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City symphony

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A Bronx Morning by Jay Leyda, a 1931 short film documenting the Bronx

City symphony is a film genre encompassing documentary, experimental, and the avant-garde that emerged in the 1920s.[1] Coming to prominence alongside modernist art movements such as futurism, constructivism, and radicalism, city symphonies reflect the historical development of city centers and technological hubs of advancement.[2] As the art of cinema became more respected, filmmakers such as Walter Ruttman and Dziga Vertov gravitated towards works highlighting the beauty of cities, aiming to capture scenes of modern life from their narrative points of views.[1]

Emergence

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The term city "symphony" suggests a musically inclined editing pace and harmonious imagery to support the visual images. Many city symphony filmmakers shot their films with an artistically inclined eye, aiming to show urban hubs with aestheticism and beauty rather than as a travel log.[3] Cities across the world such as Manhattan, Berlin, and Milan were filmed in admiration with positive images of their hardworking people and impressive industrial feats. Rather than have characters, dialogue, or narrative, the city itself was the star of these films.[3]

City symphony films made during the 1920s-1930s were before the era of sound cinema, however images were also supported by orchestral accompaniments.

City symphonies, which continued well into the post-WWII era,[4][5] are usually associated with the rise in art film as well as contemporaneous trends in art and photography movements like modernism.[1]

Notable works

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Below are some popular city symphony works, not all-encompassing.

References

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  1. ^ a b c Weinberg, Herman (2018-07-20). The City Symphony Phenomenon. Routledge. p. 271. doi:10.4324/9781315619989-62.
  2. ^ MUBI Collection: CITY SYMPHONIES|MUBI
  3. ^ a b Hutchinson, Pamela (2017). "Where to begin with city symphonies". BFI. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
  4. ^ a b c d CITY SYMPHONIES - Gartenberg Media Enterprises
  5. ^ Program 3: The Postwar City Symphony, Part 2 - Film at Lincoln Center
  6. ^ a b c d Where to begin with city symphonies|BFI
  7. ^ The sound of silents: is it time to revive the 'city symphony' film genre?|Cities|The Guardian
  8. ^ "Cinematic Classics, Legendary Stars, Comedic Legends and Novice Filmmakers Showcase the 2008 Film Registry" News from the Library of Congress (30 December 2008)
  9. ^ a b The City Symphony - The Urban Landscape - Screening Series by Topiary Landberg
  10. ^ Stations of the Elevated|Night Flight Plus
  11. ^ Dennis Lim's Top 10|Current|The Criterion Collection
  12. ^ a b Program 2: The Postwar City Symphony, Part 1 - film at Lincoln Center
  13. ^ Shirley Clarke's once-banned independent film The Connection remains hard stuff - nashvillescene.com
  14. ^ City Symphonies, Anthology Film Archives, January 2019 - an endless banquet
  15. ^ Abstract in Concrete (1952), The Making Of - Greg.org
  16. ^ a b c d The City Symphony Phenomenon: Cinema, Art, and Urban Modernity Between the Wars - Routledge
  17. ^ A Century of City Symphonies - POV Magazine
  18. ^ Rain: A Phenomenal Catalogue|(in)Transition
  19. ^ The sound of silents: is it time to revive the 'city symphony' film genre?|Cities|The Guardian

See also

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Bibliography

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