“I
used to be a nobody, until I discovered the Internet,” says Zola, a 27-year-old
investigative reporter who makes his living as a produce vendor in China’s
Hunan province.
In the film
“High Tech, Low Life,” an award-winning documentary that juxtaposes the
journeys of two citizen journalists, Zola represents a generation of young,
brash and self-interested reporters hoping to make a name for themselves and
take down China’s Great Firewall. China’s first citizen reporter, Tiger Temple,
the other half of the film’s central pair, portrays a contrasting sense of
idealism and endeavors to provide a voice for the suffering. Despite their
different philosophies, these men paint a picture of individuals searching for
truth and trying to improve freedom despite overwhelming obstacles and pressure
from authorities.
Through these
separate narratives, the film’s director, Stephen Maing, unveils the complex
relationship between a country, its citizens and the government. Moreover,
Maing’s vision carefully weaves the significance of technology and the
responsibility that comes with using said technology to disperse information
and communicate discovered news or scandals.
According to
Kristen Lauerman, the manager and assistant programmer of film and video for
Boston’s Museum of Fine Art, these themes attracted the museum and inspired
several exclusive screenings of Maing’s documentary throughout the month of
April.
“Within the
past few years, social media and the internet have gained monumental
significance throughout the world,” says Lauerman. “The internet not only
serves as a social platform, but it also serves a vital role in communicating
world issues and connecting conversations.”
Lauerman, 29,
earned her masters in film studies from Boston University and has been working
for the MFA’s film department for over four years. The department aims to exhibit
the finest in foreign, independent, classic and documentary cinema from around
the world. Lauerman particularly seeks out films with strong, cultural
relevance.
“We have a
robust, year round program. We search for films that are strong enough to stand
on their own and have a fascinating or timely subject matter. Boston is such a
tech-oriented city, it makes sense to show films such as Maing’s documentary,”
says Lauerman.
The Film
Program at the MFA was founded in 1956 under the direction of Katharine Stone
White. Carter Long, the current head curator, states that the program operates
with the guiding philosophy that film is an important contemporary art form
that fits perfectly in the context of one of the world’s foremost encyclopedic
museums. Similar to his colleague Lauerman, Long strives to select films that
provide a unique perspective on society and culture.
“I always
look for films that provide a new experience, films that somehow subvert our
expectations for cinema,” says Long, 33. “One of the things that continues to
amaze me about film is its capacity to provide a window into other cultures,
whether across the globe or across the states.”
Annually, the
film program hosts more than four hundred screenings, many of which are
screened as a part of numerous film festivals. These yearly festivals include the
Boston French Film Festival (July,) Boston Festival of Films from Iran
(January), Boston LGBT Film Festival (May), Boston Jewish Film Festival
(November), the Boston Palestine Film Festival (October), and the Roxbury
International Film Festival (June).
Although the MFA
Film Program chooses to screen complex, contemporary and classic world cinema,
Long insists that students in the greater Boston area have much to gain from
their program.
“I believe
strongly that watching films can be an incredible educational experience, not
just in an academic sense, but in a way that can expand the individual and collective
consciousness and inspire compassion for others in a way that is unmatched
across other artistic disciplines,” says
Long.
When the Film
Program is not participating in their wide range of annual festivals, Long and
Lauerman focus on integrating their program with exhibits throughout the museum
and searching for new ways to appeal to the younger crowd that makes up a
significant amount of the neighboring population.
“We have
found that many of our retrospective series draw large student crowds. This
past February we hosted a Stanley Kubrick retrospective which brought in more
than 2000 people, many of which were students,” recalls Long.
Moreover, the
MFA Film Program often arranges for visitors and students to interact with
accomplished directors, such as Maing, during panel Q&A sessions. These opportunities, as well as regular
screenings, are available for $5 to undergraduates who present a current
student ID. Tickets can be reserved over the phone, on the museum’s website or
in person.
Museum of Fine Arts
1-800-440-6975
Mon-Sat
9 am to 9 pm
Sun
9 am to 6 pm
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