Anemic Cinema (1926)
Experimental Beginnings
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6m 25s
Spinning discs & suggestive puns challenge film & language in this Dada masterpiece. Anemic Cinema (1926) by Marcel Duchamp embodies the spirit of experimental film.
Instead of a narrative or actors, the film presents a playful sequence of spinning discs. These discs, called "Rotoreliefs" by Duchamp, blur the line between two-dimensional drawings and three-dimensional sculptures.
The words and phrases inscribed on the discs create a visual and verbal pun, adding another layer of experimentation to the film.
Through its focus on movement, abstraction, and wordplay, Anemic Cinema exemplifies the innovative and unconventional approach that defines experimental film.
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