>From a British perspective, I'd certainly second the suggestions of John Smith and Bruce Lacey, and probably add Ian Bourn, who is but one of many British moving image artists with a very definite humorous streak. In terms of contemporary stuff I'd also add Nathaniel Mellors. I can't believe I didn't think of him when I saw this thread earlier in the week, but having just come back from seeing the latest installment of his 'situationist sitcom' OURHOUSE, I can't help feeling he's gotta be up there.
Steve On 23 May 2012 16:28, Adam Hyman <a...@lafilmforum.org> wrote: > I second Gene. > > And also wish to add the other funniest man in the A-G, Tony Conrad. > > > On 5/23/12 7:44 AM, "Gene Youngblood" <ato...@comcast.net> wrote: > > > There's a difference between "funny," where you laugh out loud, and > > "humorous," where you smile inside. Experimental film/video is almost > always > > the latter. One consistent exception is George Kuchar. I would argue that > > the man who is the subject of his diaries is not only the funniest human > > being in the history of the moving image, but is among the funniest in > the > > history of modern western culture. > > > > Humor is of course pretty subjective. For me, "Associations" is the > > cleverest and most humorous of John Smith's work. Some other > > experimentalists who are humorous to greater or lesser degrees would > include > > Will Hindle's later films, Martin Arnold, Martha Colburn, Joe Gibbons, > Tony > > Oursler, the early Peter Greenaway, Ernest Gusella, Ant Farm's Media > Burn, > > Miranda July, Arthur Lippsett, Guy Maddin, Andy Warhol, Mark Rappaport, > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: David Tetzlaff > > Sent: Tuesday, May 22, 2012 10:19 PM > > To: Experimental Film Discussion List > > Subject: Re: [Frameworks] humorous experimental films > > > > I'm all for droll humor, but I wouldn't call Wavelength a laugh riot. > It's a > > long wait before Hollis shows up. I think there's a lot of humor in > > Frampton, especially Hapax Legomena 1-3 [(nostalgia), Critical Mass, > Poetic > > Justice) but it's subtle, and tickles the back of your brain more than > > boinking your funnybone. > > > > Experimental films are rarely 'just' funny. Where you find humor it's > often > > mixed in a very unstable balance with darkness. "How can I shave when I > > can't think of s reason for living?" Cracks me up every time. Cause I've > > already been through the angst straight, you know. > > > > For American films, some that come to mind: > > The Geography of the Body, (Willard Maas) which is the rare > straightforward > > comedy. > > The End, (Christopher Maclaine) which is intermittently hilarious and > > apocalyptic. > > Flaming Creatures (Jack Smith) (it helps if you know it's a comedy going > in) > > Hold Me While I'm Naked, Sins of the Fleshapoids and other early George > and > > Mike Kuchar stuff. > > Oh Dem Watermelons (Robert Nelson) > > Blonde Cobra (Ken Jacobs) again funny parts amidst a darker vision > overall > > Recreation (Robert Breer) > > New Improved Institutional Quality (George Landow aka Owen Land) > > > > other Breer, Nelson and Landow works also have their share of humor > > > > Then there are some experimental films that are more 'fun' than funny, > such > > as Cosmic Ray by Bruce Conner, Roger Beebe's TB/TX Dance, Peace Mandala > by > > Paul Sharits. > > > > good luck, (or good yuck) "Let there be rejoicing!" > > > > djt > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > FrameWorks mailing list > > FrameWorks@jonasmekasfilms.com > > https://mailman-mail5.webfaction.com/listinfo/frameworks > > > > > > ----- > > No virus found in this message. > > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > > Version: 2012.0.2171 / Virus Database: 2425/5016 - Release Date: 05/22/12 > > > > _______________________________________________ > > FrameWorks mailing list > > FrameWorks@jonasmekasfilms.com > > https://mailman-mail5.webfaction.com/listinfo/frameworks > > > > > _______________________________________________ > FrameWorks mailing list > FrameWorks@jonasmekasfilms.com > https://mailman-mail5.webfaction.com/listinfo/frameworks >
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