Deren and Camper Reading

Having read Maya Deren's Amateur v. Experimental for the second time now, I find continual appreciation for her as an artist. Her insights in the freedom of amateur art versus commercial art, and sentiments on celebrating one's own artistic proclivities have allowed me a newfound appreciation for her work. Especially in retrospect to her select films, of which I had a confused understanding of (at best) upon initial viewing. After reading her short essay I can see her surreal, cinematic tendencies relaying a poetic quality that is much easier to digest and even revere.

As for Camper, I also appreciate how he sheds light on the facets that make experimental film distinct from conventional, cinematic ventures. And while his criteria for experimental film does seem at first to be somewhat contradictory, his closing paragraph explicates how these facets of what make experimental films avant-garde, should be seen more as suggestions when considering this style of work, versus a set of hard-lined rules.