The Grand Bizarre

The Grand Bizarre

Jodie Mack

US
2018
Experimental
60’
Focus

Textiles and the craft of weaving attracted renewed attention in the fields of art and philosophy a few years ago. The complex structure of woven yarn became the metaphor of a global, networked world – for what other reason should Spiderman regain popularity if not as a symbol of the world wide (spider) web? Often dismissed as a folkloric craft, textiles are intricately bound up with European politics: Were the weaver uprisings in Germany not the birth of that country’s labour movement, and the collapse of the building in Savar in 2013 the tragic consequence of irresponsible ›fast fashion‹ as a result of globalisation? Set to a soundtrack of pop, the fabrics in The Grand Bizarre develop a life of their own: they climb out of suitcases, crawl over luggage conveyors, travel by ship and otherwise generally enjoy spreading themselves out. Through their colours and patterns they convey local stories at breathtaking speed to the whole world. The film sees the cinema screen partly transformed into a huge tapestry, the artwork of which contains encoded global aesthetics. Looking at textiles provides a new visual experience, defined by art historian Alois Riegl as »haptic seeing« and which film scholar Laura U. Marks recently transferred to experimental film. The experience of Mack’s films, described as meditative and psychedelic, is an expression of precisely these new visual processes. (MZ)

Film Series New Archives

Director / Cinematography / Editing / Production

Jodie Mack

Jodie Mack

Jodie Mack creates experimental animated films. She received her master’s degree in Fine Arts in film, video and new media from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2007. Her work ranges from abstract animation and music documentaries to flicker films with stroboscopic effects. Mack’s 16 mm work has been shown internationally, including at Locarno Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival and New York Film Festival.


Films by Jodie Mack (Selection)
The Grand Bizarre 2018 | Razzle Dazzle 2014 | Dusty Stacks of Mom: the Poster Project 2013 | Glistening Thrills 2013 | Let Your Light Shine 2013 | Persian Pickles 2012