better still, to show that there was always a deeper order and logic there in the first place.2 Frederic Jameson Culture is alive. It is composed of different combinations of matter and that matter takes many forms. It is hard bone with flesh, muscle and fat stretched over and around it. It is blood, water and other fluids and gasses which regulate and are regulated. It also, like any living thing, includes materials existing between solid, liquid and gas. They either take this form through necessity, or they are in transition. They may exist in a permanent state of transition; they may exist as the transition between solid and liquid or liquid and gas. As a metaphor, such movements in materiality actualize Bauman’s characterization of the current political and cultural economy as a form of ‘liquid’ modernity. In this environment, ideas are free to move around and through each other whilst maintaining referents to that which is or was once solid. Bauman uses the tenants of modernity in his analysis, such as emancipation, individuality and formalized notions of time, space, work 1 Zygmunt Bauman. Liquid Modernity. Cambridge: Polity Press, 2000. p. 73 2 Frederic Jameson. A Singular Modernity. London: Verso 2002. p. 99 1 and community, to comment upon the political economy of change and the ways in which it relates to systemic structure. Bauman asserts that in what he terms the “affluent West”, consumerism is ingrained in configurations of the individual. ‘[O]ur form of life’ has once and for all proven both its
Recommended publications
  • {Download PDF} Goodbye 20Th Century: a Biography of Sonic
    GOODBYE 20TH CENTURY: A BIOGRAPHY OF SONIC YOUTH PDF, EPUB, EBOOK David Browne | 464 pages | 02 Jun 2009 | The Perseus Books Group | 9780306816031 | English | Cambridge, MA, United States SYR4: Goodbye 20th Century - Wikipedia He was also in the alternative rock band Sonic Youth from until their breakup, mainly on bass but occasionally playing guitar. It was the band's first album following the departure of multi-instrumentalist Jim O'Rourke, who had joined as a fifth member in It also completed Sonic Youth's contract with Geffen, which released the band's previous eight records. The discography of American rock band Sonic Youth comprises 15 studio albums, seven extended plays, three compilation albums, seven video releases, 21 singles, 46 music videos, nine releases in the Sonic Youth Recordings series, eight official bootlegs, and contributions to 16 soundtracks and other compilations. It was released in on DGC. The song was dedicated to the band's friend Joe Cole, who was killed by a gunman in The lyrics were written by Thurston Moore. It featured songs from the album Sister. It was released on vinyl in , with a CD release in Apparently, the actual tape of the live recording was sped up to fit vinyl, but was not slowed down again for the CD release. It was the eighth release in the SYR series. It was released on July 28, The album was recorded on July 1, at the Roskilde Festival. The album title is in Danish and means "Other sides of Sonic Youth". For this album, the band sought to expand upon its trademark alternating guitar arrangements and the layered sound of their previous album Daydream Nation The band's songwriting on Goo is more topical than past works, exploring themes of female empowerment and pop culture.
