Hito Steyerl: November (Film)
2. The non- fiction November film is about a woman named Andrea Wolf. The story is narrated by someone who knew her very well. Steyerl is a film maker and she worked alongside Andrea in one of her very first films. I can tell that Steyerl enjoys having Andrea as a friend because in the first few minutes she describes her in three adjectives, “charismatic, beautiful, and strong”. In the films they acted fearlessly when they attacked the male villains. The film shows how they had various influencers that contributed to their film making process. I think the story is about how Hito and Andrea were able to incorporate various ways of fighting styles. Now, following a series of events during the time of a post- revolutionary movement Steyerl becomes involved with standing up for what she believes, while facing a tragic ending.
3. The shift that occurs to Andrea in the film is when she became a well known icon to almost all of the Kurdish people. In the film men, women, and children were carrying signs of her image on wooden sticks. Andrea Wolf became a, “traveling image” to all.
4. The role of martial arts in the film strengthens the characters of Andrea and Hito. Since filming their first movie the women have been fighting physically. While, the men who are the enemies use weapons. The role of martial arts in the film is an advantage because now that fighting technique is viewed as popular.
5. One more shift I notice during the film was when Hito Steyerl was in front of the camera instead of behind. Her image is a lot clearer and she is placed right at the center. She is now one of the participants of a demonstrator. She holds up the torch and takes her place in the demonstration against the war in Iraq.
1. By Hito Steyerl calling her film November, I think Steyerl is telling us that November marked a very specific time, date, and event that took place. Steyerl is telling us and claiming that November is her story to tell. I think the two films relate because two film makers represented two subjects of events in their own style. Both people wanted to appeal to an audience and create discussion. As well as both film makers were dedicated in broadcasting their message through a visual representation.
2. The statements, “Whoever is an image is an object” and “Images do not represent reality, they create reality, they are second nature.” mean to me you are an individual that represents your own thoughts, movements, and actions. What I think they mean in terms of the film, is that people can be impacted by the way an object is designed, and how an image is used to advertise a person. We can find our own sense of meaning in objects as well as in images. In terms of the film, they relate to the “after- life” of Andrea because people still want to recognize the work of an image who now is represented through different trademarks. For example, searching online of her image one person might use the image of the photos posted onto the wooden posts.
Part 2
1. Before entering I felt these emotions and had asked these questions:
- concrete
- smooth
- very tall walls and clean floors
- dim light
- anxious
- excited
- What is creating that light?
- Why would they keep a painting/ drawing inside its very own room?
- Does this museum have the photos that Bill Gates bought?!
Nelson Mandela
The significance to the Mandela piece in relation to the light was immediate sadness. Imagine not being able to cry. I think of the first facial movements that prompt you to cry. You squint, cover your eyes, wipe away tears, and eyeballs begin to glaze with water. The light and releasing of Mandela from prison was the light that appeared as he saw sunlight for the first time in years. This statement made me think and realize all of these emotions and actions of crying, “Their repeated request for sunglasses to protect their eyes were denies.”
Pennsylvania/ Bill Gates
While reading I felt these emotions and had asked these questions:
- WHY?
- people have the power to buy and change history?
- When is he going to view the photographs?
- Who is he trusting to handle these photos?
- What are the current and past conditions of the photos?
The significance to the Pennsylvania/ Bill Gate text in comparison with the light was the location. The photographs will no longer be viewed in some sort of light. The location of the photographs will be viewed underground vs. the room filled with a large screen of light. The photos are no longer able to be viewed by everyone, people of every background entered the room, in contrast to the photos kept a secret to the public. I asked, “Why?” from this statement, “Gates also owns two other photo agencies and has secured the digital reproduction rights…”
Kabul
While reading I felt these emotions and had asked these questions:
- sad
- hurt
- I wrote down the ending sentence, “The CEO Space Imaging Inc. said they are buying all the imagery that is available. “There is nothing left to see.”
The significance to the Kabul text to the light inn the room was the reaction myself and everyone had when they first entered the room. It was painful, you could not adjust to the source of light immediately. I could not take the Kabul text as an “okay” statement. It hurt the same way I walked inside the room, the text was powerful similar to light.
Part 3:
Feng Mengbo, Long March, Restart 2008
Two large horizontal with a colorful game producing sound and an action figure. Its an electronic game that guests can participate with. This piece attracted me because I thought of my brother Roubin, we have an Xbox 360 at home, and I imagined him being the first one to grab the remote and begin playing. I enjoyed how this game was interactive, fun, and creative. There was no reflection as you would have in a painting. This reflection was inviting and straight forward.