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Stan Brakhage

Directing Born Jan 14, 1933 Died Mar 9, 2003 Kansas City, Missouri, USA 350 credits

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 "stream-of visual-consciousness could be nothing less than the pathway of the soul." To this end, his films are shot in highly sensual colors and utilize minimal soundtracks.

His work can be divided into distinct periods. His first short films explored the properties and possibilities of light. In many of his experimental ventures, Brakhage has forgone traditional cinematography in favor of working directly with the film stock itself. He has occasionally painted, inked, scratched and dyed images onto it; he has also tried pasting organic objects on the film. His most famous example is the 1963 short Mothlight in which he glued moth wings onto the stock. Some of his early films were based on his most intimate experiences that included making love to his new bride--depicted on negative film--in Wedlock House: An Intercourse (1959), and an attempt to bring his dead dog back to life with a camera in Sirius Remembered (1959). During the 1960s, Brakhage's iconoclastic views were celebrated for their poetry, but during the '70s, his focus changed to social issues and he alienated many supporters with such disturbing film series as the "Pittsburgh documents" in which he presented many gruesome views of inner city life with films such as Act of Seeing with One's Own Eyes (1971) which was shot in a morgue. He also continued with autobiographical material with the "Sincerity/Duplicity series. During the 1980s, Brakhage's focus again changed--this time he became intrigued with creating truly "abstract" films such as Arabics (1982) which consists of brilliant bursts of colored light which he claims, represent "envisioned music." In addition to filmmaking, Brakhage also wrote books about films and filmmaking and also served as a teacher.

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Frequent co-stars

Robert Benson 1 shared title
Yvonne Fair 1 shared title
Lawrence Jordan 1 shared title
Walter Newcomb 1 shared title

Career timeline

Brakhage on BrakhageDerealization · Visual Effects
Please Leave a Message: Anthology Film Archives Voicemails Through the Ages
Brakhage by Mothlight
20 Little Films · Director
Free Radicals: A History of Experimental FilmCyclopean 3D: Life with a Beautiful WomanDrawings by Billy and His Friends · In Memory Of
By Brakhage: An Anthology, Volume Two · Director
Sweetgrass · ThanksFor Stan
Dinner with Brakhage and Gamow
Notes on Marie MenkenBrakhage Crosses Central ParkA Visit to Stan Brakhage
Preserving Cultural Traditions in a Period of Instability
EncomiumBy Brakhage: An Anthology, Volume One · DirectorKeeping an Eye on StanSonic Youth: Koncertas Stan Brakhage Prisiminimui (April 12, 2003)Stan's Window & Work in Progress · Director
Seasons... · DirectorIn the Mirror of Maya DerenMax · DirectorVakvaganySB · Director
Garden PathGarden Path · DirectorPersian Series #14 · DirectorPersian Series #17 · DirectorPersian Series #18 · Director
As I Was Moving Ahead, Occasionally I Saw Brief Glimpses of BeautyLooking at Forest of BlissPersian Series #6 · DirectorPersian Series #10 · DirectorPersian Series #7 · Director
Keepers of the FrameThe Dark Tower · DirectorPersian Series #5 · DirectorPersian Series #4 · DirectorStately Mansions Did Decree · Director
"..." Reel 5 · DirectorBrakhage"..." Reel 3 · Director"..." Reel 2 · DirectorI Met Stan Brakhage (At Moma, N.Y.C)
Birth of a NationYggdrasill: Whose Roots Are Stars in the Human Mind · DirectorSelf Song & Death Song · DirectorThe Cat of the Worm's Green Realm · DirectorLast Hymn to the Night - Novalis · Director
Cannibal! The MusicalPrelude 8 · DirectorPrelude 16 · DirectorPrelude 11 · DirectorPrelude 19 · Director
Prelude 6 · DirectorI Take These Truths · DirectorPrelude 3 · DirectorPrelude 5 · DirectorPrelude 2 · Director
The Life and Times of Allen Ginsberg · ThanksJonas in the DesertNaughts · DirectorThe Mammals of Victoria · DirectorElementary Phrases · Director
Autumnal · DirectorBlossom-Gift/Favor · DirectorZ (Zee Not Zed)Abstract CinemaBoulder Blues and Pearls and... · Director
Untitled (For Marilyn) · DirectorInterpolations 1-5 · Director
A Child’s Garden and the Serious Sea · DirectorJoseph Cornell: Worlds in a BoxCrack Glass Eulogy · DirectorDelicacies of Molten Horror Synapse · DirectorChrist Mass Sex Dance · Director
Passage Through: A Ritual · DirectorGlaze of Cathexis · DirectorVisions in Meditation #4: D.H. Lawrence · DirectorVisions in Meditation #3: Plato's Cave · DirectorBabylon Series #3 · Director
Visions in Meditation #1 · DirectorVisions in Meditation #2: Mesa Verde · DirectorWatunnaFaust IV · DirectorBabylon Series #1 · Director
Faust's Other: An IdyllFaust's Other: An Idyll · DirectorRage Net · DirectorI... DreamingI... Dreaming · Director
Doodlin': Impressions Of Len LyeThe Dante Quartet · DirectorKindering · DirectorFaustfilm: An Opera · DirectorLoud Visual Noises · Director
Invocation: Maya DerenNight Music · DirectorFireloop · DirectorThe Loom · DirectorConfession · Director
Reflecting Thought: Stan BrakhageJane · DirectorJane · EditorJane · Director of Photography
Egyptian Series · DirectorTortured Dust Part 4 · DirectorTortured Dust Part 3 · DirectorTortured Dust Part 2 · DirectorTortured Dust