    [Show full text]
  • Angriff Der Melancholie Malen, Anti-Kriegs-Demos, Fußball: Für Musik Haben Die Einst So Coolen Futuristen Von Massive Attack Nur Noch Wenig Zeit
    Angriff der Melancholie Malen, Anti-Kriegs-Demos, Fußball: Für Musik haben die einst so coolen Futuristen von Massive Attack nur noch wenig Zeit. VON CHRISTOPH DALLACH Dummerweise hat das neue Album jede nur mögliche Werbung nötig. Denn so hoch die Erwartungen an das einstige Pop-Avantgarde-Genie wa- rfolg im Pop ist auch immer eine Frage des ren, so bitter werden sie nun enttäuscht: neun Moll-Electro-Hop-Balladen, Timings. Und was das betrifft, hat das pa- die grau und bedeutungsschwanger ohne jeden Pep dahinwummern. Auch Ezifistische britische Musiker-Kollektiv, das die üblichen Gastsänger wie Reggae-Veteran Horace Andy und die kurz- sich ganz martialisch Massive Attack nennt, kei- haarige Heulsuse Sinéad O’Connor helfen da nichts mehr. ne glückliche Hand. Als Anfang der neunziger Der Aussetzer der Bristoler Elektro-Stars zeigt, wie schwierig es ist, im Mu- Jahre die erste Single seines Debüt-Albums ãBlue sikgeschäft über mehrere Jahre innovativ zu bleiben. Das ist umso trauri- Lines“ erschien, verscheuchten die Amerikaner ger, als es der ganzen Branche derzeit an Innovationen mangelt. Dabei gerade Saddam Hussein aus Kuweit. Die Musiker waren Massive Attack mal eine Institution, die Ma§stäbe für die moderne beschlossen, zeitweilig die Attacke aus ihrem Na- Popmusik gesetzt hat. Ende der achtziger Jahre, hervorgegangen aus der men zu streichen. HipHop-DJ-Künstler-Gang Wild Bunch in der britischen Hafenstadt Bristol, In diesem Monat erscheint mit ã100th Window“ hatten Massive Attack prägenden Anteil an der Entstehung des so genann- (Virgin) das vierte Werk von Massive Attack, wie- ten TripHop. Einem Sound, der von gebremsten HipHop-Beats und ge- der gibt’s Krach zwischen dem Chef der Iraker pflegter Melancholie bestimmt wurde und bis heute in Cafés, Clubs und und den Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika, und Boutiquen nachhallt.
    [Show full text]
  • Press Release
    LOOKING AT MUSIC: SIDE 2 EXPLORES THE CREATIVE EXCHANGE BETWEEN MUSICIANS AND ARTISTS IN NEW YORK CITY IN THE 1970s AND 1980s Photography, Music, Video, and Publications on Display, Including the Work of Jean-Michel Basquiat, Blondie, Richard Hell, Sonic Youth, and Patti Smith, Among Others Looking at Music: Side 2 June 10—November 30, 2009 The Yoshiko and Akio Morita Gallery, second floor Looking at Music: Side 2 Film Series September—November 2009 The Roy and Niuta Titus Theaters NEW YORK, June 5, 2009—The Museum of Modern Art presents Looking at Music: Side 2, a survey of over 120 photographs, music videos, drawings, audio recordings, publications, Super 8 films, and ephemera that look at New York City from the early 1970s to the early 1980s when the city became a haven for young renegade artists who often doubled as musicians and poets. Art and music cross-fertilized with a vengeance following a stripped-down, hard-edged, anti- establishment ethos, with some artists plastering city walls with self-designed posters or spray painted monikers, while others commandeered abandoned buildings, turning vacant garages into makeshift theaters for Super 8 film screenings and raucous performances. Many artists found the experimental music scene more vital and conducive to their contrarian ideas than the handful of contemporary art galleries in the city. Artists in turn formed bands, performed in clubs and non- profit art galleries, and self-published their own records and zines while using public access cable channels as a venue for media experiments and cultural debates. Looking at Music: Side 2 is organized by Barbara London, Associate Curator, Department of Media and Performance Art, The Museum of Modern Art, and succeeds Looking at Music (2008), an examination of the interaction between artists and musicians of the 1960s and early 1970s.
