ARTS


The Michigan Daily
The avant-gard
BY MIKE KUNIAVSKY video/computer artist who is teach-
ing the class.

le

Wednesday, February 7, 1990
marches on

Page

Almost everyone has seen the
stereotype of avant-garde film and
experimental filmmakers: people
who smash bricks on stage and fry
eggs on projectors while keeping
their black turtlenecks, goatees and
Chuck Taylors clean. After the
:show, our stereotype surmises, they
all go out back and smoke cloves
,pretentiously while talking about
nonretrohemineomoderism and how
it's so misunderstood by the lay
vmasses.
Now it's a law of nature that
*anyone who talks like this doesn't
know diddly about diddly, much less
avant-garde film. Unfortunately,
while most of us do know diddly
about diddly, avant-garde film has
'been somewhat of a blank spot in
party small-talk. Until now. All this
semester the Program in Film and
Video Studies is presenting a series
of avant-garde films. Originally in-
-tended for viewing by a class
(Film/Video 413, section 2), the
films are now going to be shown to
the public every Wednesday
evening.
Rather than having some two-bit
~Daily film writer pontificate on the
subject while the cloves smolder in
the ashtray and the black turtleneck
dries (from having espresso stains
removed), it's probably best to hear
about this program from the source.
Following is an interview with Han-
nelore Kober, the German film/

Daily: What is the exact purpose
of avant-garde film, why is it im-
portant to teach it and why is it
there?
Kober: I think that it is impor-
tant to teach it because it is not that
well-known, and it's not like Hol-
lywood cinema. In Germany, for in-
stance, there are many independent
filmmakers who work in other arts
and who try to make films which are
not like ones in Hollywood. This is
necessary because most of the films,
most of the long narrative films, are

give you any and so the best way to
start making films is to make exper-
imental films because when you
think about the structure of those
films it's not necessary to think in
the narrative. So people who want
to make films and have never made
them - usually they are painters or
working in the other arts - when
they start thinking about film they
don't think in terms of "how can I
tell a story?" but more like "what is
film and what can I do with it?"
This, of course, does not just happen
to painters, they are people in the
performing arts or they're poets, or
whatever.
You're saying that in its basic
premise, avant-garde film is non-
narrative?
Yeah, it started non-narrative and
although it's changing a little bit
now, it's still non-narrative. Of
course, there have always been films
that have some narrative... but it's
always experimental, and never the
straight narrative of commercial or
Hollywood film. That's not the
point of it. It's not there to tell a
story via film, but to deal with the
film as an art medium.
All artists develop their ideas and
present a lot of things you have to
think about, not just on film but on
audio, video and computers. They
are not just trying to convey-a story,
but trying to say more.
I noticed that the newest film you

show is Michael Snow's So Is This,
which is from 1981 or '82. Why
don't you show any newer films?
In your subjective opinion,
hasn't there been anything really
important in the last 10 years?
I think that So Is This is a very,
very important film. It's a milestone
in avant-garde film. Which is why I
put it in, because you cannot show
all of the important films in an
overview of the whole history of
avant-garde film. There are of course
some important films which are
missing: I left out the films by the
Whitney brothers, or Len Lee...and I
left out some very early abstract
films, sometimes because some of
them are not there anymore, they do
not exist. In the end I feel the stu-
dents will understand much better
what was going on in the beginning
and what it was all about when they
have seen these early films.
So you're concentrating more on
the early history of avant-garde
than on what's happening right
now....
Right. It's because it's always
important in order to understand
what people are doing now to know
what artists in the '20s, '30s, and
'40s were doing. Really, it doesn't
actually matter where you start, it's
just that you start early. It's impor-
tant, in order to get in touch with
any art, to know the history of that
art. You get to know what the art
means today or what it could be.

