FINE ARTS DVD

DIANE ARBUS: MASTERS OF PHOTOGRAPHY

In 1967, when the Museum of Modern Art in New York City presented "New Documents", a major exhibition of the personal visions of several photographers, the surprise of the show was the work of Diane Arbus.

On her own, against the advice of many friends, she had pursued her documentation of people on the fringes of society, and the astonishing in the commonplace. Suddenly she was famous, with students and imitators. By 1972 her work was everywhere, and was featured at the Venice Biennial, where it became, as New York Times critic Hilton Kramer said, the overwhelming sensation of the American Pavilion. By then Diane Arbus was dead, by her own hand.

This revealing documentary explores her work and ideas, often in her own words as spoken by a close friend. It includes reflections by some of the people who knew her best: her daughter, Doon, teacher Lisette Model, colleague Marvin Israel, John Szarkowski former Director of Photography Museum of Modern Art.




ARTS AND MYTHS
A series by Ludovic Segarra

This series takes us to the heart of the "first arts" and introduces us to major artistic pieces from Africa, Oceania, South America, and Asia, exploring the myths behind each of these magnificent works of art. The films in this collection offer insight into the creation of the pieces, their uses, their history and their traditional and contemporary significance. In doing so, a clear vision of the beliefs, customs, and culture of the peoples behind the works emerges.

• White Kayapo Headdress (directed by Philippe Truffault)
• Mongolian Horse-head fiddle (directed by Philippe Truffault)
• Dogon Heddle Pulley (directed by Ludovic Segarra and Philippe Truffault)
• Maori Pendant (directed by Jean-Loic Portron)
• Fang Reliquary Head (directed by Philippe Truffault)
• Effigy from the Marquisas Islands ((directed by Jean-Loic Portron)

AVANT-GARDE 3: Experimental Cinema 1922-1954

From the little theaters of the 1920s to the ad hoc film societies of the '50s, avant-garde cinema knew no established form and held no predictable position. The boundaries of its history are still hotly debated, but its rough sensibilities informed and permeated the city symphonies of Alberto Cavalcanti, the visual music of Mary Ellen Bute and John Whitney, the classroom films of Sidney Peterson, the confessional film poems of Willard Maas and John E. Schmitz, the Lettrist cinema of Marc'O, and even marginal exploitation films and home movies. Drawn from the rich collections of Raymond Rohauer and the George Eastman House, Kino's third volume of experimental films continues to illuminate the degree to which cinema's evolution has been influenced by those filmmakers who occupy its periphery.

Films: Tomatos Another Day (outtakes) -- Episodes in the life of a gin bottle -- Schichlegruber doing the Lambeth Walk -- Dementia -- Falling pink -- Danse Macabre -- Rien Que Les Hueres (Nothing but time) -- The tell-tale heart -- Tarantella -- Tomatos Another Day -- The uncomfortable man -- The petrified dog -- The lead shoes -- Four in the afternoon -- Plague summer -- La Mort Du Cerf (The death of the stag) -- Image in the snow -- Celery stalks at midnight -- The voices -- Closed vision



EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY: explore the secrets behind some of the world's most famous paintings

With characteristic wit, art critic Waldemar Januszczak turns his educated eye to eight masterpieces of European painting, unraveling the secrets behind each. What did Gainsborough intend for the conspicuouus void in Mr and Mrs Andrews? Why did Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa capture the world's imagination? How did Manet shock French society with hi Le dejeuner sur l'herbe (Luncheon on the grass)? From New York City to Paris to Rome, Januszczak searches out the art experts, literary and artistic allusions, and historical records - not to mention juicy gossip - to expose long-held secrets within the gilded frames.

Works by Botticelli, Rembrandt, Giorgione, Caravaggio, and van Eyck also take on new and deeper meanings in this lively, engaging eight-part series.



MATTHEW BARNEY: NO RESTRAINT
A film by Alison Chernick

Follow the phenomenal journey of renowned artist Matthew Barney and his collaborator, singer-songwriter Bjork, as they embark on an unbelievable filmmaking journey in Japan. From artistic vision to manifestation, this compelling documentary reveals Barney's unique process in creating Drawing Restraint 9, a massive cinematic "piece" that combines a whaling vessel; 45,000 pounds of petroleum jelly; and traditional Japanese rituals in one fantastical love story. It's a rare look at a one-of-a-kind artist who has inspired audiences around the globe.




PULP FICTION ART: cheap thrills & painted nightmares

The artwork found on pulp fiction magazine covers has rankled American sensibilities since before our grandparents' time. Now for the first time on film, Pulp Fiction Art: cheap thrills & painted nightmares takes an in-depth look at these incredible yet misunderstood works of art; some of which, due to their controversial content, are rarely seen in public today. These sensational paintings shocked a depression-era public with their raw and graphic themes of mystery, horror and scantily-clad damsels in distress. Today, pulp fiction art's influence can be seen across the creative landscape in movies, advertising and even fashion.

Pulp fiction art is more than simply an American art form; it is a state of mind. Politically incorrect, shocking, offensive and deliciously fun, it is unforgettable. This DVD takes you behind the scenes of this forgotten art form with interviews of the artists who created these sinfully entertaining paintings and the collectors who have kept it alive.