Editing is one of my favorite things to do in the realm of film-making because, once you get past the technical elements of the editing process, it’s all about rhythm, instinct, and storytelling. At its best, editing is a visceral, organic experience, and it's also where the actual film gets made.
The Reading
For this module, read pgs. 155 - 186 in Chapter 6 – Editing of The Art of Watching Films
The Watching
Everything you’ve ever watched on any screen of any kind was edited in some way, so you really could watch anything and analyze it’s editing. However, for this module, I want you to step outside your comfort zone and pay special attention to the story-through-editing of the film you will be watching for this module: the surreal Meshes of the Afternoon (1943) by modern dancer and film-maker Maya Deren.
Meshes of the Afternoon (1943) by Maya Deren and Alexander Hammid
This film is difficult to describe, but luckily Deren described it herself in interview. According to her, Meshes of the Afternoon "...is concerned with the interior experiences of an individual. It does not record an event that could be witnessed by other persons. Rather, it reproduces the way in which the subconscious of an individual will develop, interpret, and elaborate an apparently simple and casual incident into a critical emotional experience.”
Note: as always, the media for this can be found in the LEH 353 - Visual Storytelling library on Plex.