Anarchism in America

[Black_Flag]

Anyone seen this film, and if so any opinions?

In my view it was a decent enough film but I thought it focused too much on the founding fathers and American Individualism. It did however have some interview footage with Murray Bookchin and a section on Emma Goldman.

I'd give it a 7/10

Heres a link if anyone wants to watch it:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5896151564855675002

[Stranger Than Paradise]

Didn't like the bits on the individualist movement as you said. But was very good in other parts, I enjoyed it.

[bcbm]

Saw some of it. Interesting film, though I found it hard to believe there was any real connection between a lot of the people they interviewed and American anarchism today.

[Pogue]

I haven't seen it but I think its shown as part of my politics course this year. I'd imagine it does focus on the individualist types, Tucker etc, because they are considered contributors to Anarchism by academia, which is honestly a load of rubbish and is intellectual and historical dishonesty.

[x359594]

...I'd imagine it does focus on the individualist types, Tucker etc, because they are considered contributors to Anarchism by academia, which is honestly a load of rubbish and is intellectual and historical dishonesty.

It's not an academic movie. It was made by the Pacific Street Film Collective. An earlier film of theirs called Frame-Up: the Conviction Of Martin Sostre helped win Sostre's release from prison in New York state. Sostre was an African-American anarchist who ran a bookstore/meeting place and was framed by the cops for possession of heroin back in the 1970s. Too bad this movie isn't available.

Anarchism in America was made in the late 1970s/early '80s and reflects the stae of anarchism at that time, so now it's more of a historical curiosity than a contemporary account. The filmmakers have been intending to up-date for awhile now but nothing has come of it.

[Pogue]

It's not an academic movie. It was made by the Pacific Street Film Collective. An earlier film of theirs called Frame-Up: the Conviction Of Martin Sostre helped win Sostre's release from prison in New York state. Sostre was an African-American anarchist who ran a bookstore/meeting place and was framed by the cops for possession of heroin back in the 1970s. Too bad this movie isn't available.

Anarchism in America was made in the late 1970s/early '80s and reflects the stae of anarchism at that time, so now it's more of a historical curiosity than a contemporary account. The filmmakers have been intending to up-date for awhile now but nothing has come of it.

Fairplay, I was simply going on the assumption that its shown in my politics course, which tends to take a pretty crap view of anarchism, for example one of the questions in the exam is 'Is anarchism utopian?' and you know what they want you too write, i assumed the film was some sort of educational thing by clueless academics, thanks for proving me wrong, maybe now i can watch it without feeling an urge to slap my teacher.

[x359594]

...I was simply going on the assumption that its shown in my politics course, which tends to take a pretty crap view of anarchism...

Well, academics will put their own spin it of course even though the film addresses this head on with scenes at an academic conference on anarchism that makes the professors look pretentious. Like I said above, the problem is that the movie is dated, and budgetary constraints kept the filmmakers from exploring anarchism in America in the depth which it deserves.

[Pogue]

I'll do my best to fill the class in ;)