Directing · b. 1933 · Kansas City, Missouri, USA

Stan Brakhage

Biography

Stan Brakhage is one of the most influential filmmakers in American avant-garde cinema, noted for his unflinching social commentaries and technical innovations. Over his nearly 40-year career, he has made over 200 films of varying length. He made his first film, Interim (1952) at age 18 after dropping out of college. Brakhage films seek to change the way we see. They encourage viewers to eschew traditional narrative structure in favor of pure visual perception that is not reliant on naming what is seen; rather his goal is to create a more visceral visual experience, for he believes that a "str...

Directed
20 Little Films 2012 By Brakhage: An Anthology, Volume Two 2010 Chinese Series 2003 By Brakhage: An Anthology, Volume One 2003 Stan's Window & Work in Progress 2003 Song of the Mushroom 2002 Seasons... 2002 Ascension 2002 Panels for the Walls of Heaven 2002 Resurrectus Est 2002 SB 2002 Max 2002 Lovesong 2001 Rounds 2001 Garden Path 2001 Persian Series #17 2001 Persian Series #13 2001 Persian Series #14 2001 Persian Series #15 2001 Persian Series #18 2001 Persian Series #16 2001 Dark Night of The Soul 2001 Lovesong 4 2001 Lovesong 5 & 6 2001 Lovesong 3 2001 Occam's Thread 2001 Micro Garden 2001 Very 2001 Night Mulch 2001 Lovesong 2 2001 The God of Day Had Gone Down Upon Him 2000 Water for Maya 2000 Persian Series #11 2000 Persian Series #7 2000 Persian Series #6 2000 Persian Series #12 2000 Persian Series #8 2000 Persian Series #10 2000 Persian Series #9 2000 Jesus Trilogy and Coda 2000 Dance 2000 The Dark Tower 1999 The Birds Of Paradise 1999 Stately Mansions Did Decree 1999 Coupling 1999 Persian Series #2 1999 Persian Series #3 1999 Persian Series #1 1999 Persian Series #4 1999 Persian Series #5 1999 The Lion and the Zebra Make God's Raw Jewels 1999 Cloud Chamber 1999 Worm and Web Love 1999 Moilsome Toilsome 1999 Cricket Requiem 1999 The Earthsong of the Cricket 1999 "..." Reel 5 1998 "..." Reel 3 1998 The Female Mystique and Spare Leaves (for Gordon) 1998 "..." Reel 4 1998 "..." Reel 1 1998 "..." Reel 2 1998 Yggdrasill: Whose Roots Are Stars in the Human Mind 1997 The Cat of the Worm's Green Realm 1997 Self Song & Death Song 1997 Last Hymn to the Night - Novalis 1997 Divertimento 1997 Comingled Containers 1996 Shockingly Hot 1996 Prelude 9 1996 Prelude 11 1996 Prelude 7 1996 Prelude 12 1996 Prelude 8 1996 Prelude 13 1996 Prelude 10 1996 Prelude 14 1996 Prelude 15 1996 Prelude 16 1996 Prelude 21 1996 Prelude 22 1996 Prelude 24 1996 Prelude 17 1996 Prelude 19 1996 Prelude 20 1996 Prelude 23 1996 Prelude 18 1996 Blue Value 1996 Sexual Saga 1996 The Fur of Home 1996 Beautiful Funerals 1996 Polite Madness 1996 Through Wounded Eyes 1996 Concrescence 1996 Two Found Objects of Charles Boultenhouse 1996 I Take These Truths 1995 The 'b' Series 1995 Prelude 3 1995 Prelude 4 1995 Prelude 1 1995 Prelude 2 1995 Prelude 5 1995 Prelude 6 1995 I... 1995 In Consideration of Pompeii 1995 We Hold These 1995 The "Lost" Films 1995 Spring Cycle 1995 Paranoia Corridor 1995 Earthen Aerie 1995 Black Ice 1994 From: First Hymn to the Night – Novalis 1994 The Mammals of Victoria 1994 Elementary Phrases 1994 Naughts 1994 Chartres Series 1994 Cannot Exist 1994 Cannot Not Exist 1994 Alternating Currents 1994 Study in Color and Black and White 1993 Stellar 1993 Autumnal 1993 Boulder Blues and Pearls and... 1993 Ephemeral Solidity 1993 Three Homerics 1993 The Harrowing 1993 Tryst Haunt 1993 Blossom-Gift/Favor 1993 Untitled (For Marilyn) 1992 Interpolations 1-5 1992 Delicacies of Molten Horror Synapse 1991 Crack Glass Eulogy 1991 A Child’s Garden and the Serious Sea 1991 Christ Mass Sex Dance 1991 