Avant-garde film ser
February 7 (running time 42
minutes)
Man Ray
Retour a la Raison (1923)
Anemic Cinema (1926)
L'Etoile de Mer (1928)
Fernand Ldger
Ballet Mechanique (1924)
February 14 (90 minutes)
Dziga Vertov
The Man With a Movie Cam-
era (1929)
February 21.(24 minutes)
Oskar Fischinger
Programs II and V (1923-1941)
February 28 (34 minutes)
Stan Brakhage
Desistfilm (1954)
Blue Moses (1962)
Murder Psalm (1981)
(room 2520 Frieze)
March 14 (60 minutes)
Peter Kubelka
One Man Show (1954-1977)
March 21 (72 minutes)
Kurt Kren
One Man Show (1960-1968)

March 28 (68 minutes)
Paul Sharits
Wrote Movie/Fluxfilm 29 (1966)
Razor Blades (1965-1966)
Inferential Current (1971)
Malcom LaGrice
Castle One (The Lightbulb Film)
(1966)
After Lumiere (1974)
April 4 (80 minutes)
Werner Nekes
Hurrycan (1979)
April 11 (77 minutes)
Michael Snow
So Is This (1982)
Ken Jacobs/Jack Smith/Bob
Fleischner
Blonde Cobra (1959-1963)
April 18 (40 minutes)
Tony Conrad
The Flicker (1966)
Straight and Narrow (1970)
April 25 (93 minutes)
Jonas Mekas
Film Magazine on the Arts
(1963)
Walden: Reel One (1963)
Anthony McCall
Line Describing a Cone (1973)

7 p.m. Wednesdays,
Angell Auditorium C. $1.

Hannelore Kober
supported by the government usu-
ally. If you're young and you want
to make films you can ask the gov-
ernment for money. But they won't


I don't think that art history is
very important, it's that after you
have seen a series of films it will be
easier to understand the next film
you see. And it really doesn't matter


CLASIFIED

ADS

7641

-0557


GOING PLACES
$99 ANYWHERE IN THE USA ON
NORTHWEST airlines! Bring our NWA
voucher and AMEX card. Cal EGENCY
TRAVEL, 665-6122, ask for Ann or David.
BAHAMAS CRUISE + 6 days $279, incl.
meals, parties & hotel; some rooms have
kitchens, lvs. trom Ft. Lauderdale. Cancun 8
days $399. Jamaica 6 days $369. Spring
Break Travel 1-800-638-6786.
CANCUN, BAHAMAS & MORE! SPRING
BREAK at GUARAN'T'EED lowest nrces.
Call Susan & Michele 747-9742 NO es.
CANCUN, MEXICO
FROM $299. Includes roundtri,, transfers
welcome drink, parties, free admission to
clubs & all hoter-taxes. For more info call
800-283-8767.
CHEAPEST SPRING BREAK SKI TRIP!
Ski Steamboat for $425
Call Michigan Ski Club at 994-9068
DAYTONA BEACH SPRING BREAK
Thunderbird Motel (tiht on the beach),
$129 (without bus), $214 (with bus).
Contact Steve at 930-6547.
DRIVING TO BOSTON for Spring Break?
Take Mel Free gas! Tracy 994-0850.
EUROPE SPECIALS: Amsterdam fr. $499;
Copenhagen fr. $599; Frankfurt fr. $449;
Glasgow fr. $469 London fr. $379; Paris fr.
$463 Re ectravel 665-6122. Ask for
Dan or Deb.
FOR YOUR LOWEST OVERSEAS AIR-
FARES ask for Student Travel Network,
800-369-1929.
ONE-WAY TICKET from Washington-Na-
tional to Detroit Metro on Sun. March 11, the
day Spring Break ends. Must sell! Cheat $.
Call Mark-64-7678.
ORIENT SPECIALS: Bangkok fr. $967'
Hong Kong fr. $887; Osaka fr. $919; Seoul
*fr. $865" Sm a re fr. $999" Taipei fr. $845.
REGENCY RVEL 665-6122. Ask for
Dan or Deb.
RIDE IN STYLE & PAY LESS than the De-
troit Airport commuter van for groups of 3-7.
$40 1 way - door to door limo. Regency
Travel 665-6122. Ask for Vivian or David.
'SKI IN THE SUN! Sprin Break in Lake
Tahoe Ca. Origin y $90hotel & air. Now
S chea One t left on the trip for female.
Call lid,76-3647.
SOUTH PADRE ISL'AND! The best selec-
tion and prices for Spring Break houses and
apartments. Call Padre Rental 1-800-292-
I I MA DIRETRY

