Experimental Film

'Experimental Film requires a different kind of spectatorship.' Has this been your experience? [35]

Experimental films are full of strange mixtures of images, situations, words and expressions that may not tell a cohesive story but, in the end, don't have to in order to achieve an emotional goal. This type of film therefore requires the spectator to shift their conventional cinematic expectations to accommodate more radical narrative techniques, themes and meaning construction. 

Un Chien Andalou, the infamous 1929 surrealist short film from Luis Bunuel and Salvador Dali, attests to this. 

The first time I viewed this experimental film I enjoyed it, however I wasn't fully aware of the deeper meaning within. I felt that the absence of dialogue and a linear narrative made me more on edge. It is so often the case with mainstream films that they become predictable through the narrative and dialogue. Because of the absence of these in this film, it meant for a more enjoyable viewing experience as I was unaware of where or what I was being led to. The main purpose of this film is to shock you, which is reinforced through the use of surrealism. The way in which the images are put together hold no obvious meaning which forced me to question and think about possible meanings or messages. For instance in the opening of the film it shows a close up of a women's eye being sliced open with a cut-throat razor blade. The following long shot shows a man dressed in women's clothing riding a bicycle down the road. This coupling of shots are designed to baffle and confuse you as they have no logical relation between them. The cutting of a woman's eye, I found shocking but found it enjoyable as it a break from the norm of mainstream film. I do believe that experimental films such as Un Chien Andalou require a different of spectatorship and at first was a challenge. Despite enjoying this challenging spectatorship, viewing other experimental films after experiencing this one, things began to fall into place and I began to not only understand the concept of experimental film but enjoy them as each individual one is completely different and has its own personal factors that make you confused and think differently.


Chris Marker became known internationally for the short film La Jetée (1962). It tells of a post-nuclear war experiment in time travel by using a series of filmed photographs developed as a photomontage of varying pace, with limited narration and sound effects. Now add your personal response and discussion of spectatorship issues

Maya Deren’s Meshes of the Afternoon (1943) is a work that maintains all of the mystery, tranquility, unpredictability, and personal attachment that is ever present within the world of dreams. Now add your personal response and discussion of spectatorship issues