Film as ideology How should we think about ideology today? In fact, who talks today about ideology, and even less so, thinks about it?
ENGLISH SECTION “Hitler” Visits DokuFest to Much Interest
This enterprise gets all too complicated when one attempts to think about ideology and its relation to the films. In the last instance of analysis, film is the ideology par excellence The Perverts Guide to Ideology, directed by Sophie Finnes and presented by Slovene philosopher Slavoj Žhižek, is a very serious attempt to render visible the role of ideology in the field of cinematography, or rather, how ideology is the fundament upon which the art of cinema is rendered possible. Therefore, why should one see this film, which in DokuFest will be screed on Wednesday, 21.08? The Perverts Guide to Ideology is a sequel to the trilogy “The Perverts Guide to…”, and comes out after The Perverts Guide to Cinema (2006). The voice of common sense tells us that ideology is a set of believe, engagements and identification with a certain political line, i.e. communism, Marxism, liberalism, fascism, and so on. But, based (mostly) on Hegel, Marx and Lacan, Žhižek arrives at completely different conclusions. For him, ideology exists in the unconscious of the subject, which is to say that ideology is part of social practices, externalised in the installed practices by the State and its mechanisms, and which is realised in the (ideological) state apparatuses. Or, put differently, ideology addresses real problems, but offers false solutions for them. If we are to recapitulate this, then it can be said that even though ideology addresses real problems, i.e. poverty, racism, exploitation, etc., it mystifies the solutions for these problems, i.e. it affirms charity, tolerance, etc. With regard to film, ideology has yet another function, far more penetrating than this. “The art of cinema is the ultimate perverse art, it doesn’t give you what you desire, it tells you how to desire” – these are the words with which Žhižek begins his first film of the “The Perverts Guide to…” trilogy. Here resides the difference of the art of cinema with other forms of ideology: those in power and its people are characterised by “cynical reason”, which socially manifests itself through “sincerely” admitting their say, corruptive acts (‘its all about money, power, influence, and so on). The power today is realism without illusions. On the other side, film is exactly the opposite: if the art of cinema is something, than it is realism with illusions.
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Illusions as that something which structures our reality, find its most consequent expression. In this context, what Žhižek does in this film is approaching to films from the lenses of ideological illusions that are its material base, as it were. Employing Lacanian concept (which in this films are all too easy to be comprehended by a wider public), Žhižek offers an extraordinary analysis of the history of cinema. Taxi Driver, The Zabrinskie Point, The Sound of Music, etc., get a totally different perspective. Furthermore, against the cynicism of the so-called post-ideological era, Žhižek is very successful in rehabilitating the already half-forgotten art of the critique of ideology.
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Foto: Patrik Glodzhani
Monday night saw the screening of one this year’s most talked about national documentaries at the Kino Europa Plateau. Director Alban Muja gave DokuFest viewers an insight into the life of Emin Gjinovci, commonly known as “Hitler”, who has taken on the persona of the reviled German 20th century politician. The documentary follows 5 days in Gjinovci’s life, an Albanian who emigrated to Germany before the conflict in Kosovo, and now lives in Mitrovica. The film opens with Gjinovci at his family home, trimming his toothbrush moustache to perfection as part of his morning ritual. He follows this with his morning coffee, accompanied by a shot of rakia. So far, there’s no indication of any atypical behavior. In fact, Gjinovci seems to be every bit the patriotic Albanian one would expect a disenchanted immigrant to be. His daughter, Çlirimtare, which means “freedom” in Albanian, is a living testament to his relationship with his home country. The documentary follows Gjinovci as he takes a walk in his hometown, with people greeting and recognizing him on the streets. However, no one calls him “Emin.” In fact, most of the people greet him by saying “Hi Hitler!”, which bares an eerie resemblance to the Nazi-era salutation in fascist Germany. Gjinovci raises his hand in response. This is juxtaposed by his other encounters, in which he uses the customary Muslim greeting of “Salam Alaikum” and a typical two-kiss greeting gesture. The next stop is his favorite local kebab joint. He says that this is his favorite type of food. Apparently, Emin Gjinovci once owned a restaurant, and considers himself to a decent chef.
The documentary is comical in many ways. The DokuFest audience present at the Monday night screening found amusement in his story. He claims that he does not support the policies of the “real” Hitler, and that it is merely a coincidence that looks like him. He says that now he can make a living out of it, mainly by charging the international presence in Kosovo for taking pictures with him. The fee for a picture with “Hitler”? Forty Euros, and the same applies for interviews with him. He insists that he hasn’t charged any locals for photographs yet. He says that people haven’t found any difficulties with him emulating the image of the German dictator, whom he bears a striking resemblance to. That apart from the German presence in Kosovo, who he says aren’t as keen on him being a living reminder of their unpleasant history. Actually, he says that “the Germans are a little bit scared of me,” which is also the name of Muja’s directorial debut.
SOCIAL MEDIA AND ACTIVISM The panel aims to involve internationally acclaimed activists and experts to share their experiences on usage of social media tools for monitoring institutional performance and inciting civic activism and social change. Moderator: Hajrulla Çeku Panelists: Amr Sobhy- Award winning Egyptian information activist, Dan Mq QuillanSocial media expert, Yll Rugova- Activist from Kosovo. Open to public Hamam Museum at 5 p.m.