Re: [Frameworks] "Code" for Arnulf Rainer

From: Andrew V Peterson (email suppressed)
Date: Mon Jul 05 2010 - 08:54:43 PDT


When I saw Kubelka present this film, he used the word "score," not
"code," and it seems to me the former term is more apt. There is
surely a reproduction of every frame from AR in a book somewhere,
perhaps in the "History of American Avant-Garde Film" catalogue put
out by the Whitney? A google image search yields a number of different
versions of the "full score" laid out (sometimes with Kubelka himself
standing in front), but there must also be a written version.

I'm not so sure what is gained by loose use of a term like "code" to
describe this (besides securing Kubelka's place as a precursor to "new
media," something that seems frankly perverse to me given his stubborn
resistance to video and CPU throughout his career), but perhaps I'm
wrong and he does actually use this term himself.

Finally, yes it's white noise and silence. "All on" (the full range of
frequencies) and "all off" (silence).

One interesting thing: when Kubelka's film is projected we actually
get true black when it's black (i.e. darkness), something that our
contemporary digital projectors can't give us!

Best,
Andrew

_______________________
Via Ortiz.

On Jul 5, 2010, at 3:10 AM, "email suppressed
> wrote:

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> Today's Topics:
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> 1. Re: The code of "Arnulf Rainer" (Evan Meaney)
> 2. Re: The code of "Arnulf Rainer" (anja ross)
> 3. Re: The code of "Arnulf Rainer" (anja ross)
> 4. Re: The code of "Arnulf Rainer" (anja ross)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Mon, 5 Jul 2010 01:31:51 -0500
> From: Evan Meaney <email suppressed>
> Subject: Re: [Frameworks] The code of "Arnulf Rainer"
> To: Experimental Film Discussion List <email suppressed>
> Message-ID: <email suppressed>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> Hi Bj?rn:
>
> It's funny, I'm actually teaching a class about codes and sequences
> in cinema in the fall, stateside - Kubelka's AR is an important part
> of the syllabus. I haven't found a ton of work about the specific
> code at work in AR but I was lucky enough to see him speak a few
> years ago about it. He said that he was interested in having the
> exact same amount of light and dark hit the screen over the duration
> of the piece. The presence and absence of information equalizing one
> another. Ditto for the sound, where the noise ( I forget it if it's
> just white noise or something more particular at the moment)
> contrasts directly with the silence.
>
> I would love, love, love to see that rock
> and find out that exact equation.
> If someone out there has it, do let us know.
>
> All the best,
>
> Evan
>
> On Jul 4, 2010, at 6:13 PM, Lundgren wrote:
>
>> I remeber reading about Peter Kubelka saying something about that
>> Arnulf
>> Rainer was the only eternal film, that he would write down the
>> concept/code/script/equation/whatever on a rock and then when all
>> other
>> works of cinema had faded away (by technical death or whatever) his
>> could
>> allways be recreated perfectly in its intended form.
>>
>> Anyway, what I was interested in was that form. Does anyone know if
>> he ever
>> spoke of the "code" or has anyone with access to a film copy been
>> able to
>> determine it?
>>
>> A secondary question is also this: What is the technical form of the
>> "soundtrack"?
>>
>> ______________
>> Bj?rn Lundgren
>> Sweden
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> FrameWorks mailing list
>> email suppressed
>> http://mailman-mail5.webfaction.com/listinfo/frameworks
>
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> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Mon, 5 Jul 2010 11:56:29 +0200
> From: anja ross <email suppressed>
> Subject: Re: [Frameworks] The code of "Arnulf Rainer"
> To: Experimental Film Discussion List <email suppressed>
> Message-ID:
> <email suppressed>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>
> Hi Framewok Participiants,
> I have an 16 mmm film let developed and the result was disgusting.
> Now I
> want to paint on the film. Might it possible to tell me which ink is
> the
> best for this?
>
> All the best, but I would like to mention: I am not good for talks
> about
> films.
> I am not a filmhistorians at all.
>
> A good day, Anja
>
>
> PS: Kubelkas films I watched at the HBK, Braunschweig, Filmklasse,
