Abounaddara's Videos Echo Dziga Vertov's Kino-Eye Principles
The Syrian film collective Abounaddara has produced a series of short observational videos, including 'Just Do It' (2016), 'The Butcher of Aleppo' (2016), and 'And Yet It Moves' (2016), which align with the theoretical postulates of Soviet filmmaker Dziga Vertov, particularly his concepts of 'Kino-Eye' and 'Kino-Pravda'. These videos capture everyday situations and activities of citizens without visible filmmaker involvement, embodying Vertov's call for a 'factory of film footage' that leaves a precise and inimitable trace of life. Vertov advocated for abandoning scripts, costumes, and play-acting, instead catching life 'unawares' without pretense. The collective's approach treats cinema as a prosthesis of the human eye, observing chance occurrences. This analysis, published on Minus Plato, draws on Michelson's 1984 writings on Vertov, referencing specific pages for the quotes. The work of Abounaddara is situated within the context of contemporary art and documentary practices, highlighting the enduring influence of Vertov's ideas on modern visual storytelling.
Key facts
- Abounaddara is a Syrian film collective.
- Videos discussed include 'Just Do It' (2016), 'The Butcher of Aleppo' (2016), and 'And Yet It Moves' (2016).
- The videos are observational, capturing everyday life without filmmaker involvement.
- The analysis draws parallels to Dziga Vertov's concepts of 'Kino-Eye' and 'Kino-Pravda'.
- Vertov's ideas are sourced from Michelson's 1984 publication, pages 14-21, 41, and 45.
- Vertov advocated for abandoning scripts and costumes, catching life 'unawares'.
- Cinema is described as a 'prosthesis of the human eye'.
- The article is published on Minus Plato.
Entities
Artists
- Abounaddara
- Dziga Vertov
Institutions
- Minus Plato