Jack Smith and the Destruction of Atlantis

Jack Smith and the Destruction of Atlantis is an intriguing documentary film that was released in 2006. Directed by Mary Jordan, this film focuses on the life and art of Jack Smith, one of the most influential figures in the world of Performance art, experimental film, and queer theory. Other personalities featured in the film include Nayland Blake, an artist renowned for his exploration of racial and sexual identity; and Ira Cohen, the inimitable artistic provocateur whose life and work spanned poetry, photography, and film.

The film positions Jack Smith as one of the greatest underground filmmakers and artists of the 20th century. Known best for his film "Flaming Creatures," Smith has long been celebrated by a small cadre of artistic enthusiasts who have appreciated his unique perspective on the world. However, his bonafide genius, which challenged heteronormativity and consumerism, often relegated him to the fringes of artistic communities, something the documentary delves into.

In the documentary, Jordan does an excellent job of using archival footage, interviews, and rare film clips to paint a rich and complex picture of Smith's life and career. She deftly navigates the viewer through his formative years, his artistic development, and the struggles he faced while working on his avant-garde projects. The film does not shy away from exploring Smith's sharp critiques of capitalist society, his explorations of radical queer aesthetics, and his lifelong battle against mainstream recognition.

One of the standout aspects of Jack Smith and the Destruction of Atlantis is its captivating storytelling. Jordan skillfully deploys the voices of various artists, performers, and thinkers who knew Smith or were influenced by his work. Among them are Nayland Blake and Ira Cohen, who provide insightful commentary and anecdotes about Smith's life, creating a complex and kaleidoscopic portrait of the artist.

Blake's observations are particularly enlightening. As a pioneering artist who has navigated intersections of racial and sexual identity in his own work, Blake provides critical context for Smith's experiments with race, exoticism, and the portrayal of the 'Other'. Similarly, Ira Cohen's contributions are thoughtful and illuminating. Cohen, a contemporary of Smith's and a fellow adventurer in the spheres of underground art and the Avant-Garde, gives fascinating first-hand accounts of the atmosphere and ethos of the time when Smith was pioneering his radical, queer aesthetic.

In addition to being a biographical exploration and an artistic analysis of Smith's work, Jack Smith and the Destruction of Atlantis is an examination of the artist's views on society. The title alludes to Smith's long-held belief that capitalism was eroding creativity, authenticity, and individuality, leading to a metaphorical 'destruction of Atlantis' - a society he envisaged free of commercialism and dedicated entirely to art.

Furthermore, the film looks into Smith's fraught relationship with the commercial film industry. The viewer gets to understand the artist's disdain for what he perceived as the film industry's voracious appetite for control, commodification, and systematic destruction of genuine creativity.

The documentary is visually interesting as well, interspersing interviews and commentary with clips from Smith's films and performances. This allows the viewer to see and appreciate Smith's distinctive aesthetic and to also understand how his work evolved and influenced subsequent artists and filmmakers.

In essence, 'Jack Smith and the Destruction of Atlantis' provides a critical look at a relatively overlooked giant in the world of experimental film and performance art. Mary Jordan manages to weave together a compelling narrative about an artist whose influence has rippled outward to touch countless other personalities in the Avant-Garde art world. The film serves as a potent exploration of art, anarchy, and the fierce resistance to the constraints of societal expectations. It encourages the viewer to contemplate the deeper issues of creativity, authenticity, and artistic freedom in a world dominated by capitalist pressures, making it a must-watch for any art and film enthusiast.