Essentials: Pop presents iconic Pop films from the 1950s and 60s alongside work that preceded the Pop Art movement and work from its many legacies. Drawing on the proliferation of popular culture – music, advertisements, comic books, television and Hollywood films — these films offer radical new perspectives on mass production and popular culture. Each work in this collection is an inspired take on Pop by a pioneering artist.
Programme curated by Tanya Leighton.
Films
Broadway by Light
William Klein | France | 1957 | 13min
Photographer William Klein’s short is widely regarded as the first Pop Art film.
Film Montage I
Peter Roehr | Germany | 1965-68 | 10min
A pioneering found footage film, Roehr finds beauty in discarded advertising films.
When I Was Young
Peter Whitehead | UK | 1965 | 4min
A film from pop-promo pioneer for Eric Burden and the Animals.
--- ------- aka The Rock'n'Roll Film
Thom Andersen & Malcolm Brodwick | USA | 1966-67 | 11min
Described as ‘a documentary about rock’n’roll’ — ——— aka ‘The Rock’n’Roll Film’ is a dense montage of material from LA in the sixties.
Andy Warhol's Exploding Plastic Inevitable
Ronald Nameth | USA | 1967-2005 | 22min
A legendary record of Warhol happending with Velvet Underground.
Link
Derek Boshier | UK | 1970 | 14min
A classic British Pop art film that finds order and form in unusual places.
Marvo Movie
Jeff Keen | UK | 1967 | 5min
An anarchic trip with Brighton’s underground maverick Jeff Keen.
The Selling Of New York
Nam June Paik | USA | 1972 | 7min
Kitch Japanese advertisments are decontrusted by video art pioneer Nam June Paik.
I'm Not The Girl Who Misses Much
Pipilotti Rist | Switzerland | 1986 | 7min
A subverive reworking of The Beatles’ Happiness is a Warm Gun.