User:Notes on "Fandom of Labor"/Notes on Youtube Pelle Snickars

Youtube Pelle Snickars: 13-11-19

Digital attractions: reloading early cinema in online video collections

“the cinema of attractions reloaded”

Attractional disposotif. In definig early cinema as atrractions there are 3 problems: The first (the main problem) re-examination of the relation between early cinema and contemporary avant-garde cinema. (2 secondary): - strangely heterogenous relation between film before and after 1906 hegemony of narrative film. Early cinema:

The attraction is cinema that shows rather than tells. It is less a way of telling a story more a way of showing a series of views to an audience. “showing” is central in early cinema, in narrative/documentary/fiction film. The applicability of fiction and documentary terms are questionable because documentary film was a way of showing what could not be shown in fiction. In the 1890's “post production” was completely in the hands of exhibitors (they would edit and introduce the film). A change in form happened around 1904 (allthough opinions on the exact time of the change vary). First there was an era of attractions second there was a period in which a transition was shown from attraction to classical Hollywood system (so from attractional short to narrative long film).

Kessler: Attractions are defined by the way it enters into relationship with it's audience. New attractional modes of display has a consequence for both context as content. In which they are represented in the way they addres the audience.

Online video: attractional mode of address Online videos have charactaritics which appear to be directly linked to attraction general orientation towards the spectator (gestures and gazes towards spectator). Film length most films are shorter than 10 min The length is partially regulated by technological specifications. But not only by technological specifications also by choice of creator (in tradition of music video, trailer etc.).

Connection to Vaudeville background of early cinema. musical display: people record themselves in groups or different settings in early cinema this used to be from theater nowadays from own home. Physical display: Display of physicality (stunts magic tricks etc.) with a kind of soundtrack underneath which does not necessarily interact with film. The non – auralness links it more to silent cinema. Natural physicality: Display of natural power > documentary. This links back to the taboo in narrative film on the displaying of homes so they would make documentary films instead.

Online video resurfacing early cinema: Early cinema is in the public domain and can therefore be uploaded to various collections without problems. Because of the form the film seems to belong in the system. The system establishes a sort of narrative dialogue between early and modernday cinema via linking it to other films on the basis of videotitles. The links keep the user attracted. Hence we can see these video journeys as an echo of the attractional film.