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Black Ice(1994)
(Negate music! As it doesn't exist within the real film itself. Block it by turning off sound if you must.)
(Negate music! As it doesn't exist within the real film itself. Block it by turning off sound if you must.)
Black Ice resonates with me as my favorite of Brakhage's work. It is a film completely devoid of any narrative, but in substitute we see the very beauty of what could be, and what Brakhage has illustrated once again which is the transcendence into higher forms of visual art. One could easily say Stan Brakhage literally died for his masterpieces of artistic composition. Through years of working with lead-based paints, (well known to be cancerous), Brakhage devoided himself of all such thought and placed his work ahead of himself first and foremost. Eventually, he did die of cancer, but he accepted his death as part of the process which he admired. In his understanding, he had created a mark on the process of film, (which to me is rather an understatement). He did regret however that his concepts never took root in the public consciousness and wondered if his works, and others of his time period, were that of a living madness. However, I disregard this notion as 2001: A Space Odyssey's star gate sequence would have not existed without his innovations.
Regardless, Black Ice has influenced me in many ways. What I thought impossible, (as I did many things in Dog Star Man), Brakhage makes possible. He, in essence, creates a three dimensional film that is two dimensional in nature. How does he do this? Superimpostions of images which are intercutted and dispersed without one another. So what the viewer feels in return is a sense of going into the very frame itself. The YouTube link I proved is not a very good one, as it is not as clear to view and experience, as well as the fact that the so-called host takes the liberty of adding their music onto the film, (which Brakhage would never dream of doing, as in his belief sound subtracted from the visual experience, which is why I advised turning off all sound); however, despite all these complications, one may perhaps come to an understanding of other possibilities on which the visual cinematic format provides. As well as come to a certain understanding that all can be done and should as we progress though time. With this understanding, I hope one gains a greater appreciation of the cinematic format and questions all would-be limitations conjured in the mind, and ultimately disregards them altogether.
Regardless, Black Ice has influenced me in many ways. What I thought impossible, (as I did many things in Dog Star Man), Brakhage makes possible. He, in essence, creates a three dimensional film that is two dimensional in nature. How does he do this? Superimpostions of images which are intercutted and dispersed without one another. So what the viewer feels in return is a sense of going into the very frame itself. The YouTube link I proved is not a very good one, as it is not as clear to view and experience, as well as the fact that the so-called host takes the liberty of adding their music onto the film, (which Brakhage would never dream of doing, as in his belief sound subtracted from the visual experience, which is why I advised turning off all sound); however, despite all these complications, one may perhaps come to an understanding of other possibilities on which the visual cinematic format provides. As well as come to a certain understanding that all can be done and should as we progress though time. With this understanding, I hope one gains a greater appreciation of the cinematic format and questions all would-be limitations conjured in the mind, and ultimately disregards them altogether.
My Rating:
5 Star of 5
5 Star of 5