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Maya Deren’s: “Meshes of the

Afternoon”

Carla R. Vargas Fuster

José Rodríguez Irizarry

Mariana Monclova

Born in 1917 in Ukraine

Trained in dancing and poetry

Studied literature in Columbia University

Significant figure in the development of the “underground film”

Maya Deren (1917-1961): “Mother of the Underground

film”

Privilege of dream over reality

Onirism

Elements of surprise, juxtapositions (Reality and Unconsciousness)

Influences on cinema: Luis Buñuel and Salvador Dalí (Un chien andalou, L’Aged’Or)

Surrealism: Influence on film

Dream vs Reality vs Dual Reality

Closeness of death

Intimacy

Repetiveness of everyday life

Deformation of reality

Repression of past personalities

Meshes Afternoon: Themes

Settings: Outdoors, on the house, the beach

Costume: Dark colors

Lighting: Mostly dark

Acting style: Dance influence; Facial expressions

Meshes of the Afternoon: Mise-en-scene

Props:

a. Mirror

b. Key

c. Knife

d. Telephone

e. Flower

Meshes of the Afternoon:Mise-en-scene

Symbolic title:

a. “Meshing” of personalities

b. Different levels of reality

c. Significance of death

Meshes of the Afternoon:Conclusion

How the deformation of reality is achieved?

What is your interpretation of the film, and which elements of mise-en-scene help support your interpretation?

Being there many possible realities, which one do you think prevails?

Meshes of the Afternoon:Questions and discussion

Mathews, Claude, Patricia Peel and James Whittle. Film Guide to Maya Deren’s and Alexander Hammid’s “Meshes of the Afternoon”. 1975.

Bibliography