Michele's Movie Talk: November 2008

Friday, November 28, 2008

Edison: The Invention of the Movies--Boxed Set

Kino Videos currently has an excellent deal on the Boxed Set-- Edison: The Invention of the Movies on SALE FOR $74.96 down from $99.95 at http://www.kino.com/edison/

This collection includes the entire holdings of Thomas Edison films (a total of 140) belonging to the Museum of Modern Art, offering a rare opportunity to see a broad range of the kinds of films that were produced in New York at the Edison Studios during the earliest period of film production, from 1894 through 1919.

In addition to the meticulous presentation of these historic prints of films from a few seconds to as much as twenty minutes each, there is copious historical documentation provided by Charles Musser, author of Nickelodeon: The Invention of the Movies. Moreover, each of the films is accompanied by extensive commentary by Charlie, myself, and a host of other silent film experts.

My contribution includes commentary on Edison's Watermelon Films, his early version of Uncle Tom's Cabin in 1903 and films dealing with ethnic stereotypes in general. I have used this set in a variety of ways with film classes both at Cornell and at the Graduate Center with great success. Instead of having to begin discussion of silent film in the teens with Birth of a Nation, this set makes it possible to present to students and others this earliest period of film production, arguably the most exciting and varied period, and thereby to better understand how films developed into what they are today.

There are some really extraordinary gems that would be of particular interest to different people. Not only does this set pretty much include all the films that might have formerly been excluded because they aren't politically correct, there are many films which don't necessarily comment on the status of African Americans but which reveal other telling things about American values. For instance, there is a brief actuality (the earliest one shot films) in which an elephant is electrocuted to death. The image of the smoke coming out of his head and his falling over dead is still seared into my consciousness. There's an intricate anti-Semitic film in which a shopkeeper goes to elaborate lengths to recover his property. Among the early actualities, there are Native American performances from acts who participated in the annual Wild West Shows featured at U.S. world's fairs.

I recognize and accept that lots of people will never much care for silent film. But if you do like silent film, this would be an excellent introduction to this fascinating period of our history.

Michele Wallace

I am a writer and a professor of English at the City College of New York, and the CUNY Graduate Center. My books include Black Macho and the Myth of the Superwoman (1979), Invisibility Blues (1990), Black Popular Culture (1992), and Dark Designs and Visual Culture (2005). I write cultural criticism frequently and am currently working on a project on creativity and feminism among the women in my family, some of which is posted on the Soul Pictures blog.

The Fascinating Career of Anna Mae Wong

Michele Wallace

I am a writer and a professor of English at the City College of New York, and the CUNY Graduate Center. My books include Black Macho and the Myth of the Superwoman (1979), Invisibility Blues (1990), Black Popular Culture (1992), and Dark Designs and Visual Culture (2005). I write cultural criticism frequently and am currently working on a project on creativity and feminism among the women in my family, some of which is posted on the Soul Pictures blog.

The Edison Films and Race

Michele Wallace

I am a writer and a professor of English at the City College of New York, and the CUNY Graduate Center. My books include Black Macho and the Myth of the Superwoman (1979), Invisibility Blues (1990), Black Popular Culture (1992), and Dark Designs and Visual Culture (2005). I write cultural criticism frequently and am currently working on a project on creativity and feminism among the women in my family, some of which is posted on the Soul Pictures blog.

The Fascinating Career of Bert Williams

Michele Wallace

I am a writer and a professor of English at the City College of New York, and the CUNY Graduate Center. My books include Black Macho and the Myth of the Superwoman (1979), Invisibility Blues (1990), Black Popular Culture (1992), and Dark Designs and Visual Culture (2005). I write cultural criticism frequently and am currently working on a project on creativity and feminism among the women in my family, some of which is posted on the Soul Pictures blog.

The Problem Films of 1949

Michele Wallace

I am a writer and a professor of English at the City College of New York, and the CUNY Graduate Center. My books include Black Macho and the Myth of the Superwoman (1979), Invisibility Blues (1990), Black Popular Culture (1992), and Dark Designs and Visual Culture (2005). I write cultural criticism frequently and am currently working on a project on creativity and feminism among the women in my family, some of which is posted on the Soul Pictures blog.

