Zygosis

Synopsis

Traces the development of photomontage, based on the pioneering work of John Heartfield, the anti-Nazi German satirist, through to the contemporary use of these techniques in advertising and video. Born Helmut Herzfeld in Berlin in 1891, Heartfield anglicised his name as a protest against German xenophobia. This video offers a radical and humorous electronic homage to Heartfield’s methods, using animation of archival material, contemporary interviews and footage shot in Berlin during the opening of the Wall and the upheavals in East Germany. Uses modern video techniques such as scratch editing, chroma-key, paintbox and three-dimensional computer animation, all of which have replaced the scissors and glue which were Heartfield’s tools.

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Film; Film. 16mm. sd. col/b&w. 27 min.

Technical information

Black-and-white / Sound

Year of production

1990

Availability

Hire

Notes

Also available as part of the compliation film WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET.

Subjects

Media studies

Keywords

advertising; computer animation; experimental film & video; Heartfield, John; photomontage

Credits

Director

Gavin Hodge

Producer

Tim Morrison

Writer

Jon Dovey

Distribution Formats

Type

Film

Format

16mm

Production Company

Name

Gorilla Tapes

Sponsor

Name

BFI Production Board

Distributor

Name

BFI Film Bookings Unit

Email

bookings.films@bfi.org.uk

Web

http://www.bfi.org.uk/about-bfi/help-faq/film-bookings External site opens in new window

Phone

020 7957 8938 / 8935

Address

21 Stephen Street
London
W1T 1LN