Agnus Dei Kinder Synapse 1991 Glaze of Cathexis 1990 Visions in Meditation #3: Plato's Cave 1990 Visions in Meditation #4: D.H. Lawrence 1990 Passage Through: A Ritual 1990 City Streaming 1990 Babylon Series #2 1990 Babylon Series #3 1990 Vision of the Fire Tree 1990 The Thatch of Night 1990 Visions in Meditation #1 1989 Visions in Meditation #2: Mesa Verde 1989 Babylon Series #1 1989 Faust IV 1989 Faust's Other: An Idyll 1988 Rage Net 1988 I... Dreaming 1988 Marilyn's Window 1988 Faust 3: Candida Albacore 1988 Matins 1988 Kindering 1987 The Dante Quartet 1987 Loud Visual Noises 1987 Faustfilm: An Opera 1987 Night Music 1986 The Loom 1986 Confession 1986 Fireloop 1986 Dance Shadows by Danelle Helander 1986 The Aerodyne 1986 Jane 1985 Egyptian Series 1984 Tortured Dust 1984 Tortured Dust Part 3 1984 Tortured Dust Part 2 1984 Tortured Dust Part 1 1984 Tortured Dust Part 4 1984 Hell Spit Flexion 1983 Arabic Numeral Series 15 1982 Arabic Numeral Series 19 1982 Arabic Numeral Series 16 1982 Arabic Numeral Series 18 1982 Arabic Numeral Series 14 1982 Arabic Numeral Series 17 1982 The Garden of Earthly Delights 1981 Arabic Numeral Series 12 1981 Unconscious London Strata 1981 Arabic Numeral Series 3 1981 Arabic Numeral Series 6 1981 Arabic Numeral Series 1 1981 Arabic Numeral Series 2 1981 Arabic Numeral Series 4 1981 Arabic Numeral Series 5 1981 Arabic Numeral Series 11 1981 Arabic Numeral Series 0 + 10 1981 Arabic Numeral Series 13 1981 Arabic Numeral Series 9 1981 Arabic Numeral Series 7 1981 Arabic Numeral Series 8 1981 Made Manifest 1981 RR 1981 Nodes 1981 Aftermath 1981 Murder Psalm 1980 Duplicity III 1980 Roman Numeral: VII 1980 Roman Numeral: IV 1980 Roman Numeral: VIII 1980 Roman Numeral: IX 1980 Roman Numeral: VI 1980 Roman Numeral: V 1980 4A 1980 Sincerity V 1980 Other 1980 Salome 1980 Creation 1979 Roman Numeral: II 1979 Roman Numeral: I 1979 Roman Numeral: III 1979 Sincerity IV 1979 @ 1979 Burial Path 1978 Thot-Fal'N 1978 Bird 1978 Centre 1978 Nightmare Series 1978 Sluice 1978 Purity and After 1978 Duplicity II 1978 Sincerity III 1978 Duplicity I 1978 The Domain of the Moment 1977 The Governor 1977 Soldiers and Other Cosmic Objects 1977 Tragoedia 1977 Gadflies 1976 Desert 1976 Window 1976 Sketches 1976 Highs 1976 Rembrandt, Etc., and Jane 1976 Trio 1976 The Dream, N.Y.C., The Return, The Flower 1976 Absence 1976 Short Films 1976 1976 Airs 1976 Short Films 1975: #1 (Jane’s Memory) 1975 Short Films 1975: #3 (Hollis Frampton) 1975 Short Films 1975: #2 (Dante’s Styx) 1975 Short Films 1975: #5 (Niagara Falls) 1975 Short Films 1975: #4 (Lady in Glass) 1975 Short Films 1975: #8 (Small Town Streets) 1975 Short Films 1975: #6 (Stars, Chickens, Eyes, Candles) 1975 Short Films 1975: #7 (Turning the Raccoon Loose) 1975 Short Films 1975 1975 Sincerity II 1975 Short Films 1975: #10 (Painted Lightning) 1975 Short Films 1975: #9 (Forest Love Scene) 1975 The Stars Are Beautiful 1974 The Text of Light 1974 Star Garden 1974 Skein 1974 Aquarien 1974 Clancy 1974 Flight 1974 Hymn to Her 1974 “He was born, he suffered, he died.” 1974 Sol 1974 Dominion 1974 The Women 1973 Sincerity I 1973 Sexual Meditation: Open Field 1973 Gift 1973 The Wold-Shadow 1972 The Act of Seeing with One's Own Eyes 1972 The Process 1972 The Riddle of Lumen 1972 Wecht 1972 Sexual Meditation: Hotel 1972 The Shores of Phos: A Fable 1972 Sexual Meditation: Office Suite 1972 Sexual Meditation: Faun's Room, Yale 1972 Eye Myth Educational 1972 The Presence 1972 Deus Ex 1971 Western History 1971 Sexual Meditation: Room with View 1971 Door 1971 The Peaceable Kingdom 1971 Angels' 1971 The Trip to Door 1971 Fox Fire Child Watch 1971 The Machine of Eden 1970 The Weir-Falcon Saga 1970 Eyes 1970 The