The other day I was talking about how Austin was a hostile environment for experimental art, but tonight went to see one of the best-attended free-jazz concerts I’ve ever seen. Scandinavian trio The Thing had a show down at Ruby’s sponsored by Epistrophy Arts.
Dissonant music makes my brain feel good. (photo courtesy Chris Nakashima Brown)
And then I came home and saw Sweding of a different sort. You ever see that Gondry film Be Kind Rewind? It wasn’t that great, but it centered around a DIY filmmaking technique called Sweding.
Of course with the internet the way it is, you can type "sweded" into youtube and get thousands of Sweded versions of blockbuster films.
Personally I wouldn’t want to encourage people to make Sweded films. More and more I’m of the opinion that art should only be produced by talented professionals with substantial financial backing. I’m sick and tired of any old dope thinking they can throw something together and call it art.
But in case you do want to subject yourself to the cinematic stylings of dilettantes, the two best Sweded films are The Lord of the Rings and this Japanese production of Bladerunner. (Be sure to note that Gandalf has a Dr.Who scarf)
