About Quote by Jonas Mekas
“In narrative cinema, a certain terminology has already been established: 'film noir,' 'Western,' even 'Spaghetti Western.' When we say 'film noir' we know what we are talking about. But in non-narrative cinema, we are a little bit lost. So sometimes, the only way to make us understand what we are talking about is to use the term 'avant-garde.'”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Film Theory, 1970s, publication unknown
The quote highlights the lack of established terminology for non‑narrative cinema, unlike genre‑specific terms for narrative films, prompting the use of “avant‑garde” as a catch‑all label.
In simple terms: Non‑narrative films lack clear genre names, so “avant‑garde” is used.
Key Takeaway
Adopt or create precise descriptors for experimental film.
Themes
film theory
genre classification
experimental cinema
Mood
analytical
reflective
Type
critical
theoretical
When to use this quote
- film festivals
- academic courses
- curatorial work
- production meetings
Key Concepts
terminology
categorization
genre theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we develop nuanced vocabularies for experimental film?
- What criteria should define sub‑genres?
A Different Perspective
The term “avant‑garde” can be too broad, obscuring distinct styles.
![“You could call it that [urban Western], I guess, you could certainly call it that. A lot of these types of films are, really, if you get down to the core most suspense thrillers in this genre, the Western is sort of the birth of it all.” quote by Antoine Fuqua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/784/antoine-fuqua-12353_birth_you-could-call-it-that-urban-western-i-g_1015897.jpg)
