Lead Shoes

I enjoyed some of the photography but the overall film wasn't satisfying for me. It was a bit slow to an odd plot about a diver and his lover but then ended on a very weird note with the smaller diving suit being undressed. I enjoyed the women jumping out of the window from two different angles and then being played in reverse. Also the chalk line being drawn in reverse was interesting to watch even though the framing was a bit off. The elliptical frame was common use throughout the whole film. Then after then man got splatter on his foot it completely lost me. At the end he was there again looking disgusting chomping on some bread. Seemed as if the women was constantly searching for something, it could have been her husband in the diver suit and she was dreaming about a possible death with him diving? Whatever the purpose was, I was kinda bored with it and would of rather'd watched The Inauguration of The Pleasure Dome again.

Reading Response #1

1. Sexual identification, jump cuts, dream sequences, lack of character interaction, repetition,

2. The structure, while following a loose plot structure, was jumpy and the title "imagist" fits perfectly. It is following an action more than worrying about temporal continuity. A vertical structure is more apparent than a horizontal way of storytelling.

3. An Architectonic Film

4. Not too much, this was the first time I had seen the film and was not sure of the so called "plot" that was advancing. After reading about the film it concreted a better understanding of the film, but calls for multiple viewings to truly understand the true interpretation. Sitney's guide and made for a better understanding of my twisted interpretation of the confusion film.

5. The paragraph was kinda confusing but talked about the dream sequence usage in Anger's film was similar to the way that avantgarde filmmakers of the 1940's used the sequence. The camera acts as the mind and shows how the characters are relaying the images. Also usages of self-reflectivity to make apparent the medium.

6. That each person is now within The Magus

7. The programming at Cinema 16 wasn't regular compared to the regular theather's in NYC. While variety was the prime programming technique, the films shown were not the regular run of the mill hollywood showcases. Not only avant garde entertainment was shown but also educational, independent, and scientific films were presented.

8. Mostly Colleges but small theathers, film society's and art houses were common too.

9. Cinema 16 had a large impact on New York City film culture. The rise of this venue and similar ones encouraged more avantgarde films to be produced now that venues existed for them to show abstract work not suited for the major theatres. It influenced enough filmmakers in NYC in order for it to still be popular and showcased around the globe

10. The political and economic unrest throughout Europe caused inflation's making the economy upset. Revolutions during the unrest caused for a loosing of traditions are the acceptance of new ideas for the future. So during this time there were various filmmakers who did not believe in the conventional commercial film. As there was nowhere to play these films small clubs and film societies flourished throughout the continent premiering strictly Avantgarde productions. Many other art movements were taking place throughout Europe and it was only a matter of time before film was influenced by these ideas. Finally, the influence of New Art on the public made them realize and become aware that machines with their speed, rhythm, and patterns can add a new appeal and beauty to life.

11. The goals of abstract art were to represent the real world but on a fine line of illusion and disorderly placement.

Pleasure Dome Response

This was my first time watching this film and it was hopefully the last. Aside from the sharp colors, exaggerated make-up, and crazy characters, the semi homo-erotic, non narrative juxtaposition, just didn't do it for me. There was a weird theme of eating/drinking everything that wasn't edible. First the main character is eating his necklace, then all sorts of small objects, onto a white powder substance that is shared among everybody. I’m not sure what mood Anger was going for but some scenes came across as humorous while the rest had a very intense and dark feeling that made me believe something was going to continue on within the story realm. Which never happened. While most avant-garde films have a loose plot that has some sort of substance, the Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome seemed to have no basis at all. While the missing plot seemed to of detoured me from watching, the abstractness of the film is what kept me watching and waiting. I enjoyed the costuming and use of past mythologies, even though I did not know them all, it was obvious that they were present. While I enjoyed it a point, I could care less about viewing this one again. Ever since I was shown Scorpio Rising as a freshman, I haven’t had urge to view his films.