"The Offenders: No Wave Cinema" response

What are some similarities and differences between the American avant-garde of the early 1970s and the Punk or No Wave filmmaking in the late 1970s? Address the following areas:

Aesthetic similarities and differences
Production-wise, the films of the No Wave were focused more on producing a finished film, and not reliant on production value, much like Warhol or Ono’s work. Since the filmmaking theory at the time was “fast, cheap, and easy to learn”, the Punk films were poorly shot and acted but easily produced. Much like Warhol who cast his own friends in films, the Punk filmmakers cast mainly musicians of the time since they had already built up a reputation within the community, Lydia Lunch being an example. Exhibition-wise, instead of art houses and galleries, the Punk/No Wave films were often exhibited in music clubs like CBGBs and often shown in between bands setting up. Exhibitions of these films often included an audience who were drinking, smoking, and yelling back at the screen, creating a totally different viewing experience than those of art houses.

Technological similarities and differences
During the 1970s, technology changed a bit, allowing for more people to become filmmakers. The main film stock had changed from 16mm to Super 8, which some felt was too low of quality to be projected onto a big screen. This did not stop the No Wave filmmakers as they seemed to like the unpolished feel that the films ended up having. Super 8 also allowed for image and sound to be recorded at once, allowing films to be made and shown more quickly. Also, since sound was now easier to produce, filmmakers like Vivienne Dick often just put the microphone anywhere, allowing for friendly audio mistakes to be added into the film.

Economic similarities and differences
The Punk/No Wave scene was in no way rich and instead relied on lesser technology readily available to any aspiring filmmaker. For this reason, Super 8 was the perfect medium for the Punks and they used it well. Also, since the filmmakers had little money, they couldn’t and didn’t rely on financial backers to produce their films, allowing for films to get started and completed worlds faster than higher budget films of the time.

Social similarities and differences
The No Wave era was a social reaction to the elitism of the structuralist filmmakers and also to response of the counter-culture against the mainstream beliefs/values. The films contained images and sounds that were directly reflective of the Punk culture and music of the period. Filmmakers like Dick and Kern tried to be as controversial and offensive just to spite the populist crowd. Much like the punk musicians of the time, filmmakers would pick up cameras and shoot gritty films that were in complete rejection of popular culture, but punks recognized the films to be similar to the music. In She Had Her Gun All Ready, the style and clothing of the Punk era is displayed with the main characters’ style.