Allegories of cinema: American film in the sixties

406 Pages·1989·31.694 MB·English

by  James, David E

Allegories of Cinema

ALLEGORIES
American
Film in
OF CINEMA
the Sixties
David E. James
PRINCETON
UNIVERSITY PRESS
Copyright © 1989 by Princeton University Press
Published by Princeton University Press, 41 William Street
Princeton, New Jersey 08540
In the United Kingdom: Princeton University Press, Guildford, Surrey
All Rights Reserved
This book has been composed in Linotron Sabon and Gill Sans
Clothbound editions of Princeton University Press books
are printed on acid-free paper, and binding materials are
chosen for strength and durability. Paperbacks, although satisfactory
for personal collections, are not usually suitable for library rebinding
Printed in the United States of America by Princeton University Press,
Princeton, New Jersey
James, David E., 1945-
Allegories of cinema : American film in the sixties / David E'James,
p. cm. Bibliography: p. Includes index,
ISBN 0-691-04755-3 (alk. paper): ISBN 0-691-00604-0 (pbk.)
I. Motion pictures—United States—History. 2. Experimental films—
United States—History and criticism. 3. Motion pictures—Political
aspects—United States. I. Title.
PNI993.5.U6J27 1988 791.43'0973—del 9 88-9852 CIP
Designed by Laury A. Egan
For my mother and father

Contents
Preface ix
Acknowledgments xi
1 Considering the Alternatives 3
The Mode of Film Production 5
Allegories of Production: The Case of Easy Rider 12
Film and Mass Culture 18
Alternative Cinemas 22
The Crisis in Hollywood 25
Stan Brakhage: The Filmmaker as Poet 29
2
3 Andy Warhol: The Producer as Author 58
4 Underground Film: Leaping from the Grave 85
Film and the Beat Generation 85
Making Us More Radiant: Jonas Mekas 100
Underground Cinema I 19
Practice in the Profilmic: Ron Rice et al. I 20
Practice in the Filmic: Jordan Belson I 27
Projection as Practice: Light Shows and S.F. Trips Festival, An Opening I 33
The Idea of Practice: Cinema beyond Film I 37
Underground Intertextuality 140
The Critique of Authenticity: The Kuchars I 43
Film That Cannot Be One: Kenneth Anger I 49
A Filmmaker: Bruce Conner I 56
Coda: Bruce Baillie's Quixote I 59
5 Political Film/Radical Cinema: From Dissent to
Revolution 166
Representation: On Film/ln Cinema 166
Cinema and Black Liberation 177
Film and the War: Representing Vietnam 195
Revolutionary Cinema: From Representation to Practice 21 3