Blog Post #1: Chick-Fil-A

 Hello, I am Jake. I am not a very lateral thinker. I am the definition of scatterbrained. Photography and Film are just about the only things I can focus on for more than 5 minutes before I begin to get lost in my thoughts. I discovered my love for the art at the age of 11 when I took a family vacation to Yosemite and was drawn to the uniqueness of its natural beauty. On that trip I learned that through visual imagery I can portray my view of the world to others in a way that is totally unique to me. I continue to strive to show others my vision through a different lens. Oh, and I eat Chick-Fil-A almost everyday. Wabi-sabi. 

Wrightsville Beach, NC (Hermine 2016)

      After reading Fred Camper's piece I begin to get the feeling that I will really like experimental film. He talks about experimental film being unique to the individual and essentially says that it shouldn't make sense to everyone. Since the creator of an experimental  film most likely did all of the work with little to no help and money, the final piece is a direct interpretation of their idea visually, sonically, and temporally. While my opinion is less valid than his, I believe that a film can be experimental and have unique perspectives without containing the majority of these traits. After all, isn't experimental film about breaking the 'norm' and expressing unique perspectives? By that logic, putting these defining terms to experimental film is just a contradiction to the subject itself. 

The amateur filmmaker is the realist filmmaker out there. The ability to have absolutely no limits except the ones you put on yourself allows for the development of the art form in a personal and unique manner. From this article it becomes apparent why experimental filmmakers are generally amateurs. If an experimental film was made like a large production, the freedom would be taken away from the original creator, thus dissolving its originality. The overall message that Deren is trying to convey is essentially that for the amateur, their ability to do what they want, when they want, how they want, with no care for gear or deadlines, is what gives them the creative and artistic advantage over a 'professional' filmmaker.