    [Show full text]
  • Milla Jovovich
    Textes : COMING SOON COMMUNICATION • Design : Fabrication Maison / TROÏKA . SAMUEL HADIDA et METROPOLITAN FILMEXPORT présentent une production CONSTANTIN FILM/ DAVIS FILMS/ IMPACT PICTURES un film de RUSSELL MULCAHY MILLA JOVOVICH ODED FEHR ALI LARTER IAIN GLEN ASHANTI MIKE EPPS Un film produit par Bernd Eichinger, Samuel Hadida, Robert Kulzer, Jeremy Bolt et Paul W.S. Anderson SORTIE LE 3 OCTOBRE 2007 Durée : 1h30 Vous pouvez télécharger l'affiche et des photos du film sur : http://presse.metropolitan-films.com www.metrofilms.com www.re3.fr DISTRIBUTION RELATIONS PRESSE METROPOLITAN FILMEXPORT PROGRAMMATION PARTENARIATS KINEMA FILM / François Frey 29, rue Galilée - 75116 Paris Region Paris GRP-Est-Nord ET PROMOTION 15, rue Jouffroy-d’Abbans [email protected] Tél. : 01 56 59 23 25 AGENCE MERCREDI 75017 Paris Tél. : 01 56 59 23 25 Region Marseille-Lyon-Bordeaux Tél. : 01 56 59 66 66 Tél. : 01 43 18 80 00 Fax : 01 53 57 84 02 Tél. : 05 56 44 04 04 Fax : 01 56 59 66 67 Fax : 01 43 18 80 09 Le virus expérimental mis au point par la toute-puissante Umbrella Corporation a détruit l’humanité, transformant la population du monde en zombies avides de chair humaine. Fuyant les villes, Carlos, L.J., Claire, K-Mart, Nurse Betty et quelques survivants ont pris la route dans un convoi armé, espérant retrouver d’autres humains non infectés et gagner l’Alaska, leur dernier espoir d’une terre préservée. Ils sont accompagnés dans l’ombre par Alice, une jeune femme sur laquelle Umbrella a mené autrefois de terribles expériences biogéniques qui, en modifiant son ADN, lui ont apporté des capacités surhumaines.
    [Show full text]
  • SST Defies Industry, Defines New Music
    Page 1 The San Diego Union-Tribune October 1, 1995 Sunday SST Defies Industry, Defines New Music By Daniel de Vise KNIGHT-RIDDER NEWSPAPERS DATELINE: LOS ALAMITOS, CALIF. Ten years ago, when SST Records spun at the creative center of rock music, founder Greg Ginn was living with six other people in a one-room rehearsal studio. SST music was whipping like a sonic cyclone through every college campus in the country. SST bands criss-crossed the nation, luring young people away from arenas and corporate rock like no other force since the dawn of punk. But Greg Ginn had no shower and no car. He lived on a few thousand dollars a year, and relied on public transportation. "The reality is not only different, it's extremely, shockingly different than what people imagine," Ginn said. "We basically had one place where we rehearsed and lived and worked." SST, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Los Alamitos, is the quintessential in- dependent record label. For 17 years it has existed squarely outside the corporate rock industry, releasing music and spoken-word performances by artists who are not much interested in making money. When an SST band grows restless for earnings or for broader success, it simply leaves the label. Founded in 1978 in Hermosa Beach, Calif., SST Records has arguably produced more great rock bands than any other label of its era. Black Flag, fast, loud and socially aware, was probably the world's first hardcore punk band. Sonic Youth, a blend of white noise and pop, is a contender for best alternative-rock band ever.
    [Show full text]
  • A High School Tradition for 84 Years Volume 84, Number 6 Salem Senior High School March 14,1997
    A High School Tradition for 84 Years Volume 84, Number 6 Salem Senior High School March 14,1997 In this issue Erica Godfrey, Connie Morris, and Stephanie Schmid look at the dangers ofsmoking. Smoke and choke Pay for your crime by Stephanie Schmid Smoking at Salem McShane, have asked juve­ hard-core smokers has also High School is a continu­ nile court judge Ashley decreased in contrast to the ing problem. The Pike to support them in al­ increasing number of stu­ restrooms have become a lowing them to cite smok­ dents sharing cigarettes. haven for smokers; the ers to court. This would The first time a most popular being in Se­ then become a legal matter student is caught smoking nior Hall. Even though vari­ in which smokers would be or possessing a tobacco ous staff members monitor punished with fines for un­ product, the punishment is the restrooms between derage possession of a to­ three days of in- school classes, it is still possible bacco product and smoking suspension. The second for students to ·smoke dur­ in a public building. time is five days and the ing classes. The rate of SHS third time is ten days of in­ Some public smokers fluctuates. The school suspension. If two buildings are fining smok­ overall number of smokers or more students are ers $50 if they are caught has decreased in the men's caught in the same stall, all smoking in places such as restrooms whereas in the are punished with four the restrooms. The princi­ women's restrooms it is on night detention.