GOING PLACES
SPRING BREAK
Acapulco 519, Cancun 559, Freeport 439,
Jamaica 519 Nassau 459.
Call REGENCY TR~AVEL at 665-6122
(ask for Dan) 209-211 S. State St.
SPRING BREAK GET-AWAY! Traverse
City area. Log cabin lodging. Cute. Cozy
Romantic. Outdoor hot tub option. $38-58
nightly. (616) 276-9502.
STUDENT TRAVEL BREAKS at STAMOS
TRAVEL
For best Euron/Greece airfares. We're at
Kerrytown Ma . Call us *663-4400.
FOR SALE
ALPINE CAR STEREO 7269. Almost new.
$250 or best offer. 995-2260. Jim.
ARTLEY FLUTE: nickel beautiful cond.,
hard case incl. $200. 764-7b05.
CANNON AE-1 Prog. Package: 50mm lens
& 80-200mm zoom, filters, hood, 3500 zm.
flash charger pwr supply ong. cases &
shoulder bag. $500 neg. 7b4-'7005.
FORE SALE: FUTON QUEEN SIZE. $65.
930-1919. Greg.
PAIR OF BIG SPEAKERS, new 125 watt
12" woofer, 5" mid, 3" tweeter, 1'x10'x25
cabinets, attractive finish, very reasonable,
$289/pair Jim 995-5720.
PANASONIC VIDEO CAMERA, video
deck and 20" color TV, all used in good con-
dition. All 3 for $500 or best offer for each.
665-3214 M-F 11-3 for more info.
PRE 120011 w/ Look bnds Nordica air boots
poles and bag $300 11-12 1/2. Rollerblade
skates 11 1/2 $60. Andy 769-1823.
TIMBERLAND tan mountain boots. New.
Women's 8. Asking $70. Call 764-3961.
TWO AIRLINE TICKETS to Ft. Myers Fl.
Round trip. Mar. 1 PM-Mar. 4 PM. $198
each. Call Susan, 561-0596.
COMPUTER MERCHANDISE
MEMORY UPGRADES
For PS/2, Compaq, Macintosh. Hard drives,
monitors & much more. Call 663-1188.
PLACE 101 N. Main, Box 150/150Ann Ar-
bor, MI. 48104.

STUDENT SERVICES
**TYPING & WORDPROCESSING**
Fast/IBM-WP/laser/campus/Sandi/426-5217

, ,

.. ..

Slim Down
While You
Fatten Your
Pocketbook
All Natural
"Wonder Cookie"
High fiber, Low Fat,
No Cholesterol. Delicious
and healthy. For FREE 2oz.
sample and information
on opportunity,
CALL 517-592-2605
***TYPING by Christine Professional,
ovemi ht or rush. Hill/Packard Area 996-
9645.pen 7 days & eves fall & winter.
RESERCH INFORMARON
Largest Library of information in U.S. -
afi subjects
Order Catalog Today with Visa/MC or COD
800-351-0222
t U Ein Calif (213) 477.8226
Or, rush $2.00 to: Research Information
11322 Idaho Ave. #206-A, Los Angeles CA 90025

STUDENT SERVICES
*FREE PIANO LESSON!*
Casio rental available. Mike 994-0371.
A-1 TYPING and WORDPROCESSING. On
cam pus professionals. Rush services. 668-
8898.
ABANDON YOUR SEARCH and lets not be
sexist! Call Pete the Dustman for your house
cleaning chores, bonded and insured. Call
677-0180.
BETH'S COMPUTER TYPING
N. Campus 930-6679.
EXPERIENCED TUTOR-Grad student to
help with your chem bio, physics & orgo.
Free consultation-Lv. Mvessage-668-0266
FOR ALL YOUR WORD PROCESSING
NEEDS, call Janet at 763-8913.
PERFECT TOUCH TYPING
761-8842
SAVE $2 790 A SEMESTER ON TUITION
& Cost o7 Living. The American Scholastic
Refund pays students per credit hour. Send
$4.95 to PO Box 14467 Chicago, Illinois,
60614.
THE WORDWRIGHT
**Word processing/typing/editing.
Papers/reports/dissertations/resumes.
Laser printing.**662-8977.
YPS WORD PROCESSING PROFES-
SIONAL Service on Campus. Open Evenings
& Weekends. Term Papers, Cover Letters,
Envelopes. 747-7470.
TICKETS
BILLY JOEL TICKETS FOR SALE!
Feb. 8 & 9- Call 665-6541
Ask For Gregg or Phil
BILLY JOEL tickets for sale. Call 761-1079.
I NEED 2 Tickets in BLUE for Illinois
and/or Indiana. Call Alan at 761-9525.
WANTED: Two tickets for the Illinois game.
Call 930-6521.

