Stan Brakhage

Stan Brakhage was an American filmmaker who utilised the “plactics” and “material” of film incorporating these elements of the medium in both method and methodology. (Sheddon 1998)

Anticipation of Night (Brakhage 1958) is considered a significant shift for Brakhage as he begins applying new approaches to his filmmaking, including filming techniques and angles, the methods intended to eliminate the mediator to carry the emotions whereby the person behind the camera becomes the protagonist. (Shedden 1998)

Mothlight, Stan Brakhage 2063

Relevance of practice

Brakhage believes that by removing sound, it becomes more possible to ‘see’. This aligns directly with colour theory, whereby colour implies a pre-determined emotional state. Thus, I propose that restricting colour offers a heightened interpretative viewing experience.

Bibliography

Brakhage, Stan. 1963. Mothlight. Teddy LARUE, November 26, 2012. YouTube Video. https://youtu.be/S5P5vkegmvU.

Sheddon, Jim, director. 1998. Brakhage. Films We Like, 2018. Video. https://rmit.kanopy.com/video/brakhage.

Smigel, Eric. "Metaphors on Vision: James Tenney and Stan Brakhage, 1951-1964." American Music 30, no. 1 (2012): 61-100. muse.jhu.edu/article/488557.