Stan Brakhage
Stan Brakhage is one of the most influential filmmakers in American avant-garde cinema, noted for his unflinching social commentaries and technical innovations. Over his nearly 40-year career, he has made over 200 films of varying length. He made his first film, Interim (1952) at age 18 after dropping out of college. Brakhage films seek to change the way we see. They encourage viewers to eschew traditional narrative structure in favor of pure visual perception that is not reliant on naming what is seen; rather his goal is to create a more visceral visual experience, for he believes that a "stream-of visual-consciousness could be nothing less than the pathway of the soul." To this end, his films are shot in highly sensual colors and utilize minimal soundtracks. His work can be divided into distinct periods. His first short films explored the properties and possibilities of light. In many of his experimental ventures, Brakhage has forgone traditional cinematography in favor of working directly with the film stock itself. He has occasionally painted, inked, scratched and dyed images onto it; he has also tried pasting organic objects on the film. His most famous example is the 1963 short Mothlight in which he glued moth wings onto the stock. Some of his early films were based on his most intimate experiences that included making love to his new bride--depicted on negative film--in Wedlock House: An Intercourse (1959), and an attempt to bring his dead dog back to life with a camera in Sirius Remembered (1959). During the 1960s, Brakhage's iconoclastic views were celebrated for their poetry, but during the '70s, his focus changed to social issues and he alienated many supporters with such disturbing film series as the "Pittsburgh documents" in which he presented many gruesome views of inner city life with films such as Act of Seeing with One's Own Eyes (1971) which was shot in a morgue. He also continued with autobiographical material with the "Sincerity/Duplicity series. During the 1980s, Brakhage's focus again changed--this time he became intrigued with creating truly "abstract" films such as Arabics (1982) which consists of brilliant bursts of colored light which he claims, represent "envisioned music." In addition to filmmaking, Brakhage also wrote books about films and filmmaking and also served as a teacher.
383 directing credits · 66 acting credits
Directing · 383
Dog Star Man
1965
Mothlight
1963
The Earth Song of the Cricket
1999
20 Little Films
2012
The Act of Seeing with One's Own Eyes
1972
Eyes
1970
The Dead
1960
Window Water Baby Moving
1959
Song 1
1964
Cat's Cradle
1959
Tortured Dust Part 1
1984
The Governor
1977
By Brakhage: An Anthology, Volume One
2003
Dog Star Man: Part I
1963
Worm and Web Love
1999
Lovemaking
1968
Anticipation of the Night
1958
Kindering
1987
Sirius Remembered
1959
Loving
1957
Lovesong
2001
Faust's Other: An Idyll
1988
Prelude: Dog Star Man
1962
Short Films 1975
1975
The Loom
1986
Prelude 10
1996
Roman Numeral: V
1980
The Way to Shadow Garden
1954
For Life, Against the War
1967
Burial Path
1978
Visions in Meditation #3: Plato's Cave
1990
Night Music
1986
The Extraordinary Child
1954
The Machine of Eden
1970
Desert
1976
Murder Psalm
1980
“He was born, he suffered, he died.”
1974
Untitled (For Marilyn)
1992
Yggdrasill: Whose Roots Are Stars in the Human Mind
1997
Interim
1952
Tryst Haunt
1993
Resurrectus Est
2002
Garden Path
2001
Occam's Thread
2001
The Dante Quartet
1987
Duplicity I
1978
SB
2002
Mr. Tompkins Inside Himself
1962
Short Films 1976
1976
Thot-Fal'N
1978
Flesh of Morning
1956
The God of Day Had Gone Down Upon Him
2000
Prelude 18
1996
Blue Value
1996
Stellar
1993
The Shores of Phos: A Fable
1972
Hymn to Her
1974
The Garden of Earthly Delights
1981
Thigh Line Lyre Triangular
1961
Beautiful Funerals
1996
Persian Series #5
1999
Babylon Series #2
1990
Arabic Numeral Series 1
1981
Blossom-Gift/Favor
1993
Cricket Requiem
1999
"..." Reel 1
1998
Highs
1976
Seasons...