Orson Welles and It's All True

Michele Wallace

I am a writer and a professor of English at the City College of New York, and the CUNY Graduate Center. My books include Black Macho and the Myth of the Superwoman (1979), Invisibility Blues (1990), Black Popular Culture (1992), and Dark Designs and Visual Culture (2005). I write cultural criticism frequently and am currently working on a project on creativity and feminism among the women in my family, some of which is posted on the Soul Pictures blog.

Review of Lost Sounds

Michele Wallace

I am a writer and a professor of English at the City College of New York, and the CUNY Graduate Center. My books include Black Macho and the Myth of the Superwoman (1979), Invisibility Blues (1990), Black Popular Culture (1992), and Dark Designs and Visual Culture (2005). I write cultural criticism frequently and am currently working on a project on creativity and feminism among the women in my family, some of which is posted on the Soul Pictures blog.

Alice Guy Blache and A Fool and HIs Money

Michele Wallace

I am a writer and a professor of English at the City College of New York, and the CUNY Graduate Center. My books include Black Macho and the Myth of the Superwoman (1979), Invisibility Blues (1990), Black Popular Culture (1992), and Dark Designs and Visual Culture (2005). I write cultural criticism frequently and am currently working on a project on creativity and feminism among the women in my family, some of which is posted on the Soul Pictures blog.

Film Noir and African American Culture

Michele Wallace

I am a writer and a professor of English at the City College of New York, and the CUNY Graduate Center. My books include Black Macho and the Myth of the Superwoman (1979), Invisibility Blues (1990), Black Popular Culture (1992), and Dark Designs and Visual Culture (2005). I write cultural criticism frequently and am currently working on a project on creativity and feminism among the women in my family, some of which is posted on the Soul Pictures blog.

The Films of Paul Robeson

Michele Wallace

I am a writer and a professor of English at the City College of New York, and the CUNY Graduate Center. My books include Black Macho and the Myth of the Superwoman (1979), Invisibility Blues (1990), Black Popular Culture (1992), and Dark Designs and Visual Culture (2005). I write cultural criticism frequently and am currently working on a project on creativity and feminism among the women in my family, some of which is posted on the Soul Pictures blog.

Josephine Baker's Silents

Michele Wallace

I am a writer and a professor of English at the City College of New York, and the CUNY Graduate Center. My books include Black Macho and the Myth of the Superwoman (1979), Invisibility Blues (1990), Black Popular Culture (1992), and Dark Designs and Visual Culture (2005). I write cultural criticism frequently and am currently working on a project on creativity and feminism among the women in my family, some of which is posted on the Soul Pictures blog.

More Thoughts on Oscar Micheaux

Michele Wallace

I am a writer and a professor of English at the City College of New York, and the CUNY Graduate Center. My books include Black Macho and the Myth of the Superwoman (1979), Invisibility Blues (1990), Black Popular Culture (1992), and Dark Designs and Visual Culture (2005). I write cultural criticism frequently and am currently working on a project on creativity and feminism among the women in my family, some of which is posted on the Soul Pictures blog.

More Thoughts on D.W. Griffith

Michele Wallace

I am a writer and a professor of English at the City College of New York, and the CUNY Graduate Center. My books include Black Macho and the Myth of the Superwoman (1979), Invisibility Blues (1990), Black Popular Culture (1992), and Dark Designs and Visual Culture (2005). I write cultural criticism frequently and am currently working on a project on creativity and feminism among the women in my family, some of which is posted on the Soul Pictures blog.

More Thoughts on Uncle Tom's Cabin

Michele Wallace

I am a writer and a professor of English at the City College of New York, and the CUNY Graduate Center. My books include Black Macho and the Myth of the Superwoman (1979), Invisibility Blues (1990), Black Popular Culture (1992), and Dark Designs and Visual Culture (2005). I write cultural criticism frequently and am currently working on a project on creativity and feminism among the women in my family, some of which is posted on the Soul Pictures blog.

The Watermelon Films

Michele Wallace

I am a writer and a professor of English at the City College of New York, and the CUNY Graduate Center. My books include Black Macho and the Myth of the Superwoman (1979), Invisibility Blues (1990), Black Popular Culture (1992), and Dark Designs and Visual Culture (2005). I write cultural criticism frequently and am currently working on a project on creativity and feminism among the women in my family, some of which is posted on the Soul Pictures blog.

My Love Affair with Akira Kurosawa

Michele Wallace

I am a writer and a professor of English at the City College of New York, and the CUNY Graduate Center. My books include Black Macho and the Myth of the Superwoman (1979), Invisibility Blues (1990), Black Popular Culture (1992), and Dark Designs and Visual Culture (2005). I write cultural criticism frequently and am currently working on a project on creativity and feminism among the women in my family, some of which is posted on the Soul Pictures blog.

