Based on our conversation on what can be considered art, I share with you all the film, Superstar: the Karen Carpenter Story (43 min), directed by Todd Haynes. This 1987 experimental, biographical film depicts the singer Karen Carpenter’s life, as she struggled with anorexia. Very avant-garde, this film uses Barbie dolls for the dramatization of events, as well as artistic footage.
This is a film I imagine providing an immersive experience in a Modern Art museum and more than a film, I would classify it as art. I think this film challenges these labels and encourages the viewer to accept the technical aspects with no question of what they’re watching.
What do you all think?
Fun Fact! This movie, at its release, was immediately banned, with three lawsuits deeming it illegal. Todd Haynes had not received the rights to use Karen Carpenter’s story (lawsuit from the Carpenter family), to use the Carpenter music (lawsuit from A&M Records), or Barbie dolls (lawsuit from Mattel Inc.) Therefore, much of the footage you find of this film (such as the youtube link above) are all bootlegs. The grainiess is accidental, since most versions you find of this movie are copies of copies of copies, etc.
