Politics as Form in Lars von Trier: A Post-Brechtian Reading

Description

This is the first study that employs a materialist framework to discuss the political implications of form in the films of Lars von Trier. Focusing mainly on early films, Politics as Form in Lars von Trier identifies recurring formal elements in von Trier’s oeuvre and discusses the formal complexity of his films under the rubric of the post-Brechtian. Through an in depth formal analysis, the book shows that Brecht is more important to von Trier’s work than what most critics seem to acknowledge and deems von Trier as a dialectical filmmaker. This study draws on many untranslated resources and features an interview with Lars von Trier, and another one with his mentor – the great Danish director Jørgen Leth. Cover Contents Preface and acknowledgments Notes to the text Introduction: Looking back 1 From Brechtian to Post-Brechtian Cinema: Lars von Trier and the Post-Brechtian Brecht on the film medium Brecht’s critique of the institution of cinema What is post-Brechtian cinema? Locating von Trier in the post-Brechtian Challenging the cinematic institution Artaudian cruelty as Verfremdungseffekt 2 Historical Fragments in the Europa Trilogy Europe is painful Beyond the Fabel Audiovisual plenitude: The individual in crisis Dialectical images Literalization of the medium: The essay as film form History as transition On film voyeurism 3 The Primacy of the Apparatus Back to the 1970s? Dogme 95: Realism and anti-illusionism Technology and productivity The Idiots—“Performant” function and performative camera Interrupting the narrative Performance as form Performing out of character Reflections on the primacy of the apparatus: Post-Dogme developments, rules, and Automavision 4 Dogville and Manderlay: Experimentation and Dialectical Negations Representation as an experiment Experimentation as pedagogy Theatricality: Attitudes in space Performative contradictions Narrative openness as negative dialectics Epilogue: Dialogue with the “Dissensual” Past Appendix Interview with Lars von Trier Interview with Jørgen Leth Manifestoes Manifesto 1 Manifesto 2 Manifesto 3—I Confess! The dimension manifesto The Dogme 95 manifesto and the vow of chastity Selma’s manifesto The Dogumentary manifesto Bibliography Index