Close Up (magazine)
Encyclopedia
Close Up was an influential literary magazine
of the Pool Group
, first published in 1927. "It was the brain child of Kenneth Macpherson
, a young man of independent means, not a little talent, and quite a lot of personal charm". The monthly magazine, founded at the groups "headquarters" in Territet, Switzerland would be dedicated to "independent cinema and cinema from around the world". The first issue of Close Up, describing itself on the front cover as an "international magazine devoted to film art", appeared in July, 1927. Macpherson was editor-in-chief, with Bryher
as assistant editor, and Hilda Doolittle
("HD") and Oswell Blakeston
making regular contributions.
The publication was truly international with correspondents reporting on productions worldwide, with major literary and cinematic figures contributing articles on the latest film theory (René Crevel
, Dorothy Richardson
, Sergei Eisenstein
, Hans Sachs
, Harry Potamkin) and advertising revenue coming from Paris, Berlin, and New York.
Macpherson "dictated the tone and direction of the publication, contributing articles that defined the role of the director and defended the integrity of cinema and its right to be considered as art". Close Up would discard the vulgar entertainment films coming out of Britain and Hollywood, preferring the avant-garde productions from Germany and the Soviet Union. Blakeston, the most prolific of the magazine's writers, would mock British lack of imagination and general ineptitude.
Later, the magazine reduced its publication frequency from monthly to quarterly, eventually fizzling out in 1933 when Macpherson departed.
Literary magazine
A literary magazine is a periodical devoted to literature in a broad sense. Literary magazines usually publish short stories, poetry and essays along with literary criticism, book reviews, biographical profiles of authors, interviews and letters...
of the Pool Group
Pool Group
The Pool Group were a trio of interwar period artists, filmmakers and poets consisting of Hilda Doolittle, Kenneth Macpherson and Bryher . Their work has been studied by poetry and film historians as well as by scholars of mysticism, feminism, psychoanalysis and LGBT history...
, first published in 1927. "It was the brain child of Kenneth Macpherson
Kenneth Macpherson
Kenneth Macpherson was born in Scotland, 27 March 1902, the son of Scottish painter, John 'Pop' Macpherson and Clara Macpherson. Descended from 6 generations of artists, Macpherson was a novelist, photographer, critic and film-maker...
, a young man of independent means, not a little talent, and quite a lot of personal charm". The monthly magazine, founded at the groups "headquarters" in Territet, Switzerland would be dedicated to "independent cinema and cinema from around the world". The first issue of Close Up, describing itself on the front cover as an "international magazine devoted to film art", appeared in July, 1927. Macpherson was editor-in-chief, with Bryher
Bryher
Bryher was the pen name of the novelist, poet, memoirist, and magazine editor Annie Winifred Ellerman. She was born in September 1894 in Margate. Her father was the shipowner and financier John Ellerman, who at the time of his death in 1933, was the richest Englishman who had ever lived...
as assistant editor, and Hilda Doolittle
H.D.
H.D. was an American poet, novelist and memoirist known for her association with the early 20th century avant-garde Imagist group of poets such as Ezra Pound and Richard Aldington...
("HD") and Oswell Blakeston
Oswell Blakeston
Oswell Blakeston was the pseudonym of Henry Joseph Hasslacher , a British writer and artist who also worked in the film industry, made some experimental films, and wrote extensively on film theory...
making regular contributions.
The publication was truly international with correspondents reporting on productions worldwide, with major literary and cinematic figures contributing articles on the latest film theory (René Crevel
René Crevel
René Crevel was a French writer involved with the surrealist movement.-Life:Crevel was born in Paris to a family of Parisian bourgeoisie. He had a traumatic religious upbringing. At the age of fourteen, during a difficult stage of his life, his father committed suicide by hanging himself. Crevel...
, Dorothy Richardson
Dorothy Richardson
Dorothy Miller Richardson was a British author and journalist.-Biography:Richardson was born in Abingdon in 1873. Her family moved to Worthing, West Sussex in 1880 and then Putney, London in 1883...
, Sergei Eisenstein
Sergei Eisenstein
Sergei Mikhailovich Eisenstein , né Eizenshtein, was a pioneering Soviet Russian film director and film theorist, often considered to be the "Father of Montage"...
, Hans Sachs
Hans Sachs
Hans Sachs was a German meistersinger , poet, playwright and shoemaker.-Biography:Hans Sachs was born in Nuremberg . His father was a tailor. He attended Latin school in Nuremberg...
, Harry Potamkin) and advertising revenue coming from Paris, Berlin, and New York.
Macpherson "dictated the tone and direction of the publication, contributing articles that defined the role of the director and defended the integrity of cinema and its right to be considered as art". Close Up would discard the vulgar entertainment films coming out of Britain and Hollywood, preferring the avant-garde productions from Germany and the Soviet Union. Blakeston, the most prolific of the magazine's writers, would mock British lack of imagination and general ineptitude.
Later, the magazine reduced its publication frequency from monthly to quarterly, eventually fizzling out in 1933 when Macpherson departed.
External links
- http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=joAbufAs9ZMC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Close+up,+1927-1933:+Cinema+and+Modernism+-+James+Donald,+Anne+Friedberg,+Laura+Marcus&source=bl&ots=yibQFz571X&sig=SWvO4jiSkM7X2tzL9nSsdLOS728&hl=en&ei=5JyXTbjHDoOAhQfd5tTjCA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBkQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=falseClose up, 1927-1933: Cinema and Modernism - James Donald, Anne Friedberg, Laura Marcus]
- Close Up – A Magazine Devoted To The Art Of Films (Ayer Co. Pub.(1988) ISBN 0405007329