Full filmography

  • Brakhage on Brakhage (2025) as Self
  • Derealization (2025) Visual Effects
  • Please Leave a Message: Anthology Film Archives Voicemails Through the Ages (2022)
  • Brakhage by Mothlight (2016) as Self (voice)
  • 20 Little Films (2012) Director
  • Free Radicals: A History of Experimental Film (2011) as Himself
  • Cyclopean 3D: Life with a Beautiful Woman (2011)
  • Drawings by Billy and His Friends (2011) In Memory Of
  • By Brakhage: An Anthology, Volume Two (2010) Director
  • Sweetgrass (2009) Thanks
  • For Stan (2009) as Himself
  • Dinner with Brakhage and Gamow (2008)
  • Notes on Marie Menken (2006) as Self (archive footage)
  • Brakhage Crosses Central Park (2006) as Self
  • A Visit to Stan Brakhage (2006)
  • Preserving Cultural Traditions in a Period of Instability (2004) as Voice
  • Encomium (2003) as Self
  • By Brakhage: An Anthology, Volume One (2003) Director
  • Keeping an Eye on Stan (2003)
  • Sonic Youth: Koncertas Stan Brakhage Prisiminimui (April 12, 2003) (2003) as Self (archive footage)
  • Stan's Window & Work in Progress (2003) Director
  • Chinese Series (2003) Director
  • A Visit to Stan Brakhage (2003) as Himself
  • Seasons... (2002) Director
  • In the Mirror of Maya Deren (2002) as Himself
  • Max (2002) Director
  • Vakvagany (2002) as Himself
  • SB (2002) Director
  • Resurrectus Est (2002) Director
  • Life with Stan #4: Stan Painting (2002)
  • Stan Brakhage Exits the Cinema and Enters the Light of Day (2002) as Himself
  • Panels for the Walls of Heaven (2002) Director
  • Ascension (2002) Director
  • Song of the Mushroom (2002) Director
  • Garden Path (2001)
  • Garden Path (2001) Director
  • Persian Series #14 (2001) Director
  • Persian Series #17 (2001) Director
  • Persian Series #18 (2001) Director
  • Persian Series #13 (2001) Director
  • Persian Series #15 (2001) Director
  • Lovesong 2 (2001) Director
  • Persian Series #16 (2001) Director
  • Rounds (2001) Director
  • Lovesong (2001) Director
  • Occam's Thread (2001) Director
  • Dark Night of The Soul (2001) Director
  • Lovesong 3 (2001) Director
  • Lovesong 4 (2001) Director
  • Night Mulch (2001) Director
  • Micro-Garden (2001) Director
  • Very (2001) Director
  • Lovesong 5 & 6 (2001) Director
  • As I Was Moving Ahead, Occasionally I Saw Brief Glimpses of Beauty (2000) as Self
  • Looking at Forest of Bliss (2000) as Himself
  • Persian Series #6 (2000) Director
  • Persian Series #10 (2000) Director
  • Persian Series #7 (2000) Director
  • Persian Series #11 (2000) Director
  • Persian Series #9 (2000) Director
  • Persian Series #8 (2000) Director
  • Persian Series #12 (2000) Director
  • Water for Maya (2000) Director
  • The God of Day Had Gone Down Upon Him (2000) Director
  • Jesus Trilogy and Coda (2000) Director
  • Dance (2000) Director
  • Keepers of the Frame (1999) as Himself
  • The Dark Tower (1999) Director
  • Persian Series #5 (1999) Director
  • Persian Series #4 (1999) Director
  • Stately Mansions Did Decree (1999) Director
  • Persian Series #3 (1999) Director
  • Coupling (1999) Director
  • Cloud Chamber (1999) Director
  • Persian Series #1 (1999) Director
  • The Birds Of Paradise (1999) Director
  • Worm and Web Love (1999) Director
  • The Lion and the Zebra Make God's Raw Jewels (1999) Director
  • The Earth Song of the Cricket (1999) Director
  • Cricket Requiem (1999) Director
  • Moilsome Toilsome (1999) Director
  • Persian Series #2 (1999) Director