    [Show full text]
  • Smash Hits Volume 34
    \ ^^9^^ 30p FORTNlGHTiy March 20-Aprii 2 1980 Words t0^ TOPr includi Ator-* Hap House €oir Underground to GAR! SKias in coioui GfiRR/£V£f/ mjlt< H/Kim TEEIM THAT TU/W imv UGCfMONSTERS/ J /f yO(/ WOULD LIKE A FREE COLOUR POSTER COPY OF THIS ADVERTISEMENT, FILL IN THE COUPON AND RETURN IT TO: HULK POSTER, PO BOXt, SUDBURY, SUFFOLK C010 6SL. I AGE (PLEASE TICK THE APPROPRIATE SOX) UNDER 13[JI3-f7\JlS AND OVER U OFFER CLOSES ON APRIL 30TH 1980 ALLOW 28 DAYS FOR DELIVERY (swcKCAmisMASi) I I I iNAME ADDRESS.. SHt ' -*^' L.-**^ ¥• Mar 20-April 2 1980 Vol 2 No. 6 ECHO BEACH Martha Muffins 4 First of all, a big hi to all new &The readers of Smash Hits, and ANOTHER NAIL IN MY HEART welcome to the magazine that Squeeze 4 brings your vinyl alive! A warm welcome back too to all our much GOING UNDERGROUND loved regular readers. In addition The Jam 5 to all your usual news, features and chart songwords, we've got ATOMIC some extras for you — your free Blondie 6 record, a mini-P/ as crossword prize — as well as an extra song HELLO I AM YOUR HEART and revamping our Bette Bright 13 reviews/opinion section. We've also got a brand new regular ROSIE feature starting this issue — Joan Armatrading 13 regular coverage of the independent label scene (on page Managing Editor KOOL IN THE KAFTAN Nick Logan 26) plus the results of the Smash B. A. Robertson 16 Hits Readers Poll which are on Editor pages 1 4 and 1 5.
    [Show full text]
  • UNIVERSAL MUSIC • Rihanna – Rihanna 777 Tour… 7Countires7days7shows DVD • Jay Sean – Neon • Jessica Sanchez
    Rihanna – Rihanna 777 Tour… 7countires7days7shows DVD Jay Sean – Neon Jessica Sanchez – Me, You & The Music New Releases From Classics And Jazz Inside!!! And more… UNI13-20 “Our assets on-line” UNIVERSAL MUSIC 2450 Victoria Park Ave., Suite 1, Willowdale, Ontario M2J 5H3 Phone: (416) 718.4000 Artwork shown may not be final The Following titles will move to I Code effective FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2013 Artist Title Catalog UPC Price Code New Number (Current) Price Code GN'R LIES GEFMD24198 720642419823 N I GAYE MARVIN WHAT'S GOING 4400640222 044006402222 N I ON(REMASTERED URIAH HEEP DEMONS & WIZARDS 8122972 042281229725 N I SOUNDTRACK A NIGHT AT THE DRSSD50033 600445003323 SP I ROXBURY ROTH, ASHER ASLEEP IN THE BREAD B001281202 602527018355 SP I AISLE MELLENCAMP AMERICAN FOOL B000418902 602498801376 N I JOHN (COUGAR) MANOWAR LOUDER THAN HELL GEFSD24925 720642492529 SP I MALMSTEEN TRILOGY 8310732 042283107328 N I YNGWIE CRAZY FROG PRESENTS MORE CRAZY B000714902 602517018839 N I HITS ONYX BACDAFUCUP 3145234472 731452344724 N I MALMSTEEN RISING FORCE 8253242 042282532428 N I YNGWIE YOUNG NEIL OLD WAYS 0694907052 606949070526 N I MELLENCAMP SCARECROW B000451202 602498812396 N I JOHN (COUGAR) REDMAN DARE IZ A DARKSIDE 3145238462 731452384621 N I 3 DOORS DOWN ANOTHER 700 MILES B000160302 602498612477 AW I (LIVE) BON JOVI JON BLAZE OF GLORY 8464732 042284647328 N I MENDES GREATEST HITS CD3258 075021325821 N I SERGIO RICHIE LIONEL DANCING ON THE 4400383002 044003830028 N I CEILING (RE BIRDMAN FAST MONEY B000422002 602498801918 SP I SOUNDTRACK XANADU‐REMASTERED
    [Show full text]
  • Black Light Burns Cruel Melody Mp3, Flac, Wma
