Camp Collectivity and Underground Excess
Curated by researcher Jon Davies, the four programs in this series highlight a vibrant chapter of San Francisco’s history, at the crossroads of experimental cinema, the sexual revolution, and queer counterculture. Whether through avant-garde works, educational films, or independent pornography, sexuality emerged in this specific context as a fertile ground for exploration and openness — in life as in creation — breaking down norms and asserting a freedom that has influenced countless artists.
Presented by guest programmer Jon Davies
From friendly play to queer transgression, this program traces the communal spirit that began with James Broughton’s The Bed (see program Vibrations for a New People) and was fostered at the San Francisco Art Institute by teachers like Alice Anne Parker (Severson) and George Kuchar making films with their students. The camp underground exploits of the Cockettes (Tricia's Wedding) subverted American pop culture with “genderfuck” performance. Kenneth Anger, who was fascinated by San Francisco’s youth counterculture, channeled darker energies. Finally, a video by Azian Nurudin looks ahead to the Bay Area sex radicalism of the 1980s–90s, a hotbed of punk, lesbian, trans, and S&M expression. (Jon Davies)
Riverbody, Alice Anne Parker (Severson)
[É.-U., 1970, 7 min, num., SD]
Tricia’s Wedding, Milton Miron (Sebastian)
[É.-U., 1971, 33 min, num., VOA]
Club Vatican, George Kuchar
[É.-U., 1984, 17 min, 16 mm, VOA]
Invocation of My Demon Brother, Kenneth Anger
[É.-U., 1969, 11 min, 16 mm, SD]
Preserved in our collections
Nancy’s Nightmare, Azian Nurudin
[É.-U., 1988, 5 min, num., VOA]
