GENRE

Experimental films are a type of cinema that explores visual art. Its origins can be found in European avant-garde movements of the twenties. Avant-garde is considered to be a distinct form of postmodernism and involves works which are experimental and innovative, particularly with art, film and culture. An experimental film is often categorised by the absence of narrative and the use of abstract techniques. People of the Dada movement and surrealist artists have a tendency to be admirers of the experimental film genre. The most famous experimental film is Salvador Dali's and Luis Bunuel's 'Un Chien andalou' (1929). Experimental films are different to commercial and documentary films, traditionally they involve out-of-focus elements, painting and rapid editing. Most experimental films are created with low budgets and are regularly self-financed. Some critics have argued experimental films are no longer "experimental", due to the knowledge filmmakers have of them now, and it has become a mainstream film genre. Sometimes they are only a crew of one person - the individual who is creating the experimental film and the genre can be very impressionistic. Title design and television advertising have been thought to be influenced by experimental film, as well as music videos.