Stan Brakhage

Stan Brakhage is one of the most influential filmmakers in American avant-garde cinema, noted for his unflinching social commentaries and technical innovations. Over his nearly 40-year career, he has made over 200 films of varying length. He made his first film, Interim (1952) at age 18 after dropping out of college. Brakhage films seek to change the way we see. They encourage viewers to eschew traditional narrative structure in favor of pure visual perception that is not reliant on naming what is seen; rather his goal is to create a more visceral visual experience, for he believes that a "stream-of visual-consciousness could be nothing less than the pathway of the soul." To this end, his films are shot in highly sensual colors and utilize minimal soundtracks. His work can be divided into distinct periods. His first short films explored the properties and possibilities of light. In many of his experimental ventures, Brakhage has forgone traditional cinematography in favor of working directly with the film stock itself. He has occasionally painted, inked, scratched and dyed images onto it; he has also tried pasting organic objects on the film. His most famous example is the 1963 short Mothlight in which he glued moth wings onto the stock. Some of his early films were based on his most intimate experiences that included making love to his new bride--depicted on negative film--in Wedlock House: An Intercourse (1959), and an attempt to bring his dead dog back to life with a camera in Sirius Remembered (1959). During the 1960s, Brakhage's iconoclastic views were celebrated for their poetry, but during the '70s, his focus changed to social issues and he alienated many supporters with such disturbing film series as the "Pittsburgh documents" in which he presented many gruesome views of inner city life with films such as Act of Seeing with One's Own Eyes (1971) which was shot in a morgue. He also continued with autobiographical material with the "Sincerity/Duplicity series. During the 1980s, Brakhage's focus again changed--this time he became intrigued with creating truly "abstract" films such as Arabics (1982) which consists of brilliant bursts of colored light which he claims, represent "envisioned music." In addition to filmmaking, Brakhage also wrote books about films and filmmaking and also served as a teacher.

Known For

Cannibal! The Musical
Mothlight
Window Water Baby Moving
Window Water Baby Moving
Window Water Baby Moving
Window Water Baby Moving
Birth Location Kansas City, Missouri, USA
Born 1933-01-14
Died 2003-03-09

Movies

For Stan as Himself
2009
Notes on Marie Menken as Himself (archive footage)
2006
2003
Encomium as Self
2003
2002
Vakvagany as Himself
2002
2000
1999
Brakhage as Himself
1998
1997
Cannibal! The Musical as Noon Sr.
1996
1995
1994
Abstract Cinema as Himself
1993
Watunna as Narrator
1989
1986
1981
1978
The Stars Are Beautiful as Narrator (voice)
1974
Reality's Invisible as Himself
1972
Filmmakers as Himself
1969
1965
1964
Window Water Baby Moving as Self (uncredited)
1959
Cat's Cradle as Self
1959
1956

