The Film Experiments
Session Title
Other Abstracts
Faculty Mentor
Mark Hamilton, B.F.A| Claudia O'Steen, M.F.A
College
College of Visual and Performing Arts
Department
Fine Arts
Abstract
The Film Experiments serves as a way for me to explore the ideas of beauty and experimentation. The work consists of eight images displayed within a giant mock film strip. Each image, originally taken on film, was altered in some way before being exposed. Most of them were altered in a way that one would assume would make the film unusable. The methods used for altering the film consist of physically destroying it through crumpling, folding, and scratching, and coating it with substances such as Lysol, Vaseline, and hand sanitizer. Other methods included placing tape directly on the film and placing a crumped color gel in the bellows of the view camera. The process of destroying the film allowed me to be more excited to develop the photos and also serves as a representation of my hatred of the process of film photography. The Film Experimentspiece contrasts this idea by representing the beauty and elegance I see in a film strip. The film the photos were taken on has been destroyed but the large film strip they are displayed on is fully intact and well taken care of. This film strip has been handled carefully and hung elegantly on a wall for all to see. Not only is there beauty within the piece as a whole but there is a rare beauty in the photos that could only be found by experimenting with, and “destroying” the film.
Course Assignment
ARTS 473 - Hamilton
Start Date
15-4-2023 12:00 PM
The Film Experiments
The Film Experiments serves as a way for me to explore the ideas of beauty and experimentation. The work consists of eight images displayed within a giant mock film strip. Each image, originally taken on film, was altered in some way before being exposed. Most of them were altered in a way that one would assume would make the film unusable. The methods used for altering the film consist of physically destroying it through crumpling, folding, and scratching, and coating it with substances such as Lysol, Vaseline, and hand sanitizer. Other methods included placing tape directly on the film and placing a crumped color gel in the bellows of the view camera. The process of destroying the film allowed me to be more excited to develop the photos and also serves as a representation of my hatred of the process of film photography. The Film Experimentspiece contrasts this idea by representing the beauty and elegance I see in a film strip. The film the photos were taken on has been destroyed but the large film strip they are displayed on is fully intact and well taken care of. This film strip has been handled carefully and hung elegantly on a wall for all to see. Not only is there beauty within the piece as a whole but there is a rare beauty in the photos that could only be found by experimenting with, and “destroying” the film.
