Critical Criticism, Radically funny

Proposal for screenings + talks at the ICA

Criticism often carries with itself a moment of self-derision, where the edifice of its
own rhetorical devices is transfigured into grotesque mockery and the polemical is
exposed to the ridicule. Already Marx eloquently poked fun at what he called critical
criticism. Does this moment empower subversive will by preventing reactionary
appropriations, or does it perhaps contain the acceptance of criticisms failure? Can
one identify in the self-derisive moment a decisive twist against authority or is it
simply cynicism, a telling sign of resignation?
This screening series aims at responding to these questions and at exploring the
possibilities for similar strategies in todays political context.


Films:
- The working class goes to heaven (E.Petri, 1971, Italy)
- Even dwarves started small (W.Herzog, 1970, Germany)
- Mysteries of the organism (D.Makavejev, 1971, Yugoslavia)
- Dillinger is Dead (M.Ferreri, 1969, Italy)
- Week End (J-L.Godard, 1967, France)
- Citizen Tania (R.Pettibon, 1989, US)
- Investigation on a citizen above suspicion (E.Petri, 1970, Italy)