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Film and Media Arts

From moving pictures to an established industry, film and media have the power to capture our most powerful stories. Learn more about how it has evolved and helped tell diverse stories.

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The first aerial photograph of Los Angeles (1887)
Taken from a hot air balloon, it was probably the first aerial photo of L.A.
A traffic officer in uniform. Pyongyang, North Korea | Mark Edward Harris / Getty Images
In his book, “North Korea," Los Angeles-based photographer Mark Edward Harris captures the lives and culture of North Korea's citizens. 
Hear My Voice
Filmmaker Adebukola “Buki” Bondunrin explores the prejudice experienced by women because of their voice.
Tijuana Zine Fest | Samanta Helou Hernandez
DIY enthusiasts from both sides of the border engage in a day filled with music, art, and bi-national dialogue at the The Tijuana Zine Fest.
Rialto Theatre | Thomas Hawk/Flickr/Creative Commons
The historic Rialto Theatre in Pasadena was once a prized community venue but in recent years has faced neglect. The Mosaic Church has leased the space causing community members to worry the theater will no longer be used for non-religious arts events.
Before After The Graduate storyboard Harold and Lillian | Courtesy of Adama Films/ Zeitgeist Films
Harold and Lillian Michelson weren't household names, but their work made a big impact on the film world.
Iris Hall as Eve Mason in The Symbol of the Unconquered, 1920. USA. Directed by Oscar Micheaux | Courtesy of the California African American Museum
In the first half of the 20th century, black women were largely relegated to playing mammy and jezebel roles. A new exhibition reveals how as early as 100 years ago, independent black filmmakers presented complex portrayals of women of color. 
Boarded-Up Farm House - Color/Infrared Exposure - Bishop, CA - 2016 | Osceola Refetoff
When pioneer farmers got to Inyo County from the Midwest, most of them had to master a new way of farming in arid lands. These farmers ultimately learned irrigation techniques and built two hundred miles of unlined canals.
1001 Natchts Ride
In the 1930s Indio coupled marketing their excellent date crop with Oriental fantasies borrowed from Hollywood and the short story collection “One Thousand and One Nights." High & Dry follows the evolution of this county's orientalism.
Conchas | Courtesy of Chicano Eats
Chicano Eats presents photos and recipes that quietly tap into mainstream beliefs about Mexican food being cheap, exotic or lacking depth — and underscore that the complex cuisine has more personality than most people realize.
Cosmopolis Toronto: Palestine
Colin Boyd Shafer took on the challenge to photograph one person from every country of the world to showcase the beauty of diversity. The catch? They all had to be people who now call Toronto home.
Starman 1, Frida Kahlo Museum – Casa Azul courtyard, Coyoacán, Mexico, 1997. | Fernando Aceves, 2007
Fernando Aceves led the first generation of concert photographers in Mexico. His photographs of David Bowie during his only visit to Mexico 20 years ago reveals “the human Bowie, not the character,” without the outrageous makeup, hair, and costumes.
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