    Black Light Burns Cruel Melody mp3, flac, wma DOWNLOAD LINKS (Clickable) Genre: Electronic / Rock Album: Cruel Melody Country: US Released: 2007 Style: Electro, Goth Rock MP3 version RAR size: 1390 mb FLAC version RAR size: 1273 mb WMA version RAR size: 1864 mb Rating: 4.4 Votes: 555 Other Formats: VQF WMA AU VOX MOD AC3 MIDI Tracklist Hide Credits Mesopotamia 1 4:29 Mixed By – Ross Robinson, Ryan Boesch 2 Animal 4:08 Lie 3 4:21 Bass – Danny LohnerProgrammed By [Additional] – Charlie Clouser Coward 4 4:36 Bass, Guitar – Danny LohnerVocals [Additional] – Sonny Moore Cruel Melody 5 5:00 Vocals [Additional] – Carina Round 6 The Mark 3:13 I Have A Need 7 4:24 Bass – Sam Rivers Guitar – Danny Lohner 8 4 Walls 3:51 9 Stop A Bullet 3:37 10 One Of Yours 4:51 New Hunger 11 Cello – John Krovoza, Matt Cooker*, Richard Dodd Viola – Leah KatzViolin – Daphne Chen, 5:24 Eric Gorfain I Am Where It Takes Me 12 Cello – John Krovoza, Matt Cooker*, Richard Dodd Drums – Wes BorlandViola – Leah 6:09 KatzViolin – Daphne Chen, Eric GorfainVocals [Additional] – Johnette Napolitano Iodine Sky 13 8:30 Mixed By – Wes Borland Credits Drums, Percussion – Josh Freese Engineer – Critter*, Josh Eustis* Engineer [Additional] – Danny Lohner, Wes Borland Lead Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Programmed By, Percussion, Synthesizer, Piano, Electric Piano [Rhodes], Violin, Cello – Wes Borland Mixed By – Tom Lord-Alge (tracks: 2 to 12) Performer [Live Bass] – Sean Fetterman Performer [Live Drums] – Marshall Kilpatric Performer [Live Guitar] – Nick Annis Performer [Live Vocals, Guitar]
    [Show full text]
  • Georges Bataille's Philosophy of Transgression and the Cinema Of
    Is Mark of the Devil an Example of Transgressive Cinema? Georges Bataille’s Philosophy of Transgression and the Cinema of the 1970s Marcus Stiglegger translated by Laura Melchior Abstract collective moment of fear, and raises the Witchploitation films of the late 1960s – like question of whether or not this could generate a Mark of the Devil (1970) – were often criticised ‘transgressive cinema’. And in particular it asks: for exploiting inquisitorial violence such as are witchploitation films transgressive? torture and rape for the sake of pure sensation. While the exploitative manner of dealing with Keywords: witchploitation, censorship, historically based violence is clearly an issue, at sensation, transgression, taboo, philosophy, the same time the question of what effect these Georges Bataille, exploitation film, violence, depictions of extreme violence might have on torture. the audience should be raised. Every culture has its own defined and accepted limits, which are made by collective agreement. Reaching and transgressing these limits amounts to the transgression of an interdiction, of a taboo. This article discusses the representations in the media of the act of transgression – commonly associated with the work of the French philosopher and novelist Georges Bataille – as a 21 The witchploitation films which followed the useful to delineate a theoretical key to success of Michael Reeves’s Witchfinder understanding this phenomenon. After General (1968) were often criticised for explaining the notion of transgression according exploiting inquisitorial violence such as torture to Georges Bataille, I will contextualise the and rape for the sake of pure sensation. In witchploitation films by analysing several Germany Mark of the Devil (Hexen bis aufs Blut movies relating to this concept and finally gequält, Michael Armstrong, 1970) was banned comment on the transgressive nature of till 2016, and in England this film was a well- Witchfinder General and Mark of the Devil.