> but now I
> am in Berlin!
>
> 2010/7/5 Evan Meaney <email suppressed>
>
>> Hi Bj?rn:
>>
>> It's funny, I'm actually teaching a class about codes and sequences
>> in
>> cinema in the fall, stateside - Kubelka's AR is an important part
>> of the
>> syllabus. I haven't found a ton of work about the *specific* code
>> at work
>> in AR but I was lucky enough to see him speak a few years ago about
>> it. He
>> said that he was interested in having the exact same amount of
>> light and
>> dark hit the screen over the duration of the piece. The presence
>> and absence
>> of information equalizing one another. Ditto for the sound, where
>> the noise
>> ( I forget it if it's just white noise or something more particular
>> at the
>> moment) contrasts directly with the silence.
>>
>> I would love, love, love to see that rock
>> and find out that exact equation.
>> If someone out there has it, do let us know.
>>
>> All the best,
>>
>> Evan
>>
>> On Jul 4, 2010, at 6:13 PM, Lundgren wrote:
>>
>> I remeber reading about Peter Kubelka saying something about that
>> Arnulf
>> Rainer was the only eternal film, that he would write down the
>> concept/code/script/equation/whatever on a rock and then when all
>> other
>> works of cinema had faded away (by technical death or whatever) his
>> could
>> allways be recreated perfectly in its intended form.
>>
>> Anyway, what I was interested in was that form. Does anyone know if
>> he ever
>>
>> spoke of the "code" or has anyone with access to a film copy been
>> able to
>> determine it?
>>
>> A secondary question is also this: What is the technical form of the
>> "soundtrack"?
>>
>> ______________
>> Bj?rn Lundgren
>> Sweden
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> FrameWorks mailing list
>> email suppressed
>> http://mailman-mail5.webfaction.com/listinfo/frameworks
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> FrameWorks mailing list
>> email suppressed
>> http://mailman-mail5.webfaction.com/listinfo/frameworks
>>
>>
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> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Mon, 5 Jul 2010 12:06:21 +0200
> From: anja ross <email suppressed>
> Subject: Re: [Frameworks] The code of "Arnulf Rainer"
> To: Experimental Film Discussion List <email suppressed>
> Message-ID:
> <email suppressed>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>
> Hi Frameworks Participiants,
> To mention: Let 's speak about Birgit Hein's films. I studied with
> her but
> honestly I am not convinced anymore about her films and how she is
> managing
> to create her films.
> But nevertheless,
> now I do this what I find well and o.k. for me.
>
> Took quite a long way,
>
> Anja
>
>
>
> 2010/7/5 anja ross <email suppressed>
>
>> Hi Framewok Participiants,
>> I have an 16 mmm film let developed and the result was disgusting.
>> Now I
>> want to paint on the film. Might it possible to tell me which ink
>> is the
>> best for this?
>>
>> All the best, but I would like to mention: I am not good for talks
>> about
>> films.
>> I am not a filmhistorians at all.
>>
>> A good day, Anja
>>
>>
>> PS: Kubelkas films I watched at the HBK, Braunschweig, Filmklasse,
>> but now
>> I am in Berlin!
>>
>> 2010/7/5 Evan Meaney <email suppressed>
>>
>> Hi Bj?rn:
>>>
>>> It's funny, I'm actually teaching a class about codes and
>>> sequences in
>>> cinema in the fall, stateside - Kubelka's AR is an important part
>>> of the
>>> syllabus. I haven't found a ton of work about the *specific* code
>>> at work
>>> in AR but I was lucky enough to see him speak a few years ago
>>> about it. He
>>> said that he was interested in having the exact same amount of
>>> light and
>>> dark hit the screen over the duration of the piece. The presence
>>> and absence
>>> of information equalizing one another. Ditto for the sound, where
>>> the noise
>>> ( I forget it if it's just white noise or something more
>>> particular at the
>>> moment) contrasts directly with the silence.
>>>
>>> I would love, love, love to see that rock
>>> and find out that exact equation.
>>> If someone out there has it, do let us know.
>>>
>>> All the best,
>>>
>>> Evan
>>>
>>> On Jul 4, 2010, at 6:13 PM, Lundgren wrote:
>>>
>>> I remeber reading about Peter Kubelka saying something about that
>>> Arnulf
>>>
>>> Rainer was the only eternal film, that he would write down the
>>> concept/code/script/equation/whatever on a rock and then when all
>>> other
>>> works of cinema had faded away (by technical death or whatever)
