In Defense of Motion Images: On the History and Theory of Experimental Cinema and Video Art

The discussion in this class will revolve around the development of experimental cinema in the second half of the 20th century as an artistic space for avant-garde activity, as an alternative to Hollywood cinema and as a reaction against the society of the spectacle. At the same time, we will also discuss the development of the video art medium from the questions of representation (language) posed by conceptual art. Particular emphasis will be placed on the logic and power of the montage (the connection between the images) as a strategy and tactic for aesthetic and political action. We will also discuss the economy of images, appropriation, simulacrum, and the consequences of digital culture.