    [Show full text]
  • Download the Monthly Film & Event Calendar
    THU SAT WED 1:30 Film 1 10 21 3:10 to Yuma. T2 Events & Programs Film & Event Calendar 1:30 Film 10:20 Family Film FRI Gallery Sessions The Armory Party 2018 Beloved Enemy. T2 Tours for Fours. Irresistible Forces, Daily, 11:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m. Wed, Mar 7, 9:00 p.m.–12:30 a.m. Education & Immovable 30 5:30 Film Museum galleries VIP Access at 8:00 p.m. Research Building Objects: The Films Film Janitzio. T2 of Amir Naderi. New Directors/ Join us for conversations and Celebrate the opening of The 10:20 Family 7:00 Film See moma.org/film New Films 2018. activities that offer insightful and Armory Show and Armory Arts A Closer Look for El Mar La Mar. T1 4:30 Film 1:30 Film 6:05 Event for details. See newdirectors.org unusual ways to engage with art. Week with The Armory Party SUN WED Kids. Education & FRI SAT MON Pueblerina. T2 Music by Luciano VW Sunday Sessions: for details. at MoMA—a benefit event with 7:30 Film Research Building 1:30 Film Limited to 25 participants 4 7 16 Berio and Bruno Hair Wars. MoMA PS1 24 26 live music and DJs, featuring María Calendaria. T2 7:30 Film Kings Go Forth. T2 10:20 Family 7:30 Event 2:00 Film Film Maderna. T1 Film Film platinum-selling artist BØRNS. Flor silvestre. T1 6:30 Film Art Lab: Nature Tours for Fours. Quiet Mornings. Victims of Sin. T2 Irresistible Forces, 4:30 Film Irresistible Forces, Irresistible Forces, 6:30 Film Music by Pink Floyd, Daily.
    [Show full text]
  • 'Perfect Fit': Industrial Strategies, Textual Negotiations and Celebrity
    ‘Perfect Fit’: Industrial Strategies, Textual Negotiations and Celebrity Culture in Fashion Television Helen Warner Submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) University of East Anglia School of Film and Television Studies Submitted July 2010 ©This copy of the thesis has been supplied on condition that anyone who consults it is understood to recognise that its copyright rests with the author and that no quotation from the thesis, nor any information derived therefrom, may be published without the author's prior, written consent. Helen Warner P a g e | 2 ABSTRACT According to the head of the American Costume Designers‟ Guild, Deborah Nadoolman Landis, fashion is emphatically „not costume‟. However, if this is the case, how do we approach costume in a television show like Sex and the City (1998-2004), which we know (via press articles and various other extra-textual materials) to be comprised of designer clothes? Once onscreen, are the clothes in Sex and the City to be interpreted as „costume‟, rather than „fashion‟? To be sure, it is important to tease out precise definitions of key terms, but to position fashion as the antithesis of costume is reductive. Landis‟ claim is based on the assumption that the purpose of costume is to tell a story. She thereby neglects to acknowledge that the audience may read certain costumes as fashion - which exists in a framework of discourses that can be located beyond the text. This is particularly relevant with regard to contemporary US television which, according to press reports, has witnessed an emergence of „fashion programming‟ - fictional programming with a narrative focus on fashion.
    [Show full text]