Heads Up, Ears Down

This blog accurately identifies depictions of violence and cruelty toward animals in films. The purpose is to provide viewers with a reliable guide so that such depictions do not come as unwelcome surprises. Films will be accurately notated, providing a time cue for each incident along with a concise description of the scene and perhaps relevant context surrounding the incident. In order to serve as a useful reference tool, films having no depictions of violence to animals will be included, with an indication that there are no such scenes. This is confirmation that the films have been watched with the stated purpose in mind.


Note that the word depictions figures prominently in the objective. It is a travesty that discussions about cruelty in film usually are derailed by the largely unrelated assertion that no animals really were hurt (true only in some films, dependent upon many factors), and that all this concern is just over a simulation. Not the point, whether true or false. We do not smugly dismiss depictions of five-year-olds being raped because those scenes are only simulations. No, we are appalled that such images are even staged, and we are appropriately horrified that the notion now has been planted into the minds of the weak and cruel.


Depictions of violence or harm to animals are assessed in keeping with our dominant culture, with physical abuse, harmful neglect, and similar mistreatment serving as a base line. This blog does not address extended issues of animal welfare, and as such does not identify scenes of people eating meat or mules pulling plows. The goal is to itemize images that might cause a disturbance in a compassionate household.


These notes provide a heads-up but do not necessarily discourage watching a film because of depicted cruelty. Consuming a piece of art does not make you a supporter of the ideas presented. Your ethical self is created by your public rhetoric and your private actions, not by your willingness to sit through a filmed act of violence.

Gazwrx: The Films of Jeff Keen

Gazwrx: The Films of Jeff Keen. Jeff Keen, 1961-2002.
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Edition screened: BFI Blu-ray/DVD set, released 2009. Some films are silent, most are scored and/or with continual sound effects. Cumulative runtime approximately 585 minutes.

Summary: No particular depictions of violence or harm to animals.

This BFI set is a joy to own and view. Jeff Keen was a generous and witty driver, willing to take us on seemingly endless high-speed jaunts through his brain. The set includes: 

Cineblatz (1967)
White Lite (1968)
Marvo Movie (1967)
Meatdaze (1968)
Rayday Film (1968-70, and 1976)
24 Films (1972-75)
White Dust (1972)
Mad Love (1978)
Omozap (1991)
Omozap 2 (1991)
Blatzom (1983-86)
Joy Thru Film (c. 2000)
Artwar Fallout + Artwar 3 (twin-screen, 1993-95)
Artwar Loop 1 (1990s)
Artwar Loop 2 (1990s)
Wail (1960)
Breakout (1962)
Instant Cinema (1964-65, and 2007)
Flik Flak (1964-65)
Blatzomatika (1990s)
Plasticator (1990s)
Omozap in Artwar (1990-95)
Artwar (1993)

Extras
Jeff Keen Films (1983 Channel 4 documentary)
Art Flies Free (Ian Helliwell’s 3-minute portrait of Keen)
Jeff Keen Interview with William Fowler
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