The intrepid shadows.

Series: Navajos film themselves

Duration: 680

Creator: Museum of Modern Art

Format: 16mm

Color: B&W

Sound: silent

Description: P: Preservation Material MAG: Sprocketed Magnetic Track AC: Acetate C: 1200' 16/8/9.5mm 16mm Black & White Silent 680 Alfred Clah Director: Alfred Clah , One of the most complex works in the Navajo series, this film has been described by Margaret Mead, as one of the finest examples of animism shown on film. In it, filmmaker Al Clah attempts to reconcile a western concept of God with the pantheism of traditional Navajo beliefs. A series of opening shots documents the rocks, earth, trees and sky of the Navajo landscape. A young man appears, picks up a stick and pokes at a large spider web. The tone of the film changes as a hand propels an old metal hoop which appears intermittently throughout the film. A Yeibechai mask wanders the landscape and is intercut, in a complex manner, with natural scenes. The camerawork, hitherto static, becomes circular and spiral. The elongated shadow of the camerman merges with the landscape. The last shot shows the shadow of the hoop whirling.

Complete Record: One of the most complex works in the Navajo series, this film has been described by Margaret Mead, as one of the finest examples of animism shown on film. In it, filmmaker Al Clah attempts to reconcile a western concept of God with the pantheism of traditional Navajo beliefs. A series of opening shots documents the rocks, earth, trees and sky of the Navajo landscape. A young man appears, picks up a stick and pokes at a large spider web. The tone of the film changes as a hand propels an old metal hoop which appears intermittently throughout the film. A Yeibechai mask wanders the landscape and is intercut, in a complex manner, with natural scenes. The camerawork, hitherto static, becomes circular and spiral. The elongated shadow of the camerman merges with the landscape. The last shot shows the shadow of the hoop whirling. NOTE: Two (or more) records have been merged together to create this data.