From scene films to scene videos: Communities documenting communities

Abstract

The activity of local music scenes has at times been documented by members of those communities in films that differ from commercial audio-visual products in their mode of production, their aesthetics and the way they represent the reality of musical activities. The collaborative character of local scenes and the DIY ethos of many of them help shape these works, where artistic intentions and experimentation coexist with their use for self-learning or the construction of personal memories. This article identifies the features of these scene films, both in documentary and fiction, and explores how technological changes and the digital age have influenced them.