From: Brett Kashmere (email suppressed)
Date: Fri Dec 04 2009 - 09:10:47 PST
It's not perfect, and it's probably no longer in print, but I've always been partial to Sheldon Renan's "An Introduction to the American Underground Film" (1967). It's written in a straight-forward manner and covers a pretty wide range of filmmakers and trends, including some consideration of expanded cinema, intermedia performance, computer films, etc, towards the end.
I don't remember exactly, but I believe there is also some attention given to developments in the distribution and exhibition of avant-garde films, and to publications like Film Culture.
Brett Kashmere
Pittsburgh
----------------
Date: Thu, 3 Dec 2009 19:25:44 -0800
From: Bernard Roddy <email suppressed>
Subject: looking for good intro text
Greetings, frameworkers:
Can anyone think of an introductory text that combines a history of experimental film and video IN THE U.S. with a strong discussion of the history of artists' organizing, writing, and distribution IN THE US?
For Great Britain there's David Curtis' A History of Artists' Film and Video in Britain. This has the distinct advantage of combining film and video art criticism with strong (and introductory) writing about the social history behind production, distribution, and critical reception. It includes discussion of "little magazines," the "schooling" of film artists, institutional support for artists' work in film such as the Experimental Film Fund and the Arts Council, as well as issues motivating and confronting artists' organizations like the London Filmmakers' Co-op.
I'd love to find something like this for the U.S. It would include a history of things like Canyon Cinema and the Film-Makers' Co-op, Cinema 16 and Anthology Film Archives, in addition to offering a critical context for student work.
Thanks in advance.
Bernie
__________________________________________________________________
Yahoo! Canada Toolbar: Search from anywhere on the web, and bookmark your favourite sites. Download it now
http://ca.toolbar.yahoo.com.
__________________________________________________________________
For info on FrameWorks, contact Pip Chodorov at <email suppressed>.