The Machinist's Lament (2014)
The Machinist's Lament (2014)
In factories, everyone has their place.
"In factories, everyone has their place. Western industrial production is a site of magical thinking: an old history that will never return, an idealized construction that never really was. It's impossible to know what the true costs would be if it were to return - societal, environmental, and psychological – and yet, entire political campaigns are built around this. This piece speculates on re-industrialization, and is a sequel to my 2013 video, Safety First (Bad, Don’t Touch, Mercy!). Like its prequel, it posits a non-specific future populated by female factory workers. The geometric aesthetics of power and the romance of industrial-era alienation, are paired with theoretical and fictional texts about alternate social economies. Video footage was shot in Ohio, animation and soundtrack by the artist. Voiceover text sources include Industrial supply catalogs, OSHA safety manuals, Monique Wittig’s Les Guerilleres, and Adorno’s Minima Moralia." -Taken from Jen Liu's Vimeo page.

User rating:


Cast

Wang Si Wang Si As: CHOREOGRAPHER / MASK DANCER / TEST SUBJECT
Xu Mengchen Xu Mengchen As: Test Scientist
Joelle Lingat Joelle Lingat As: Test Chorus
Katherine Hamilton Katherine Hamilton As: Test Chorus
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Storyline

"In factories, everyone has their place. Western industrial production is a site of magical thinking: an old history that will never return, an idealized construction that never really was. It's impossible to know what the true costs would be if it were to return - societal, environmental, and psychological – and yet, entire political campaigns are built around this. This piece speculates on re-industrialization, and is a sequel to my 2013 video, Safety First (Bad, Don’t Touch, Mercy!). Like its prequel, it posits a non-specific future populated by female factory workers. The geometric aesthetics of power and the romance of industrial-era alienation, are paired with theoretical and fictional texts about alternate social economies. Video footage was shot in Ohio, animation and soundtrack by the artist. Voiceover text sources include Industrial supply catalogs, OSHA safety manuals, Monique Wittig’s Les Guerilleres, and Adorno’s Minima Moralia." -Taken from Jen Liu's Vimeo page.


Tagline: In factories, everyone has their place.
Certification: Unknown

Details

Genres:

Language: English

Release Date: 31 December 2014

Country: US

Runtime: 18m

Company Credits

Company:

External Links

Cast

Wang Si

Wang Si

CHOREOGRAPHER / MASK DANCER / TEST SUBJECT

Xu Mengchen

Xu Mengchen

Test Scientist

Joelle Lingat

Joelle Lingat

Test Chorus

Katherine Hamilton

Katherine Hamilton

Test Chorus

Directed By

Jen Liu

Jen Liu

Director

Writing Credits

Not currently known.

Production Crew

Not currently known.

Edited By

Not currently known.

Costume and Makeup

Not currently known.

Sound

Not currently known.

Visual Effects

Nadia Stevens

Nadia Stevens

Animation

Ali Post

Ali Post

Animation

Camera

Jake Hochendoner

Jake Hochendoner

Director of Photography

Ilse Miller

Ilse Miller

Grip

Lighting

Not currently known.

Art Department

Not currently known.

Other Crew

Not currently known.

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