  • "..." Reel 5 (1998) Director
  • Brakhage (1998) as Self
  • "..." Reel 3 (1998) Director
  • "..." Reel 2 (1998) Director
  • I Met Stan Brakhage (At Moma, N.Y.C) (1998)
  • "..." Reel 4 (1998) Director
  • "..." Reel 1 (1998) Director
  • The Female Mystique and Spare Leaves (for Gordon) (1998) Director
  • Birth of a Nation (1997) as Self
  • Yggdrasill: Whose Roots Are Stars in the Human Mind (1997) Director
  • Self Song & Death Song (1997) Director
  • The Cat of the Worm's Green Realm (1997) Director
  • Last Hymn to the Night - Novalis (1997) Director
  • Stan Brakhage on Jim Davis (1997)
  • Stan Brakhage on Gregory Markopoulos (1997)
  • Divertimento (1997) Director
  • Cannibal! The Musical (1996) as Noon Sr.
  • Prelude 8 (1996) Director
  • Prelude 16 (1996) Director
  • Prelude 11 (1996) Director
  • Prelude 19 (1996) Director
  • Prelude 7 (1996) Director
  • Prelude 20 (1996) Director
  • Prelude 13 (1996) Director
  • Prelude 10 (1996) Director
  • Prelude 9 (1996) Director
  • Prelude 14 (1996) Director
  • Prelude 12 (1996) Director
  • Shockingly Hot (1996) Director
  • Comingled Containers (1996) Director
  • Concrescence (1996) Director
  • Prelude 15 (1996) Director
  • Sexual Saga (1996) Director
  • BRAKHAGE ON BRAKHAGE (1996) as self
  • Beautiful Funerals (1996) Director
  • Prelude 18 (1996) Director
  • Prelude 21 (1996) Director
  • Prelude 17 (1996) Director
  • Prelude 22 (1996) Director
  • Prelude 24 (1996) Director
  • Blue Value (1996) Director
  • Polite Madness (1996) Director
  • Prelude 23 (1996) Director
  • Through Wounded Eyes (1996) Director
  • The Fur of Home (1996) Director
  • Two Found Objects of Charles Boultenhouse (1996) Director
  • Prelude 6 (1995) Director
  • I Take These Truths (1995) Director
  • Prelude 3 (1995) Director
  • Prelude 5 (1995) Director
  • Prelude 2 (1995) Director
  • Prelude 4 (1995) Director
  • Prelude 1 (1995) Director
  • As Is Was (1995)
  • Earthen Aerie (1995) Director
  • I... (1995) Director
  • The 'b' Series (1995) Director
  • Paranoia Corridor (1995) Director
  • In Consideration of Pompeii (1995) Director
  • The "Lost" Films (1995) Director
  • We Hold These (1995) Director
  • Spring Cycle (1995) Director
  • The Life and Times of Allen Ginsberg (1994) Thanks
  • Jonas in the Desert (1994) as Self
  • Naughts (1994) Director
  • The Mammals of Victoria (1994) Director
  • Elementary Phrases (1994) Director
  • Cannot Exist (1994) Director
  • Chartres Series (1994) Director
  • Black Ice (1994) Director
  • Cannot Not Exist (1994) Director
  • From: First Hymn to the Night – Novalis (1994) Director
  • Alternating Currents (1994) Director
  • Autumnal (1993) Director
  • Blossom-Gift/Favor (1993) Director
  • Z (Zee Not Zed) (1993)
  • Abstract Cinema (1993) as Himself
  • Boulder Blues and Pearls and... (1993) Director
  • Stellar (1993) Director
  • Three Homerics (1993) Director
  • Study in Color and Black and White (1993) Director
  • Ephemeral Solidity (1993) Director
  • Tryst Haunt (1993) Director
  • The Harrowing (1993) Director
  • Untitled (For Marilyn) (1992) Director
  • Interpolations 1-5 (1992) Director
  • A Child’s Garden and the Serious Sea (1991) Director
  • Joseph Cornell: Worlds in a Box (1991) as Self
  • Crack Glass Eulogy (1991) Director
  • Delicacies of Molten Horror Synapse (1991) Director
  • Christ Mass Sex Dance (1991) Director
  • Agnus Dei Kinder Synapse (1991) Director