TICKETS
GOOD SEATS: B. Joel 2/8-9 & 22. Also
Motley Crue. Leave number - 835-6155.
WANTED: 2 Tickets for the Illinois game.
Please call! 769-6866.
2 RND TRIP TCKTS to Ft. Lauderdale 3/2-
3/9. $200 ea., price neg. Call 763-1749
FOR SALE Round trip air on SW. $250 or
best. CallChris @ 995-5548, am's.
NEED 2 TICKETS in blue. Mich. v.
N'Westem. 665-4925.
4 SALE FLIGHT TO BOSTON FOR
SPRING BREAK. Cheap! Call Anne at 662-
7617.
ONE ROUNDTRIP TICKET to anywhere in
US on Northwest $175. Call Lorn 764-3834.

where you start - I could have
started in the '60s at Andy Warhol to
explain the whole thing, but it
would be different. I just like start-
See AVANT-GARDE, page 8
PERSONAL
* * ATTENTION: Supreme Course Tran-
scripts, the LS&A lecture notetaking service,
has the following notes avail. at Alpha-
graphics Printshops at 715 N. Univ.: Anthro
161, Bio 100, Bio 224, Bio 325, Class Arch
222: Comm 103, Econ 201, Econ 202, Econ
396, Econ 401, Geol 100, Geol 101, Geol
106, Geol 107, Geol 110 Geol 112, Geol
113, Geol 115, Geol 125,1-list 110, Hist 160,
Hist 161, Hist 333, Hist 366, ist Art 272,
Physics 125, Physics 126, Physics 140,
Physics 240, Physiol 101, Poli Sci 140, Poli
Sci 353, Poli Sci 396, Psych 170, Psych 171
Psych 331, Soc 467, Soc 468. Call 663-681d
for info.
76-GUIDE IS HIRING!
Paid peer counselors for 90-91 Applications
available 3100 Mich Union For More info.
764-8433 UM is EOE.
ALPHA DELTA PIpresents
The ADPi Datin g ame
{just like on 1w!)
Sunday, Februay 11
7 p atRicks - Dnk specials
$admission -All proceeds to
THE RONALD McDNALD HOUSE
"Grand Date" Two roundtnp tickets
anywhere in the U.S.
Courtesy of American Airlines
And many, many more... w
DAILY SOAPs: Bart (a super-hero of epic
proportions???) sat mesmerized by the
clumps of cinnamon in his cappvin... But
there was a little girl tM olly Goodoer,
twisting her gold -locks agout her eensy fm-
ger, who noticed the catatonic state of out
roa onist"'Scuseme," exclaimed Molly,
buti tnkyou're drooling on your cheese
scone." And like a souffle rising, Bart began
his quest for Casandra.
DIAL A JEWISH STORY. Another roect
of the Chabad House. Call 995-5959.
LIGHT AND BRIGHT. E e make-up from
the Village Apothecary. 11 2 S. University
TO "INTERESTED!!": Sorry for the delay. I
don't think I know you already. Just call me
at 995-2599. Paul.


*

Alive, she cried.
Work at The Daily
Apply for an Assistant
Account Executive
position in the Classified
Department.
420 Maynard
Student Publications Building


The University of Michigan
SCHOOL OF MUSIC

Thurs. Feb. 8

Thurs.-Sun.
Feb. 8-11
Fri. Feb. 9

African-American Composers
Symposium
Sponsored by the Detroit Symphony--
Orchestra Hall and the American
Symphony Orchestra League
McIntosh Theatre, School of Music,
10 AM-1 PM
University Dance Company
Vital Elements: Dances for 1990.
Tickets $7 and $10, 764-0450.
Power Center, 8 PM (Th.-Sat.); 2 PM (Sun)
University Choir and Chamber
Choir
Jerry Blackstone, Theodore Morrison,
conductors
Music from the Renaissance to the present.
Hill Auditorium, 8 PM

I+ +
VALENTINE SPECTACULAR
1I
1 SEND YOUR MESSAGE IN A HEART! I
1 JONLY $5!!
1 1
1 1
1 NAME__
1 1
ADDRESSS
1 1
PHONE
1 1
Make checks payable to: The Michigan Daily
Mail in or bring in person with payment to:
The Michigan Daily
42 AMaynard
Actual size of ad