Movies

20 Little Films Director
2012
Chinese Series Director
2003
Stan's Window Director
2003
Resurrectus Est Director
2002
SB Director
2002
Seasons... Director
2002
Ascension Director
2002
2002
Max Director
2002
2001
2001
2001
2001
2001
2001
Persian Series Director
2001
Micro Garden Director
2001
Garden Path Director
2001
Lovesong 5 & 6 Director
2001
2001
Lovesong 4 Director
2001
Lovesong Director
2001
Lovesong 3 Director
2001
Occam's Thread Director
2001
Lovesong 2 Director
2001
Very Director
2001
Night Mulch Director
2001
Rounds Director
2001
2000
2000
2000
2000
2000
2000
2000
2000
Water for Maya Director
2000
Dance Director
2000
1999
1999
1999
Persian #3 Director
1999
Persian #2 Director
1999
Persian #1 Director
1999
1999
Cricket Requiem Director
1999
1999
1999
Cloud Chamber Director
1999
Coupling Director
1999
The Dark Tower Director
1999
"..." Reel 3 Director
1998
"..." Reel 2 Director
1998
"..." Reel 4 Director
1998
"..." Reel 1 Director
1998
"..." Reel 5 Director
1998
1997
Divertimento Director
1997
1996
Prelude 14 Director
1996
Prelude 13 Director
1996
Prelude 12 Director
1996
Prelude 11 Director
1996
Prelude 10 Director
1996
Prelude 9 Director
1996
Prelude 8 Director
1996
Prelude 7 Director
1996
Prelude 6 Director
1996
Prelude 5 Director
1996
Prelude 4 Director
1996
Prelude 3 Director
1996
Prelude 2 Director
1996
Prelude 1 Director
1996
1996
Concrescence Director
1996
The Fur of Home Director
1996
Polite Madness Director
1996
1996
Sexual Saga Director
1996
Blue Value Director
1996
Prelude 24 Director
1996
Prelude 23 Director
1996
Prelude 22 Director
1996
Prelude 21 Director
1996
Prelude 20 Director
1996
Prelude 19 Director
1996
Prelude 18 Director
1996
Prelude 17 Director
1996
Prelude 16 Director
1996
Prelude 15 Director
1996
Shockingly Hot Director
1996
We Hold These Director
1995
I... Director
1995
1995
Earthen Aerie Director
1995
The Lost Films Director
1995
1995
Spring Cycle Director
1995
The 'b' Series Director
1995
Black Ice Director
1994
Chartres Series Director
1994
Cannot Not Exist Director
1994
Cannot Exist Director
1994
1994
Naughts Director
1994
1994
Stellar Director
1993
Autumnal Director
1993
Three Homerics Director
1993
Tryst Haunt Director
1993
The Harrowing Director
1993
1993
1993
1992
1992
1992
1991
1991
1990
1990
1990
1990
1990
1990
City Streaming Director
1990
1989
Faust IV Director
1989
1989
I... Dreaming Director
1988
Matins Director
1988
Marilyn's Window Director
1988
Rage Net Director
1988
1988
1987
1987
Kindering Director
1987
The Loom Director
1986
The Aerodyne Director
1986
Fireloop Director
1986
Confession Director
1986
Night Music Director
1986
Jane Director of Photography
1985
Jane Editor
1985
Jane Director
1985
1984
1984
1984
1984
Tortured Dust Director
1984
Egyptian Series Director
1984
1983
Arabics Director
1982
1982
1982
1982
1982
1982
1982
1981
Nodes Director
1981
Made Manifest Director
1981
Aftermath Director
1981
Murder Psalm Director
1981
1981
1981
1981
1981
1981
1981
1981
1981
1981
1981
RR Director
1981
1981
4A Director
1980
Sincerity Director
1980
Salome Director
1980
Other Director
1980
1980
Sincerity V Director
1980
1980
1980
1980
1980
Roman Numeral: V Director
1980
1980
Duplicity III Director
1980
Roman Numeral: I Director
1979
1979
Sincerity IV Director
1979
Creation Director
1979
@ Director
1979
1979
Burial Path Director
1978
Thot-Fal'N Editor
1978
Thot-Fal'N Cinematography
1978
Thot-Fal'N Director
1978
Duplicity II Director
1978
Duplicity I Director
1978
1978
Sincerity III Director
1978
Sluice Director
1978
Nightmare Series Director
1978
Bird Director
1978
Centre Director
1978
The Governor Director
1977
Tragoedia Director
1977
1977
Airs Director
1976
Trio Director
1976
Highs Director
1976
Window Director
1976
Desert Director
1976
Gadflies Director
1976
Sketches Director
1976
Absence Director
1976
Short Films 1976 Director
1976
Sincerity II Director
1975
Short Films 1975 Director
1975
The Stars Are Beautiful Cinematography
1974
1974
The Text of Light Director of Photography
1974
1974
Hymn to Her Director
1974
Star Garden Director
1974
Dominion Director
1974
Sol Director
1974
Flight Director
1974
Clancy Director
1974
Aquarien Director
1974
Skein Director
1974
Gift Director
1973
Sincerity I Director
1973
The Women Director
1973
1972
The Process Director
1972
Wecht Director
1972
The Presence Director
1972
1972
1972
1972
The Wold Shadow Director
1972
Deus Ex Director
1971
The Trip to Door Director
1971
1971
The Act of Seeing with One's Own Eyes Director of Photography
1971
Angels' Director
1971
1971
Western History Director
1971
Door Director
1971
Eyes Director
1970
1970
1970
Nuptiae Director of Photography
1969
1969
1969
Song 29 Director
1969
Song 28 Director
1969
1968
Song 26 Director
1968
Lovemaking Director
1968
Eye Myth Director
1967
Song 25 Director
1967
Song 24 Director
1967
1967
Song 22 Director
1966
Song 21 Director
1966
Song 20 Director
1966
Song 19 Director
1966
Song 18 Director
1966
Song 17 Director
1966
Song 16 Director
1966
Pasht Director
1966
1965
Fire of Waters Director
1965
15 Song Traits Director
1965
Song 14 Director
1965
Song 13 Director
1965
Song 12 Director
1965
Song 11 Director
1965
Black Vision Director
1965
1965
The Art of Vision Cinematography
1965
1965
1965
Song 9 Director
1965
Song 10 Director
1965
Dog Star Man Director of Photography
1965
Dog Star Man Writer
1965
Dog Star Man Editor
1965
Dog Star Man Director
1965
1964
1964
Song 1 Editor
1964
Song 1 Cinematography
1964
Song 5 Editor
1964
Song 5 Cinematography
1964
Song 8 Director
1964
Song 7 Director
1964
Song 6 Director
1964
Song 5 Director
1964
Song 4 Director
1964
Song 3 Director
1964
Song 2 Director
1964
Song 1 Director
1964
Mothlight Director
1963
1963
1963
Blue Moses Writer
1962
Blue Moses Editor
1962
Blue Moses Cinematography
1962
Blue Moses Director
1962
1962
1961
1961
The Dead Director
1960
1960
Colorado Legend Director
1960
Colorado Legend Director of Photography
1960
Colorado Legend Cinematography
1960
1959
Window Water Baby Moving Director of Photography
1959
1959
Cat's Cradle Director
1959
1957
Loving Director
1957
Flesh of Morning Director
1956
Zone Moment Director
1956
Nightcats Director
1956
1955
The Wonder Ring Cinematography
1955
The Wonder Ring Director
1955
1955
1955
Reflections on Black Cinematography
1955
1955
In Between Writer
1955
In Between Editor
1955
In Between Cinematography
1955
In Between Director
1955
1955
The Extraordinary Child Cinematography
1954
1954
The Way to Shadow Garden Cinematography
1954
The Way to Shadow Garden Sound Designer
1954
1954
Desistfilm Writer
1954
Desistfilm Editor
1954
Desistfilm Cinematography
1954
Desistfilm Director
1954
1953
Interim Writer
1952
Interim Editor
1952
Interim Cinematography
1952
Interim Director
1952
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