2002
Visions in Meditation #2: Mesa Verde
1989
Persian Series #17
2001
Alternating Currents
1994
The Dark Tower
1999
Persian Series #3
1999
Babylon Series #3
1990
Song 25
1967
23rd Psalm Branch: Part II
1967
The Mammals of Victoria
1994
Persian Series #6
2000
Star Garden
1974
I...
1995
Dance
2000
The Wold-Shadow
1972
Chinese Series
2003
Reflections on Black
1955
Scenes from Under Childhood
1970
The Stars Are Beautiful
1974
Prelude 22
1996
Roman Numeral: VI
1980
Dog Star Man: Part IV
1964
Faust IV
1989
Duplicity II
1978
Roman Numeral: I
1979
Duplicity III
1980
Soldiers and Other Cosmic Objects
1977
A Child’s Garden and the Serious Sea
1991
Persian Series #10
2000
Trio
1976
The "Lost" Films
1995
Tortured Dust Part 4
1984
Song 10
1965
Glaze of Cathexis
1990
The Wonder Ring
1955
Song 9
1965
Prelude 3
1995
Persian Series #1
1999
Song 5
1964
I Take These Truths
1995
I... Dreaming
1988
Shockingly Hot
1996
Prelude 13
1996
The Art of Vision
1965
The Birds Of Paradise
1999
The Cat of the Worm's Green Realm
1997
Blue Moses
1962
Prelude 7
1996
Prelude 6
1995
Scenes from Under Childhood, Section One
1968
Song 26
1968
Two: Creeley/McClure
1965
The Female Mystique and Spare Leaves (for Gordon)
1998
Lovesong 2
2001
Door
1971
Lovesong 3
2001
Roman Numeral: II
1979
Prelude 17
1996
Spring Cycle
1995
Wedlock House: An Intercourse
1959
Eye Myth
1967
Arabic Numeral Series 17
1982
By Brakhage: An Anthology, Volume Two
2010
Nightcats
1956
Elementary Phrases
1994
"..." Reel 3
1998
The Domain of the Moment
1977
Persian Series #4
1999
15 Song Traits
1965
Ephemeral Solidity
1993
Prelude 24
1996
Unglassed Windows Cast a Terrible Reflection
1953
The Text of Light
1974
Persian Series #11
2000
Persian Series #13
2001
Centuries of June
1955
Daybreak and Whiteye
1957
Panels for the Walls of Heaven
2002
Dog Star Man: Part II
1964
Paranoia Corridor
1995
Loud Visual Noises
1987
My Mountain: Song 27
1968
Persian Series #15
2001
Confession
1986
Silent Sound Sense Stars Subotnick and Sender
1962
Scenes from Under Childhood, Section Three
1969
Gift
1973
Self Song & Death Song
1997
In Consideration of Pompeii
1995
Purity and After
1978
Moilsome Toilsome
1999
Study in Color and Black and White
1993
Black Ice
1994
The 'b' Series
1995
Prelude 1
1995
Through Wounded Eyes
1996
Sexual Meditation: Hotel
1972
Marilyn's Window
1988
Jane
1985
"..." Reel 4
1998
Sincerity IV
1979
Prelude 8
1996
Sincerity I
1973
Cannot Not Exist
1994
Prelude 14
1996
The Thatch of Night
1990
Airs
1976
"..." Reel 5
1998
The Horseman, the Woman, and the Moth
1968
Short Films 1975: #4 (Lady in Glass)
1975
Arabic Numeral Series 12
1981
Babylon Series #1
1989
Made Manifest
1981
Unconscious London Strata
1981
Absence
1976
Arabic Numeral Series 11
1981
Divertimento
1997
Prelude 19
1996
Ascension
2002
Arabic Numeral Series 19
1982
Water for Maya
2000
The Presence
1972
Short Films 1975: #3 (Hollis Frampton)
1975
Desistfilm
1954
Rounds
2001
Song 13
1965
The Riddle of Lumen
1972
Bird
1978
City Streaming
1990
Interpolations 1-5
1992
