technoguy

Abstract film is a subgenre of experimental film. Its history often overlaps with the concerns and history of visual music. Some of the earliest abstract motion pictures known to survive are those produced by a group of German artists working in the early 1920s, a movement referred to as "Absolute" Film: Walter Ruttmann, Hans Richter (artist), Viking Eggeling and Oskar Fischinger. These artists present different approaches to abstraction-in-motion: as an analogue to music, or as the creation of an absolute language of form, a desire common to early abstract art. Ruttmann wrote of his film work as 'painting in time.'

Desiree

Unfortunately they usually do not leave a lasting impression on history, we just know it because it been around for a long time.

Trinity

I would have thought abstract film meant enchanced film----like a mess screen imbedded----oil----.

Desiree

I dont know I thought it was kind a eye inside the artist thoughts

Desiree

I mean I could be wrong but thats my understanding of it, is there anyone that can clarify it?

vipl

Abstract cinema is a specific branch of cinematography, a marginal and experimental art in relation to cinema art itself (which is figurative art in its basis). It is regarded as part of cinema art rather due to their common technical equipment than common art means, language and purposes. But abstract cinema uses this equipment (camera - film strip- projector - screen) in a specific way. Traditional cinematography is based on "reproduction" technology, when photographic images of real objects, recorded on the film, are then reproduced on a screen. On the other hand, in abstract cinema, the "productive" technology is used (the artist creates abstract images first in imagination, then transfers them to the film strip by means of animation and multiplication technique).