Fans of avant-garde art, take note. UbuWeb hosts a vast archive of online avant-garde media, and they’ve been doing it since 1996. The site feaÂtures a large mp3 sound archive, alongÂside an extenÂsive film/video colÂlecÂtion where you’ll find some vinÂtage clips. Take these items for examÂple:
- Four AmerÂiÂcan ComÂposers: Philip Glass — Peter GreenÂaway’s docÂuÂmenÂtary from 1983 takes you inside the work of John Cage, Philip Glass, MeredÂith Monk, & Robert AshÂley. The clip here feaÂtures the Glass segÂment.
- Jorge Luis Borges: The MirÂror Man — This 47 minute docÂuÂmenÂtary focusÂes on ArgentiÂna’s beloved author. As UBU writes, the docÂuÂmenÂtary is a bit of everyÂthing — “part biogÂraÂphy, part litÂerÂary critÂiÂcism, part hero-worÂship, part book readÂing, and part psyÂcholÂoÂgy.”
- La vilÂla SanÂto Sospir — Jean Cocteau, the French poet, novÂelÂist and dramaÂtist, also shot a movie or two. Here’s his 35-minute colÂor film from 1952…
- Scenes from Allen’s Last Three Days on Earth as a SpirÂit — A video diary of beat writer Allen GinsÂberg’s final days before death, and the days folÂlowÂing.
- The VioÂlence of the Image — Jean BauÂdrillard lecÂtures at the EuroÂpean GradÂuÂate School.
- Un Chant d’Amour — French writer Jean Genet’s only film from 1950. Because of its explicÂit (though artisÂtiÂcalÂly preÂsentÂed) homoÂsexÂuÂal conÂtent, the 26-minute movie was banned and disÂowned by Genet latÂer in his life, says UBU.
- Warhol’s CinÂeÂma — A MirÂror for the SixÂties — A 64-minute docÂuÂmenÂtary on Andy Warhol’s cinÂeÂma of the sixÂties, made in assoÂciÂaÂtion with The FacÂtoÂry, MOMA and the WhitÂney MuseÂum of Art.
This is just a quick samÂple of what UBU has to offer. You can dig deepÂer into their avant-garde media colÂlecÂtion here. As you’ll see, the video qualÂiÂty can be a litÂtle uneven. But if you can’t get to a real arts cinÂeÂma, then this is not a bad fallÂback resource.