  • Passage Through: A Ritual (1990) Director
  • Glaze of Cathexis (1990) Director
  • Visions in Meditation #4: D.H. Lawrence (1990) Director
  • Visions in Meditation #3: Plato's Cave (1990) Director
  • Babylon Series #3 (1990) Director
  • City Streaming (1990) Director
  • The Thatch of Night (1990) Director
  • Babylon Series #2 (1990) Director
  • Vision of the Fire Tree (1990) Director
  • Visions in Meditation #1 (1989) Director
  • Visions in Meditation #2: Mesa Verde (1989) Director
  • Watunna (1989) as Narrator
  • Faust IV (1989) Director
  • Babylon Series #1 (1989) Director
  • Faust's Other: An Idyll (1988)
  • Faust's Other: An Idyll (1988) Director
  • Rage Net (1988) Director
  • I... Dreaming (1988)
  • I... Dreaming (1988) Director
  • Marilyn's Window (1988) Director
  • Faust 3: Candida Albacore (1988) Director
  • Matins (1988) Director
  • Doodlin': Impressions Of Len Lye (1987) as Self
  • The Dante Quartet (1987) Director
  • Kindering (1987) Director
  • Faustfilm: An Opera (1987) Director
  • Loud Visual Noises (1987) Director
  • Invocation: Maya Deren (1986) as Himself
  • Night Music (1986) Director
  • Fireloop (1986) Director
  • The Loom (1986) Director
  • Confession (1986) Director
  • Dance Shadows by Danelle Helander (1986) Director
  • The Aerodyne (1986) Director
  • Reflecting Thought: Stan Brakhage (1985) as Self
  • Jane (1985) Director
  • Jane (1985) Editor
  • Jane (1985) Director of Photography
  • Egyptian Series (1984) Director
  • Tortured Dust Part 4 (1984) Director
  • Tortured Dust Part 3 (1984) Director
  • Tortured Dust Part 2 (1984) Director
  • Tortured Dust (1984)
  • Tortured Dust (1984) Director
  • Tortured Dust Part 1 (1984) Director
  • Hell Spit Flexion (1983) Director
  • Arabic Numeral Series 14 (1982) Director
  • Arabic Numeral Series 19 (1982) Director
  • Arabic Numeral Series 15 (1982) Director
  • Arabic Numeral Series 18 (1982) Director
  • Arabic Numeral Series 16 (1982) Director
  • Arabic Numeral Series 17 (1982) Director
  • Unconscious London Strata (1981) Director
  • The Garden of Earthly Delights (1981) Director
  • RR (1981) Director
  • Arabic Numeral Series 0 + 10 (1981) Director
  • Arabic Numeral Series 13 (1981) Director
  • Arabic Numeral Series 2 (1981) Director
  • Arabic Numeral Series 11 (1981) Director
  • Arabic Numeral Series 4 (1981) Director
  • Arabic Numeral Series 7 (1981) Director
  • Arabic Numeral Series 6 (1981) Director
  • Arabic Numeral Series 1 (1981) Director
  • Stan & Jane Brakhage (1981) as Self
  • Arabic Numeral Series 3 (1981) Director
  • Arabic Numeral Series 12 (1981) Director
  • Arabic Numeral Series 8 (1981) Director
  • Arabic Numeral Series 9 (1981) Director
  • Aftermath (1981) Director
  • Made Manifest (1981) Director
  • Nodes (1981) Director
  • Arabic Numeral Series 5 (1981) Director
  • Other (1980) Director
  • Duplicity III (1980) Director
  • Roman Numeral: VII (1980) Director
  • 4A (1980) Director
  • Roman Numeral: VI (1980) Director
  • Murder Psalm (1980) Director
  • Sincerity V (1980) Director
  • Roman Numeral: VIII (1980) Director
  • Roman Numeral: V (1980) Director
  • Roman Numeral: IV (1980) Director
  • Roman Numeral: IX (1980) Director
  • Salome (1980) Director
  • Grand Opera: An Historical Romance (1979) as Himself (voice)
  • Creation (1979) Director
  • Roman Numeral: II (1979) Director
  • @ (1979) Director
  • Roman Numeral: I (1979) Director
  • Roman Numeral: III (1979) Director