Dance Shadows by Danelle Helander
1986
American 30s Song
1969
Sincerity V
1980
Persian Series #2
1999
Song 12
1965
Hell Spit Flexion
1983
Prelude 20
1996
Roman Numeral: VIII
1980
The Dream, N.Y.C., The Return, The Flower
1976
Wecht
1972
Prelude 23
1996
We Hold These
1995
Very
2001
Cloud Chamber
1999
Gadflies
1976
Night Mulch
2001
The Lion and the Zebra Make God's Raw Jewels
1999
Short Films 1975: #10 (Painted Lightning)
1975
Visions in Meditation #1
1989
Passage Through: A Ritual
1990
Clancy
1974
Fireloop
1986
Visions in Meditation #4: D.H. Lawrence
1990
Sexual Meditation: Office Suite
1972
Persian Series #8
2000
Prelude 5
1995
Black Vision
1965
Micro-Garden
2001
Coupling
1999
Song 8
1964
The Weir-Falcon Saga
1970
Persian Series #9
2000
Dog Star Man: Part III
1964
Sluice
1978
Scenes from Under Childhood, Section Two
1969
Song 7
1964
Song 19
1966
Tortured Dust Part 2
1984
Sexual Meditation: Faun's Room, Yale
1972
Cannot Exist
1994
Max
2002
Nightmare Series
1978
Stately Mansions Did Decree
1999
Sexual Meditation #1: Motel
1970
From: First Hymn to the Night – Novalis
1994
Colorado Legend
1960
Prelude 21
1996
23rd Psalm Branch
1967
Fox Fire Child Watch
1971
Rage Net
1988
Arabic Numeral Series 2
1981
Arabic Numeral Series 8
1981
Song 29
1969
Sartre's Nausea
1961
Prelude 4
1995
Arabic Numeral Series 16
1982
Other
1980
Eye Myth Educational
1972
Short Films 1975: #2 (Dante’s Styx)
1975
Lovesong 5 & 6
2001
Ballad of the Colorado Ute
1961
Arabic Numeral Series 18
1982
Arabic Numeral Series 14
1982
Fire of Waters
1965
Earthen Aerie
1995
Roman Numeral: VII
1980
Tortured Dust
1984
Tragoedia
1977
"..." Reel 2
1998
Prelude 2
1995
Song of the Mushroom
2002
Roman Numeral: IX
1980
Films by Stan Brakhage: An Avant-Garde Home Movie
1961
The Fur of Home
1996
Comingled Containers
1996
Sincerity II
1975
Song 6
1964
23rd Psalm Branch: Part I
1967
The Women
1973
Agnus Dei Kinder Synapse
1991
The Process
1972
Sexual Saga
1996
Roman Numeral: IV
1980
Song 11
1965
The Animals of Eden and After
1970
Persian Series #7
2000
Persian Series #12
2000
Arabic Numeral Series 6
1981
Sincerity III
1978
Prelude 16
1996
Zone Moment
1956
Song 16
1966
Chartres Series
1994
Short Films 1975: #5 (Niagara Falls)
1975
Faust 3: Candida Albacore
1988
Flight
1974
Tortured Dust Part 3
1984
Window Suite of Children's Songs
1969
Pasht
1966
The Aerodyne
1986
Untitled Film of Geoffrey Holder's Wedding
1955
Song 2
1964
Sexual Meditation: Open Field
1973
Christ Mass Sex Dance
1991
RR
1981
Matins
1988
Stan's Window & Work in Progress
2003
Song 18
1966
In Between
1955
Nodes
1981
Arabic Numeral Series 15
1982
Sexual Meditation: Room with View
1971
Autumnal
1993
Naughts
1994
Song 24
1967
My Mtn. Song 27 Part II: Rivers
1969
Oh Life - a Woe Story - the A Test News
1963
Persian Series #18
2001
Concrescence
1996
Skein
1974
Song 4
1964
Three Films: Blue White/Blood's Tone/Vein
1965
Prelude 9
1996
4A
1980
Delicacies of Molten Horror Synapse
1991
Dominion
1974
Persian Series #14
2001
The Boy and the Sea
1953
Boulder Blues and Pearls and...
