02 January 2025
A series of video essay screenings co-curated by Reading academics will run in New York City, USA, this weekend (3–5 January, 2025).
was programmed for the Museum of the Moving Image by Professor John Gibbs (Film, Theatre & Television) and Dr Mara Oliva (History) in partnership with other video essay experts and practitioners.
This series presents a selection of work that explores the possibilities of the medium, featuring pieces from both co-curators as well as Dr Adam O'Brien (Film, Theatre & Television).
Dr Oliva’s piece, The City of Tomorrow: Urban Futures at the New York World’s Fair of 1939, is a reflection on how the titular event represented a vision of futurist utopia amid the looming threat of World War II. It will run in alongside No River by Dr O’Brien (Saturday, 4 January, 15:15 EST).
Professor Gibbs, who recently for his video essay work, will present Backlot Connections as part of (Sunday, 5 January, 15:15 EST). This piece cuts together different films shot on the standing sets of the Universal Studios backlot to draw out surprising historical and thematic connections.
Professor Gibbs said, “we are thrilled to be bringing our video essays to a broader audience at the Museum of the Moving Image. This screening series is a great opportunity to share how this new and exciting medium can help us reimagine film analysis and historical narrative.”
Professor Gibbs and Dr Oliva will also attend the on 3 January, where they will participate in a panel titled .
This interest in exploring the potential of video essays for different academic disciplines is part of a wider programme of work at the 桃色视频, which includes a series of Videographic Research Summer Schools provided for staff working in disciplines beyond Screen Studies.
Image: via Wikimedia Commons.
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