  • Sincerity IV (1979) Director
  • Thot-Fal'N (1978) Director
  • Thot-Fal'N (1978) Cinematography
  • Thot-Fal'N (1978) Editor
  • Nightmare Series (1978) Director
  • Sluice (1978) Director
  • Centre (1978) Director
  • Duplicity II (1978) Director
  • Burial Path (1978) Director
  • Duplicity I (1978) Director
  • Purity and After (1978) Director
  • Sincerity III (1978) Director
  • Bird (1978) Director
  • The Domain of the Moment (1977) Director
  • The Governor (1977) Director
  • Tragoedia (1977) Director
  • Soldiers and Other Cosmic Objects (1977) Director
  • Trio (1976) Director
  • Trio (1976) Cinematography
  • Desert (1976) Director
  • Window (1976) Director
  • Airs (1976) Director
  • Rembrandt, Etc., and Jane (1976) Director
  • Highs (1976) Director
  • Short Films 1976 (1976) Director
  • Gadflies (1976) Director
  • The Dream, N.Y.C., The Return, The Flower (1976) Director
  • Absence (1976) Director
  • Sketches (1976) Director
  • Short Films 1975: #3 (Hollis Frampton) (1975) Director
  • Short Films 1975 (1975) Director
  • Short Films 1975: #5 (Niagara Falls) (1975) Director
  • Short Films 1975: #4 (Lady in Glass) (1975) Director
  • Short Films 1975: #6 (Stars, Chickens, Eyes, Candles) (1975) Director
  • Short Films 1975: #1 (Jane’s Memory) (1975) Director
  • Short Films 1975: #8 (Small Town Streets) (1975) Director
  • Short Films 1975: #10 (Painted Lightning) (1975) Director
  • Short Films 1975: #9 (Forest Love Scene) (1975) Director
  • Sincerity II (1975) Director
  • Short Films 1975: #2 (Dante’s Styx) (1975) Director
  • Short Films 1975: #7 (Turning the Raccoon Loose) (1975) Director
  • Hymn to Her (1974) Director
  • Clancy (1974) Director
  • Star Garden (1974) Director
  • The Stars Are Beautiful (1974) as Narrator (voice)
  • The Stars Are Beautiful (1974) Director
  • The Stars Are Beautiful (1974) Cinematography
  • The Stars Are Beautiful (1974) Editor
  • The Stars Are Beautiful (1974) Writer
  • The Text of Light (1974) Director
  • The Text of Light (1974) Director of Photography
  • Sol (1974) Director
  • Flight (1974) Director
  • Skein (1974) Director
  • Aquarien (1974) Director
  • Dominion (1974) Director
  • “He was born, he suffered, he died.” (1974) Director
  • Notes on the Buffalo Conference: “Autobiography in American Independent Cinema” (1973)
  • Sexual Meditation: Open Field (1973) Director
  • Sincerity I (1973) Director
  • Gift (1973) Director
  • The Women (1973) Director
  • Screening Room (1972) as Himself
  • Eye Myth Educational (1972) Director
  • Eye Myth Educational (1972) Writer
  • Sexual Meditation: Hotel (1972) Director
  • Sexual Meditation: Faun's Room, Yale (1972) Director
  • Sexual Meditation: Office Suite (1972) Director
  • The Wold-Shadow (1972) Director
  • The Act of Seeing with One's Own Eyes (1972) Director
  • The Act of Seeing with One's Own Eyes (1972) Director of Photography
  • The Act of Seeing with One's Own Eyes (1972) Editor
  • The Process (1972) Director
  • The Riddle of Lumen (1972) Director
  • Reality's Invisible (1972) as Self
  • Wecht (1972) Director
  • The Shores of Phos: A Fable (1972) Director
  • The Presence (1972) Director
  • Sexual Meditation: Room with View (1971) Director
  • Deus Ex (1971) Director
  • Fox Fire Child Watch (1971) Director
  • The Peaceable Kingdom (1971) Director
  • Angels' (1971) Director
  • Western History (1971) Director
  • The Trip to Door (1971) Director
  • Door (1971) Director