Category Archives: historical

Bram Crevits and Pall Thayer on Obama

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Pall Thayer – Inaugurationanimation (2009, 300MB, 49:56)

As far as I know, none of us at DVblog have become
infected with Obamania. Doesn’t mean we don’t
appreciate the fine art of the remix or dig hope.

First, from Bram Crevits of Cinamatics,
Obama’s Berlin speech, composed entirely of video shot
on cell phones. Remember when the gaze was
given to us by the TV news? Now we give it back.

Second, from Pall Thayer, a silent
animation piece of the entire inauguration.
Free to download and remix as you like. We like.

Both of these pieces surprise and amaze me by the
amount of work they must have taken to compile.
Painstaking, no? Unless these gentlemen know
something I do not, these are labor-intensive pieces
in their own respective ways. Lovely and timely.

My Name Is Oona – Gunvor Nelson

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Gunvor Nelson – My Name Is Oona (1969, 26.9MB, 9:12)

Historic piece from the Swedish filmmaker about her daughter.
Typical of Gunvor’s work, this film addresses themes about
nature, childhood, and maintains an ethereal quality.
Excellent early piece from a uniquely talented woman.

ICP Orchestra Play Monk

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Criss Cross
Criss Cross (2003, 95MB, 7:42 min.)

The extraordinary ICP orchestra put Monk’s Criss Cross
through its paces.
All good, but just wait for the Misha Mengelberg piano solo.
Piano players everywhere: weep. Everyone else just relish.
Bliss.

Stephen Slappe – 3 out of 4

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Stephen Slappe – 3 out of 4 (2005, 1.6MB, 0:45)

Short, rather humorous piece from Stephen Slappe,
which simultaneously celebrates large, antiquated rotating
advertisements and laments the disappearance of the four
basic food groups.

Three from Spoon

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The Ghost of You Lingers (2007, 22.9MB, 3:34)


Everything Hits At Once (2001, 17.8MB, 4:03)


Jealousy (2000, 5.5MB, 2:06)

Being objective about Spoon is hard for me. We have history.
I was way younger than I’ll admit when I bought Girls Can Tell,
upon its release.
Soon after followed a deep love for their range and growth as a band.
I watched band members come in and go out, Britt Daniel and Jim Eno
ultimately the utensil glue.
I went to shows. I screamed. I took pictures. I didn’t take video.
I tried to stay in the moments.
I still do these things. I went to a concert of theirs a few months back
and didn’t even take my camera inside.
They don’t come through my current town of residence as much, but when
they do, I’ll be there. I have every EP and 7″ single they’ve made.
It is important.

I watch these videos and I think about what it all means.
I don’t know who made any of these, which makes me an ignorant curator
and fan, but that praise isn’t the goal this time for me.
I just want to share some nice videos that mean something to me.
(Why else would I bother doing this at all?)

To follow a band, to know you wouldn’t make a documentary about them
if given the opportunity because it would forever alter your deep relationship
with who you believe them to be and what you believe their music means.
To watch, to listen as corporate radio realizes their greatness. It only took
eleven years. Twelve?
You see the videos that others make and think, okay. It is here. That’s okay.
These are better than okay.

Cindy Sherman – Doll Clothes

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Cindy Sherman – Doll Clothes (1975, 21.2MB, 2:24)

One of Cindy Sherman’s first Super 8 films.
An excellent early view into the overtly
feminine, introspective work of the artist
that would later follow.

Two Moon July – David Byrne and Phillip Glass

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reportfromla557
David Byrne – Report from L.A. (1986, 49MB, 4:30 min.)

madrush397
Phillip Glass – Mad Rush (1986, 29MB, 3:17 min.)

Both of these pieces, although incredibly different in feel and nature, were
preformed for the “multidisciplinary event” which showcased “experimental
video, film, visual art, performance and music in a theatrical framework”.
Shot at New York City’s infamous Kitchen, and broadcast on television sets
across the states in 1986, the production “reflects a moment when art centers
were experimenting with new modes of presenting the arts for television.”
Read more and see more here.

“More fun than you can shake your stick at”

New York Times Special Edition – The War Is Over

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New York Times Special Edition (2008, 16.2MB, 2:12 min)

Self-explanatory movie giving background & reaction
to the day before yesterday’s visionary prank ( &
how often do you hear those two words together?)
by those visionary pranksters The Yes Men.
More here.
Breathtaking & inspiring.

Wild Combination – A Portrait of Arthur Russell

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wctrailer
A Portrait of Arthur Russell (trailer) (2008, 7MB, 2:11 min.)

“Wild Combination is Matt Wolf’s acclaimed documentary on seminal
avant-garde composer, singer-songwriter, cellist, and disco producer
Arthur Russell. Before his death in 1992, Arthur created music that
spanned both pop and the transcendent possibilities of abstract art.
The film incorporates rare archival footage and commentary from
Arthur’s family, friends, collaborators and admirers, including
Philip Glass, Allen Ginsberg, Jens Lekman, and many more.”

Sharon Hayes – Symbionese Liberation Army Screeds #13, 16, 20 & 29

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Sharon Hayes – Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA) Screeds #13, 16, 20 & 29 (2002, 7.4MB, 2:49)

Between 2001 and 2002, artist Sharon Hayes
reenacted four tapes from the SLA Patty Hearst
abduction in 1974. These respeakings were
performed before an audience, mostly memorized,
but the audience was instructed to correct or feed
Hayes a line when she made a mistake.
Entertaining, reflective, and somewhat moving.
A real treat whether you lived through the original
events or not.