Not a Tribute to Sergei (1992)
Exerpted “Not a Tribute To Sergei Monograph” Please see the link for 10 page PDF below.
Many people in the film community understand the irony contained in Not a Tribute to Sergei. Indeed, when it was exhibited at The 6th Tokyo International Video Festival in Tokyo in 1983 no explanation was given. No doubt, at least at some level, the work can be considered an inside joke to those that have studied the history of cinema.
From the outset, I intended to parody the Kuleshov Effect. It is important to note that the content and shot structure of my work Not a Tribute to Sergei, mimic Kuleshov’s most famous experiment rather than anything created by Sergi Eisenstein. For me, the Kuleshov Effect is single most important discovery in cinema. So, ultimately, this is not a tribute to Sergei Eisenstein but to Lev Kuleshov.
In the Kuleshov original, the man remains motionless and devoid of emotion. In Not a Tribute to Sergei, he throws down his spoon and moves away quickly. He goes out of focus simultaneously. He could be mad, angry or disgusted. It could be Eisenstein or Kuleshov reacting to what has evolved into ‘the vast wasteland’. Or maybe he is just disturbed that his soup is cold.
Most people are not familiar with words, “Kuleshov Effect” or montage, yet we are all manipulated by imagery. The new digital technologies have greatly expanded opportunities for communication but some of the fundamental principles outlined by Kuleshov and Sergei Eisenstien remain the same.