4. Conclusion

Project Team:
Claudia Walkensteiner-Preschl (project leader)
Kerstin Parth, Ilona Toller, Alexander Mahler
Film Academy Vienna, mdw – University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna)

Project Phase:
2014-2016 

The adoption of a cross-disciplinary method for the work done within the framework of the research project, a method at the intersection of theory and practice, made it possible to delve into the topic of intimacy from a theoretical, reflective perspective and from an artistic perspective as well. The great openness that the project strived to achieve left the students free to find their own approaches to the concept of intimacy. It was desired that they should experiment freely: with their own notions of intimacy, with cinematic forms and means of story-telling. This “thinking movement” is particularly well summarized in the words of participant Achmed Abdel-Salam:

 

The Film Lab has encouraged [me] to dare to experiment in the future as well. Perhaps to make a greater effort to put aside the fear of failure. And it has opened my eyes to the fact that something exciting can emerge when we come together to set our energies free, when we keep an open attitude and go about our research with sincere curiosity. Also, when we embark on a path without knowing exactly where it will lead.

References:

 

  • Walter Benjamin, 'Die Aufgabe des Übersetzers', in Gesammelte Schriften. Bd. IV 1, ed. by Rolf Tiedemann and Hermann Schweppenhäuser (Frankfurt a.M.: Suhrkamp, 1991), pp. 9-21.

  • Lauren Berlant, Intimacy (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000).

  • Kunst des Forschens. Praxis eines ästhetischen Denkens, ed. by Bippus, Elke (Zürich, Berlin: Diaphanes, 2009).

  • Lynn Jamieson, Intimacy. Personal relationships in modern societies (Cambridge: Polity Press, 1998).

  • François Jullien, Vom Intimen. Fern der lärmenden Liebe (Wien: Turia & Kant, 2014).

  • Dziga Vertov, 'Über die Organisation eines schöpferischen Laboratoriums', in Schriften zum Film (München: Hanser, 1973), pp. 58-63.