Mothlight (1963) - Stan Brakhage
A cameraless film made by placing leaves, insect wings, etc. directly onto film stock and exposing it
One of my favorite experimental films
Yantra (1957) - James Whitney
Just as a mantra is a verbal aid to meditation, Yantra is a visual aid, represented by swirling abstractions swimming in a constant state of flux.
WARNING: This film is gay, weird, and fairly ludicrous.
Congratulations Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, and anyone else who has at one time or another thought it would be cool to have fireworks shoot out from their private parts, that shit hasn’t been original since 1947.
Fireworks (1947) - Kenneth Anger
A film that explores the gaze, passions, and sadomasochistic tendencies of homosexual relations through symbolism and hyperbole
Also not a good one for epileptics. Experimental film in general seems to be rather exclusionary toward the epileptic community.
Enigma (1973) - Lillian Schwartz
A computer generated progression of geometry, from lines to rectangles to irregular splotches, set to a staccato rhythm
You may not want to watch this if you have epilepsy.
Eyewash (1959) - Robert Breer
An abstract film meant to challenge and exercise the ways that our eyes perceive and make sense of the world around us. As you watch it, your retinas are literally being scrubbed with figures of light and color.
So I’m going to be posting some experimental films. A word of warning: most experimental films are non-narrative, and unfortunately most people become frustrated by this and their attention spans don’t hold out. Just don’t expect it to have any cohesive story.
Meshes of the Afternoon (1943) - Maya Deren
Dream logic and surrealism expressed through the film medium
