[Frameworks] FW: Markopoulos and Brakhage

[Eleni Philippou]

Dear Chuck,
 
P. Adams Sitney writes that 'Markopoulos identifies himself with the Romantic tradition'. (p.150) From my research so far this is true. 
And also Sitney compares Maya Deren and Markopoulos and he writes: 'The first approach is modified classicism, the other purely Romantic.'(p.151)
What do you think?
 
Best,
 
Eleni 


From: chuckkle at northwestern.edu
Date: Fri, 13 May 2011 11:15:01 -0700
To: frameworks at jonasmekasfilms.com
Subject: Re: [Frameworks] FW: Markopoulos and Brakhage


OK, I'll give it a (short) shot:


The two statements are not parallel, thus it's hard to do any kind of meaningful comparison or contrast using them.
Each statement is, generally, true.
Markopoulos's films were withdrawn from circulation for many years and thus he dropped out of avant garde film history, even insisting that Sitney drop the chapter on his films from the most widely used, read, and known book on experimental film.  Today the films can be seen only rarely and under special festival conditions.  Thus, it's hard to include M in the discussion.  Probably today most people engaged with experimental films have never seen a Markopoulos film.
Based on my limited, and now decades-old viewing of some of M's work, I would disagree with this statement: "As Markopoulos has narrative structure loose and abstract."  I would say M's narrative is always extremely tight and precise.


To use some art historical jargon: 
Brakhage is (usually) Romantic, open, close to abstract expressionism
Markopoulos is (to my knowledge) Classical, extremely controlled and artificial, and close to High Mannerism


But I certainly would cede the ground to someone more expert like Sitney or Camper.


Chuck Kleinhans













On May 13, 2011, at 10:47 AM, Tom Whiteside wrote:



The answer(s) to your question might be book length, or more…. Not sure if anyone on Frameworks will bite on this one … unless they get the book contract and a hefty advance.
 
-          Tom
 


From: frameworks-bounces at jonasmekasfilms.com [mailto:frameworks-bounces at jonasmekasfilms.com] On Behalf Of Eleni Philippou
Sent: Friday, May 13, 2011 1:44 PM
To: Frameworks
Subject: [Frameworks] FW: Markopoulos and Brakhage
 

Hello everyone,
 
I am just wondering if my question is clear or shall I rewrite it in other words? Thank you for your response.
 
Best,
 
Eleni 



From: eleni_philippou at hotmail.com
To: frameworks at jonasmekasfilms.com
Date: Thu, 12 May 2011 03:12:24 +0300
Subject: [Frameworks] Markopoulos and Brakhage

Hi everyone,
 
It is written about Brakhage: 'He created often highly abstract films either totally devoid of narrative such as the colourful and kaleidoscopic 'Preludes' or with hints of unclear narrative, such as the unsettling and monochromatic 'Sirius Remembered' and 'The Dead'.
 
On the other hand P. Adams Sitney wrote about Markopoulos: 'the filmmaker most attracted to narrative of his generation and one of the most radical narrative film-makers in the world'.
 
As Markopoulos has narrative structure loose and abstract, does his narrative manner come in agreement or in contrast with Brakhage's one? How we could compare the two film-makers?
 
 
Eleni

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