Fassbinder Retrospective at Centre Pompidou: Art World Legitimizes Cinema
A full retrospective of Rainer Werner Fassbinder's films at the Centre Pompidou in Paris drew large crowds, contrasting with smaller screenings in the 5th arrondissement. The article argues that the museum context adds legitimacy, transforming cinema into an art event. The Centre Pompidou's recent programming (Brian De Palma, Minnelli) competes with the Cinémathèque, now a 'maison de l'image'. Fassbinder's work, rooted in 1970s political fervor, is presented as a model of engagement, but the article notes a disconnect between the original context and today's art world. Fassbinder is described as anti-network, a collective filmmaker whose radical energy challenges the contemporary art system. The retrospective ran at the Centre Pompidou in 2005.
Key facts
- Centre Pompidou held a full retrospective of Rainer Werner Fassbinder's films.
- The retrospective attracted large audiences, filling the venue.
- Smaller cinemas in the 5th arrondissement showed only digest versions of Fassbinder's most famous films.
- The Centre Pompidou's programming competes with the Cinémathèque, now a 'maison de l'image'.
- The museum context legitimizes cinema as art, adding value to cinephilic appreciation.
- Fassbinder's work is seen as a model of political engagement, reflecting 1970s activism.
- The article contrasts Fassbinder's collective, anti-network approach with the contemporary art world's network logic.
- Fassbinder died at age 37, having made 44 films.
Entities
Artists
- Rainer Werner Fassbinder
- Brian De Palma
- Vincente Minnelli
- Brice Dellsperger
- Pier Paolo Pasolini
- François Ozon
Institutions
- Centre Pompidou
- Cinémathèque Française
- artpress
Locations
- Paris
- France
Sources
- artpress —