Apologies for my last rant. Even my mom said “it’s a bit long!” I told myself this was mainly going to be a blog about my work, but I had been in a tizzy over the US pres race and couldn’t hold back. Plus I have a theory that if you’re upset about something, write about it and let it out. I did, and now I can go on with my life! Yay!
Anyhoo, BBC4 had a really cool doc series about the ethnographic films of American Industrialist Harry Wright. He was a wealthy steel magnate based in Mexico in the early 1900′s. One of his hobbies was film, particularly colored film, which was rare in those days. He travelled the world to exotic locations and filmed the natives in their habitats. Later in life, when he was too old for the excursions he hired film makers like Ed Myers to travel around and film in proxy. The archive of footage is amazing. A lot of it was staged, particularly the dances. They were made up for the western audience and some enforced the stereo types of “primitive people”. But a lot of the footage also documented real life crafts, cooking, and other customs of indigenous people. His Mexico series is particularly important, as it archived the lives of Mexican Indian tribes which no longer exist. Some of it reminds me of Mondo Caine, one of my fave films!! The series is up on youtube! So check it out! First segment below! oxo gd
My uncle was Ed Myers who worked with Harry Wright as a cinematographer
and anthropologist. I only met him once, as he lived most of his life in Mexico.
I would like to see some of his work but I assume I would have to go to
Mexico City to a historical museum. If you have any suggestions, I would
be very grateful. Joan
Hi Joan, sorry for taking so long to reply! This person on you tube has several films by Harry Wright – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJgY-031m18