symbiopsychotaxiplasm take one
SYMBIOPSYCHOTAXIPLASM: TAKE ONE (dir. William Greaves, 1968):
Also known as the 8 1/2 of art films. Although, symbio could stand on that thin line between experimental and conventional. It reminded me a lot of F for Fake, with it's sticking to conventions while breaking them into a million little shards.
Basically, symbio is endlessly deconstructable. Greaves shows us the film of a more or less open scene, and the film of the filming of that, and the film of the filming of that. Or to make more sense out of it, it's a making-of documentary of a making-of documentary. It's ridiculously self reflexive, from the split screens to the references to the audio we're listening to, to the long scenes where the film crew talks about the film(s) being made. And of course, bundled in with this is a method to approach the film at large. The players involved discuss the discussion that'll happen once the film is over.
And I'm done with the circles for now.
It brings up more ideas than you can shake a stick at. The nature of film, illusion v. reality, the role of the viewer, the role of the director, collective efforts, social issues, sexual issues, performance, human interaction. It's designed to make your head spin, and it succeeds greatly. The best thing about that is that eventually, after enough time has passed, you can really wrap your thoughts around it. That's also part of its design. Anyone can attach any meaning they want. It's a completely open text, it winds around itself and opens plenty of doors. Anyone can get it.
But, my main issue (a frequent one): I became "temporally aware" sooner than I would've liked. Basically, about 3 reels in, it felt too long. Not by much, but I think overall ten minutes could've been shaved off and I would have emerged with all the same ideas. Deconstruction gets tiring after a while.
Final Grade: B
Also known as the 8 1/2 of art films. Although, symbio could stand on that thin line between experimental and conventional. It reminded me a lot of F for Fake, with it's sticking to conventions while breaking them into a million little shards.
Basically, symbio is endlessly deconstructable. Greaves shows us the film of a more or less open scene, and the film of the filming of that, and the film of the filming of that. Or to make more sense out of it, it's a making-of documentary of a making-of documentary. It's ridiculously self reflexive, from the split screens to the references to the audio we're listening to, to the long scenes where the film crew talks about the film(s) being made. And of course, bundled in with this is a method to approach the film at large. The players involved discuss the discussion that'll happen once the film is over.
And I'm done with the circles for now.
It brings up more ideas than you can shake a stick at. The nature of film, illusion v. reality, the role of the viewer, the role of the director, collective efforts, social issues, sexual issues, performance, human interaction. It's designed to make your head spin, and it succeeds greatly. The best thing about that is that eventually, after enough time has passed, you can really wrap your thoughts around it. That's also part of its design. Anyone can attach any meaning they want. It's a completely open text, it winds around itself and opens plenty of doors. Anyone can get it.
But, my main issue (a frequent one): I became "temporally aware" sooner than I would've liked. Basically, about 3 reels in, it felt too long. Not by much, but I think overall ten minutes could've been shaved off and I would have emerged with all the same ideas. Deconstruction gets tiring after a while.
Final Grade: B
posted by js munoz at
11:10 AM
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