My experimental documentary “City in a Garden” deconstructs Chicago’s image in popular culture. Early Hollywood films such as “Riding on Air” (Edward Sedgwick, 1937) and “Utah” (John English, 1945) established Chicago as a site of adventure and romance. I counter this longstanding representation by immersing viewers in an unflinching sense of place. Traditional documentaries like “Manhatta” (Charles Sheeler & Paul Strand, 1921) and “Berlin: Symphony of a Great City” (Walther Ruttmann, 1927) celebrate urban space through architecture. Conversely, I use photography to frame my critique with the cold precision of buildings. In addition, I focus on racism and poverty by juxtaposing Hollywood imagery with footage from newsreels and social issue films. By the 1970s, cities are the backdrop for individual salvation in films ranging from “Godspell” (David Greene, 1973) to “Taxi Driver” (Martin Scorsese, 1976). My variation on this theme suggests that societal redemption requires advocacy and political cooperation.
About the presenterJeremy Newman
Jeremy Newman is an Associate Professor of Communications at Stockton University