Unspoken Journal I: Béla Tarr

The debut issue of the Unspoken Journal is now online. This is a new online journal focusing on "contemplative cinema," which the journal's website describes as "chiefly recognizable in a series of undramatic traits such as: plotlessness, wordlessness, slowness, and minimalism." The new journal "aims to publish criticism that examines, explores and seeks theoretical understanding of developments within this cinematic terrain."

This first issue focuses, appropriately enough, on the work of Béla Tarr, one of the modern auteurs most representative of the style evoked by the term "contemplative cinema." Various articles explore specific Tarr films as well as larger trends within his oeuvre as a whole, with contributions by Edwin Mak, Harry Tuttle, Pacze Moj, Matthew Flanagan and many others. I also have an essay included in this issue, an expanded and revised version of a piece previously posted at this blog, on Tarr's film Damnation. Go check out the Unspoken Journal site for a lot of interesting reading.