>>> his could
>>> allways be recreated perfectly in its intended form.
>>>
>>> Anyway, what I was interested in was that form. Does anyone know
>>> if he
>>> ever
>>> spoke of the "code" or has anyone with access to a film copy been
>>> able to
>>> determine it?
>>>
>>> A secondary question is also this: What is the technical form of the
>>> "soundtrack"?
>>>
>>> ______________
>>> Bj?rn Lundgren
>>> Sweden
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> FrameWorks mailing list
>>> email suppressed
>>> http://mailman-mail5.webfaction.com/listinfo/frameworks
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> FrameWorks mailing list
>>> email suppressed
>>> http://mailman-mail5.webfaction.com/listinfo/frameworks
>>>
>>>
>>
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> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Mon, 5 Jul 2010 12:10:11 +0200
> From: anja ross <email suppressed>
> Subject: Re: [Frameworks] The code of "Arnulf Rainer"
> To: Experimental Film Discussion List <email suppressed>
> Message-ID:
> <email suppressed>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>
> Hi Framework participiants,
> Do you know if Jonas Mekas filmarchive representing Birgit Hein' s
> films or
> is this just a man dominated archive?
>
> It is time for me! Give me the address that I can sent a DVD.
>
> Anja
>
> 2010/7/5 anja ross <email suppressed>
>
>> Hi Frameworks Participiants,
>> To mention: Let 's speak about Birgit Hein's films. I studied with
>> her but
>> honestly I am not convinced anymore about her films and how she is
>> managing
>> to create her films.
>> But nevertheless,
>> now I do this what I find well and o.k. for me.
>>
>> Took quite a long way,
>>
>> Anja
>>
>>
>>
>> 2010/7/5 anja ross <email suppressed>
>>
>> Hi Framewok Participiants,
>>> I have an 16 mmm film let developed and the result was disgusting.
>>> Now I
>>> want to paint on the film. Might it possible to tell me which ink
>>> is the
>>> best for this?
>>>
>>> All the best, but I would like to mention: I am not good for talks
>>> about
>>> films.
>>> I am not a filmhistorians at all.
>>>
>>> A good day, Anja
>>>
>>>
>>> PS: Kubelkas films I watched at the HBK, Braunschweig, Filmklasse,
>>> but now
>>> I am in Berlin!
>>>
>>> 2010/7/5 Evan Meaney <email suppressed>
>>>
>>> Hi Bj?rn:
>>>>
>>>> It's funny, I'm actually teaching a class about codes and
>>>> sequences in
>>>> cinema in the fall, stateside - Kubelka's AR is an important part
>>>> of the
>>>> syllabus. I haven't found a ton of work about the *specific* code
>>>> at
>>>> work in AR but I was lucky enough to see him speak a few years
>>>> ago about it.
>>>> He said that he was interested in having the exact same amount of
>>>> light and
>>>> dark hit the screen over the duration of the piece. The presence
>>>> and absence
>>>> of information equalizing one another. Ditto for the sound, where
>>>> the noise
>>>> ( I forget it if it's just white noise or something more
>>>> particular at the
>>>> moment) contrasts directly with the silence.
>>>>
>>>> I would love, love, love to see that rock
>>>> and find out that exact equation.
>>>> If someone out there has it, do let us know.
>>>>
>>>> All the best,
>>>>
>>>> Evan
>>>>
>>>> On Jul 4, 2010, at 6:13 PM, Lundgren wrote:
>>>>
>>>> I remeber reading about Peter Kubelka saying something about that
>>>> Arnulf
>>>> Rainer was the only eternal film, that he would write down the
>>>> concept/code/script/equation/whatever on a rock and then when all
>>>> other
>>>> works of cinema had faded away (by technical death or whatever)
>>>> his could
>>>>
>>>> allways be recreated perfectly in its intended form.
>>>>
>>>> Anyway, what I was interested in was that form. Does anyone know
>>>> if he
>>>> ever
>>>> spoke of the "code" or has anyone with access to a film copy been
>>>> able to
>>>>
>>>> determine it?
>>>>
>>>> A secondary question is also this: What is the technical form of
>>>> the
>>>> "soundtrack"?
>>>>
>>>> ______________
>>>> Bj?rn Lundgren
>>>> Sweden
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> FrameWorks mailing list
>>>> email suppressed
>>>> http://mailman-mail5.webfaction.com/listinfo/frameworks
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> FrameWorks mailing list
>>>> email suppressed
>>>> http://mailman-mail5.webfaction.com/listinfo/frameworks
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
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