Dr. Dani Sanchez
In a #LaEsoterica first: We’re starting with our feature presentation: the 2001 documentary about Ukrainian-American avant-garde filmmaker and writer Maya Deren “Im Spiegel der Maya Deren”/“In the Mirror of Maya Deren” directed by Martina Kudláček (https://youtu.be/xpOkIWH3C2E?si=o5YphA409kZez3SC)
#LaEsoterica #WomensHistoryMonth #MayaDeren
Mar 31 at 10:02pmWeb
Show threadDr. Dani Sanchez21h ago
Maya Deren (April 29, 1917-October 13, 1961) was a Ukrainian-American pioneer of avant-garde filmmaking. She became the first female filmmaker to receive a Guggenheim grant for creative work in film.
#LaEsoterica #WomensHistoryMonth #MayaDeren
Show threadDr. Dani Sanchez21h ago
You can hear more of Maya Deren’s insights about film at the October 1953 “Cinema 16 Symposium” here (https://youtu.be/HA-yzqykwcQ?si=mCbJjW7-NYcqn87o) or read a transcript here (https://archive.org/details/vogel_mchc83-024_f11)
#LaEsoterica #WomensHistoryMonth #MayaDeren #poetry
Show threadDr. Dani Sanchez21h ago
You can also check out Maya Deren’s book “Divine Horsemen: The Living Gods of Haiti” for free here (https://archive.org/details/bwb_C0-AWD-428), the 1954 corresponding film here (https://youtu.be/HqBPjpAeUuQ?si=Iqs_3Tl5X-eQhq8O) and the field recordings here (https://youtu.be/5QHEnA5u39A?si=QNKW4VgsjtuodMGi)
#LaEsoterica #WomensHistoryMonth #MayaDeren #haiti
Show threadDr. Dani Sanchez21h ago
I also 1000% recommend: “The Legend of Maya Deren, a Documentary and Collected Works, Volume 1, Part 1: Signatures (1917-1942) Available for free here (https://archive.org/details/legendofmayadere0001clar) and “…Volume 1, Part 2: Chambers” (1942-1947) by VèVè Amasasa Clark, Catrina Neiman, and Millicent Hodson, (2006) Available for free here (https://archive.org/details/legendofmayadere0001clar_w7o8)
#LaEsoterica #WomensHistoryMonth #MayaDeren
Show threadDr. Dani Sanchez21h ago
ALSO, the 1991 Stan Brakhage book “Films at Wit’s End” (https://archive.org/details/filmatwitsendeig0000brak) that was my introduction to Maya Deren’s work and film studies in general when I was in high school
#LaEsoterica #WomensHistoryMonth #MayaDeren
Show threadDr. Dani Sanchez21h ago
The doctor that Maya Deren saw for years was none other than Dr. Max Jacobson AKA “Miracle Max” AKA “Dr. Feelgood” who was infamous for treating high profile patients with his ~Special Vitamin/Vitality Shot~ that were a mix of amphetamines, vitamins, steroids and what have you
#LaEsoterica
Show threadDr. Dani Sanchez21h ago
Next we have 2 shorts by Maya Deren. The first is “The Witch’s Cradle” (1943) (https://youtu.be/5iErVrOQH5U?si=A76qtdvfa2Ss5Tda) which is an unfinished film comprised of footage that was constructed together posthumously using notes that Deren had written. 
#LaEsoterica #WomensHistoryMonth #MayaDeren
Show threadDr. Dani Sanchez21h ago
And yes, the man in “The Witch’s Cradle” is played by Dada/Cubist/conceptual artist Marcel Duchamp
#LaEsoterica #TheWitchsCradle #MarcelDuchamp #MayaDeren
Show threadDr. Dani Sanchez20h ago
Our final piece is “The Very Eye of Night” (1955)(https://youtu.be/VsLdAmK_8LE?si=4YPguspF3GUvHwxi), which is one of final films that Maya Deren completed in her lifetime. It was made over the course of 3yrs in collaboration with choreographer Antony Tudor and the Metropolitan Opera Ballet School in NYC
#LaEsoterica #WomensHistoryMonth #TheVeryEyeOfNight #MayaDeren #ballet
Show threadDr. Dani Sanchez20h ago
A few pictures of Maya Deren (and Antony Tudor) on the set of one of the shoots for “The Very Eye of Night”
#LaEsoterica #WomensHistoryMonth #TheVeryEyeOfNight #MayaDeren #ballet