Animals of Eden and After 1970 Scenes from Under Childhood, Section Four 1970 Sexual Meditation #1: Motel 1970 Scenes from Under Childhood 1970 Scenes from Under Childhood, Section Three 1969 Scenes from Under Childhood, Section Two 1969 Window Suite of Children's Songs 1969 American 30s Song 1969 My Mtn. Song 27 Part II: Rivers 1969 Song 28 1969 Song 29 1969 Scenes from Under Childhood, Section One 1968 The Horseman, the Woman, and the Moth 1968 Lovemaking 1968 My Mountain: Song 27 1968 Song 26 1968 Eye Myth 1967 Song 24 1967 Song 25 1967 23rd Psalm Branch 1967 23rd Psalm Branch: Part I 1967 23rd Psalm Branch: Part II 1967 For Life, Against the War 1967 Pasht 1966 Song 21 1966 Song 20 1966 Song 17 1966 Song 22 1966 Song 18 1966 Song 19 1966 Song 16 1966 The Art of Vision 1965 Two: Creeley/McClure 1965 Fire of Waters 1965 Song 10 1965 Song 12 1965 Song 14 1965 Song 13 1965 Song 9 1965 Song 11 1965 Three Films: Blue White/Blood's Tone/Vein 1965 15 Song Traits 1965 Black Vision 1965 Dog Star Man 1965 Dog Star Man: Part II 1964 Dog Star Man: Part IV 1964 Dog Star Man: Part III 1964 Song 6 1964 Song 4 1964 Song 2 1964 Song 3 1964 Song 8 1964 Song 5 1964 Song 1 1964 Song 7 1964 Dog Star Man: Part I 1963 Mothlight 1963 Oh Life - a Woe Story - the A Test News 1963 Prelude: Dog Star Man 1962 Blue Moses 1962 Silent Sound Sense Stars Subotnick and Sender 1962 Mr. Tompkins Inside Himself 1962 Thigh Line Lyre Triangular 1961 Films by Stan Brakhage: An Avant-Garde Home Movie 1961 Sartre's Nausea 1961 Ballad of the Colorado Ute 1961 The Dead 1960 Colorado Legend 1960 Window Water Baby Moving 1959 Cat's Cradle 1959 Wedlock House: An Intercourse 1959 Sirius Remembered 1959 Anticipation of the Night 1958 Loving 1957 Daybreak and Whiteye 1957 Flesh of Morning 1956 Zone Moment 1956 Nightcats 1956 Untitled Film of Geoffrey Holder's Wedding 1955 The Wonder Ring 1955 Centuries of June 1955 Reflections on Black 1955 In Between 1955 Desistfilm 1954 The Way to Shadow Garden 1954 The Extraordinary Child 1954 The Boy and the Sea 1953 Unglassed Windows Cast a Terrible Reflection 1953 Interim 1952
Cinematography
Jane 1985 The Text of Light 1974 The Act of Seeing with One's Own Eyes 1972 Nuptiae 1969 Dog Star Man 1965 Colorado Legend 1960 Window Water Baby Moving 1959
Acting
Please Leave a Message: Anthology Film Archives Voicemails Through the Ages 2022 Free Radicals: A History of Experimental Film Himself 2011 For Stan Himself 2009 Dinner with Brakhage and Gamow 2008 Brakhage Crosses Central Park Self 2006 A Visit to Stan Brakhage 2006 Notes on Marie Menken Self (archive footage) 2006 Preserving Cultural Traditions in a Period of Instability Voice 2004 A Visit to Stan Brakhage Himself 2003 Sonic Youth: Koncertas Stan Brakhage Prisiminimui (April 12, 2003) Self (archive footage) 2003 Encomium Self 2003 Keeping an Eye on Stan 2003 In the Mirror of Maya Deren Himself 2002 Vakvagany Himself 2002 Stan Brakhage Exits the Cinema and Enters the Light of Day Himself 2002 Life with Stan #4: Stan Painting 2002 As I Was Moving Ahead, Occasionally I Saw Brief Glimpses of Beauty Self 2000 Looking at Forest of Bliss Himself 2000 Keepers of the Frame Himself 1999 Brakhage Self 1998 I Met Stan Brakhage (At Moma, N.Y.C) 1998 Birth of a Nation Self 1997 Stan Brakhage on Jim Davis 1997 Stan Brakhage on Gregory Markopoulos 1997 Cannibal! The Musical Noon Sr. 1996 BRAKHAGE ON BRAKHAGE self 1996 As Is Was 1995 Jonas in the Desert Self 1994 Z (Zee Not Zed) 1993 Abstract Cinema Himself 1993
Other Credits
Derealization Visual Effects 2025 Drawings by Billy and His Friends In Memory Of 2011 Sweetgrass Thanks 2009 Pittsburgh Cinematography 1959
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