1993
Short Films 1975: #6 (Stars, Chickens, Eyes, Candles)
1975
Song 14
1965
Creation
1979
Angels'
1971
Song 17
1966
Window
1976
Vision of the Fire Tree
1990
Sol
1974
Two Found Objects of Charles Boultenhouse
1996
Rembrandt, Etc., and Jane
1976
Song 28
1969
Dark Night of The Soul
2001
Prelude 11
1996
Arabic Numeral Series 5
1981
Arabic Numeral Series 9
1981
Arabic Numeral Series 13
1981
Song 3
1964
Western History
1971
Song 21
1966
Jesus Trilogy and Coda
2000
Arabic Numeral Series 7
1981
Arabic Numeral Series 0 + 10
1981
Faustfilm: An Opera
1987
Polite Madness
1996
Three Homerics
1993
Scenes from Under Childhood, Section Four
1970
Song 20
1966
The Harrowing
1993
Persian Series #16
2001
Sketches
1976
Arabic Numeral Series 4
1981
Roman Numeral: III
1979
Centre
1978
Salome
1980
Crack Glass Eulogy
1991
Short Films 1975: #1 (Jane’s Memory)
1975
Deus Ex
1971
The Peaceable Kingdom
1971
Aquarien
1974
Prelude 12
1996
Lovesong 4
2001
Arabic Numeral Series 3
1981
Prelude 15
1996
@
1979
Aftermath
1981
Short Films 1975: #7 (Turning the Raccoon Loose)
1975
Short Films 1975: #8 (Small Town Streets)
1975
Persian Series 1-5
—
Song 22
1966
The Trip to Door
1971
Egyptian Series
1984
Last Hymn to the Night - Novalis
1997
Short Films 1975: #9 (Forest Love Scene)
1975
Visions in Meditation
—
Arabic Numeral Series
—
Persian Series
—
Songs
—
Acting · 66
Screening Room
1972
As I Was Moving Ahead, Occasionally I Saw Brief Glimpses of Beauty
2000
Cannibal! The Musical
1996
Diaries, Notes, and Sketches
1968
Dog Star Man
1965
Jonas in the Desert
1994
Invocation: Maya Deren
1986
Birth of a Nation
1997
Free Radicals: A History of Experimental Film
2011
Window Water Baby Moving
1959
Song 1
1964
Cat's Cradle
1959
Dog Star Man: Part I
1963
In the Mirror of Maya Deren
2002
Abstract Cinema
1993
Faust's Other: An Idyll
1988
Prelude: Dog Star Man
1962
For Stan
2009
Reality's Invisible
1972
Sonic Youth: Koncertas Stan Brakhage Prisiminimui (April 12, 2003)
2003
Watunna
1989
As Is Was
1995
The Extraordinary Child
1954
Stan Brakhage on Gregory Markopoulos
1997
Garden Path
2001
Flesh of Morning
1956
Filmmakers
1969
A Visit to Stan Brakhage
2003
Please Leave a Message: Anthology Film Archives Voicemails Through the Ages
2022
Reflecting Thought: Stan Brakhage
1985
Keepers of the Frame
1999
The Stars Are Beautiful
1974
Vakvagany
2002
Dog Star Man: Part IV
1964
Encomium
2003
Life with Stan #4: Stan Painting
2002
A Visit to Stan Brakhage
2006
I... Dreaming
1988
The Art of Vision
1965
Cyclopean 3D: Life with a Beautiful Woman
2011
Wedlock House: An Intercourse
1959
Doodlin': Impressions Of Len Lye
1987
Legendary Epics Yarns and Fables Part 2: Stan Brakhage
1969
Dog Star Man: Part II
1964
Brakhage
1998
Joseph Cornell: Worlds in a Box
1991
Stan Brakhage on Jim Davis
1997
Dinner with Brakhage and Gamow
2008
Notes on Marie Menken
2006
Z (Zee Not Zed)
1993
BRAKHAGE ON BRAKHAGE
1996
Preserving Cultural Traditions in a Period of Instability
2004
Looking at Forest of Bliss
2000
Grand Opera: An Historical Romance
1979
Dog Star Man: Part III
1964
Keeping an Eye on Stan
2003
Tortured Dust
1984
Brakhage Crosses Central Park
2006
Notes on the Buffalo Conference: “Autobiography in American Independent Cinema”
1973
Stan Brakhage Exits the Cinema and Enters the Light of Day
2002
The One Romantic Venture of Edward
1956
Trumpit
1956
Stan & Jane Brakhage
1981
I Met Stan Brakhage (At Moma, N.Y.C)
1998
Songs
—
Brakhage by Mothlight
2016