Series Site
Across this singular 11 day mini-lab, we invite participants to finally get around to watching the precise and generously observed body of work from Frederick Wiseman. This is an invitation to study New York City through the lens of one of documentary’s most formidable and dedicated figures. A comprehensive survey awaits intrepid and committed participants, alongside invitations to visit the institutions, neighborhoods, and civic spaces they document. We are bringing top scholars, experts and disciples to expand on his work, to act as your guides, and to aid a thorough examination of not only what Wiseman filmed but how and why he developed his singular approach. The city becomes a living classroom for thinking about observation, civic engagement, and documentary practice. Public screenings of his nine New York films will take place at cinemas across the city, offering the chance to experience this monumental body of work on the big screen. The films are indeed lengthy and disciplined—as is characteristic of Wiseman’s practice—but always thrilling once you are there and richly textured reflections of our society. When else will you have the chance to commit to seeing these films on screen with a supportive, discursive community at some of the city’s finest cinematic institutions? Join us today and engage with observing and understanding New York City with Wiseman as your guide.