The Film and TV Projects of Nelson George

Everyday People. Life Support. American Gangster. Smart People.

Michele Wallace

I am a writer and a professor of English at the City College of New York, and the CUNY Graduate Center. My books include Black Macho and the Myth of the Superwoman (1979), Invisibility Blues (1990), Black Popular Culture (1992), and Dark Designs and Visual Culture (2005). I write cultural criticism frequently and am currently working on a project on creativity and feminism among the women in my family, some of which is posted on the Soul Pictures blog.

Body of War by Ellen Spiro and Phil Donahue

This is a great story, or rather a great story within a story within a story. This is film, which is a brand new documentary--and part of the proliferation of excellent recent documentaries dealing with different aspects of the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, critiquing recent foreign and domestic policies emanating from the Bush White House, and so on--follows the journey of an extraordinary young man who is severely wounded as an enlistee in Iraq and who becomes a persuasive and compelling anti-war activist as a consequence of his experiences.

Phil Donahue of talk show fame a decade or more ago met Ellen Spiro, one of the all-time great documentary filmmakers (and I don't just say this because she was my student at Buffalo and one of my favorite people in the world) on a plane and hatched the idea of doing this project. I became aware of it when I saw them discussing it and showing clips on Bill Moyer's Show--another location I keep an eye on so far as trying to follow what is going on in this country and the world.

I haven't seen the entire film yet but I've seen enough to know that it is something crucial to see. It was aired on Veteran's Day on the Sundance Channel and Phil (yes, I know him too!) was on a range of television and radio promoting the film. But I am slow because I thought it would get a major release and run in the theatres. How could anybody not want to see this--admitted it might be a little difficult for people who can't deal with severe disability challenges but that should be nobody given how eager most of us are to send people into harm's way, right?

Of course, the film is basically invisible now. However it is available on dvd, and once it has made the round of the film festivals, it will be on netflix I imagine. If you need a copy right away, here's the link to buy the dvd: http://www.bodyofwar.com.

MORE ON BODY WAR:

I hadn't seen this film when I wrote this but now I have and it is so wonderful to have seen it, fascinating this young man and his physical challenges. His courage and the purity of his absolute political clarity about opposing the war.

Saw it on HBO in Demand I think together with a number of other special things about war and recruitment. I believe HBO in Demand had it in the Documentary section together with another wonderful film about a recruitment station where many high school graduates have been sent to Iraq. By the time I got finished watching this, I was worried about the draft, the inevitability of its return. Which would be deeply boring since then I might have to start attending public protest demonstrations again. Tedious but else could one do?

So in the meanwhile, if you get a chance, take a look at these two films and all the other wonderful documentaries that have been made and are being made about the various wars the United States has gotten itself involved in the course of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st. Every bit of it is deeply intriquing to me now after having been deeply bored by it for the entire first half of my life.

What I liked to do most when I was young was read Balzac, Henry James and William Faulkner and tons and tons of stuff like that. My deepest fear was running out of novels. Geez. But then there really weren't any video, dvds or computers. And there certainly weren't any blogs. Even now I can hardly read my own handwriting.

Michele Wallace

I am a writer and a professor of English at the City College of New York, and the CUNY Graduate Center. My books include Black Macho and the Myth of the Superwoman (1979), Invisibility Blues (1990), Black Popular Culture (1992), and Dark Designs and Visual Culture (2005). I write cultural criticism frequently and am currently working on a project on creativity and feminism among the women in my family, some of which is posted on the Soul Pictures blog.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

The Birth of a Nation

The Birth of a Nation

Directed by D.W. Griffith, The Birth of a Nation released in 1915 was deeply disturbing to anyone concerned about the state of race relations. It's impact was disastrous and the approval of it and the screening of it in the White House by President Woodrow Wilson is something I still find shocking.

The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow PBS Series

Michele Wallace

I am a writer and a professor of English at the City College of New York, and the CUNY Graduate Center. My books include Black Macho and the Myth of the Superwoman (1979), Invisibility Blues (1990), Black Popular Culture (1992), and Dark Designs and Visual Culture (2005). I write cultural criticism frequently and am currently working on a project on creativity and feminism among the women in my family, some of which is posted on the Soul Pictures blog.

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