Here is an introductory video:
The aim of this year-long journey is to come together as film detectives to 1) build a dossier on Pasolini, uncovering who he was, 2) explore the connections between his films, life, and the cultural-political landscape of his time, and 3) reflect on the relevance of his ideas today, and 4) spark new creative insights or responses within each of us along the way.
You can register here or by completing the form below.
For fellow travelers on this journey, a heads-up: Pasolini’s films aren’t for everyone. His art dives unapologetically into politics, sexuality, and religion, often pushing boundaries that may challenge or provoke.
We encourage you to engage with his work critically—question, analyze, and explore his contradictions. This is a space to form your own understanding of Pasolini’s legacy.We expect that this project will be meaningful. As Roberto Chiesi, film critic and head of the Centro Studi – Archivio Pasolini at the Cineteca di Bologna, explained in an interview:
“I believe that the reason why scholars of so many disciplines feel the need to go through Pasolini is that he realized he was the dramatic (and also traumatized) witness of this epochal phase of transformation of (Italy): the passage from agricultural Italy to industrial Italy, which was truly something epochal and completely changed life, culture and society in our country, creating the premises of what is our present.“
And this from Luca Peretti and Daniel Fairfax in “Senses of Cinema,’ Dec 2015:
“Truly, (Pasolini’s) œuvre can be considered a vast intertextual labyrinth, whose contours can be endlessly explored by those who are dedicated to understanding his life and work.”
Structure of the Journey: Each month, a “community moderator” will lead our exploration. If you’re interested in moderating one of the unclaimed films, don’t hesitate to step forward – just let Kent, Kristina or Aaron know! (They will act as default moderators whenever needed). As a community moderator, you will have the freedom to curate the group’s experience that month. Whether you choose to host a traditional CineJourneys Zoom call to share and moderate a discussion, or suggest a reading or group activity related to the film, your creativity is encouraged. Just keep in mind the busy lives of our fellow participants, so let’s keep the requests manageable.