Before lecture began, I thought Kirsten Johnson was visiting our class to present her film Cameraperson to all of us. Instead, I got some valuable lessons on how to think artistically, and the importance of making art.
Kirsten emphasized how art is based on, and forged in, personal connection. She insisted on walking around the entire lecture hall to better see and connect to the students she presented to. This not only made the class seem more casual (and even heartfelt) to me, but also gave me a sense of how she shoots her films: up close and personal. She continued this theme by conducting an exercise which forced all the students in the class to stare each other in the eyes for 2 straight minutes. It was a deeply personal moment, where I really examined my partner's focus, emotional quality, and intensity in addition to their looks.
Kirsten also demonstrated the importance of collaboration and talking to/getting critique from multiple people during the artistic process. She sat next to students, asking for their honest takes on her work. She told us she learned at least three new things about her short film "As Above," which she spent years producing. She showed us that critique as an interpersonal function of art is a necessary part of creating for a living, and that meeting people where they're at is essential for producing accessible and revolutionary work. By coordinating with a kid in Kabul, she was able to negotiate getting a shot through balloons without it being an annoyance or a transaction.
Finally, she talked about the necessity of moving outside one's comfort zone in the process of making a film. She lay flat on the ground to get a specific shot of carrots, but getting the image right mattered more to her in that moment than looking ridiculous. Similarly, she spoke about not being "ladylike" in order to keep her camera stable on a mountain ridge while changing her shot slightly. All these points comprised a deeply personal lecture that I will not soon forget.
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