The Lost Empires, an essay film that utilises archival footage to explore the influence of curated memory and nostalgia on societal narratives. Developed within the framework of the Learning On Screen UK course on Filmmaking and Copyright Law, the film represents a collage of theoretical inquiry and creative expression.
Engaging with the works of Derrida, Fisher, and Borges, the project situates itself in a place where nostalgia and solastalgia coexist. It focuses on society’s collective yearning for the past and suggests that it contributes to the rise of populist movements and new nationalisms by commodifying and reimagining selective memory. By utilising the essay film as a medium, this paper demonstrates how this genre facilitates nuanced engagement with complex ideas, fostering dialogue between multiple disciplines within academia and broader society.
The film prompts viewers to critically assess how archives shape collective memory while addressing the ideological power of curators and those who hold the past. Additionally, it highlights the environmental and ethical implications of archival practices, commenting on the limited sustainable approaches and the lack of dialogue on data management.
The Lost Empires essay film adheres to copyright and legal standards successfully. The project prompts audiences to reevaluate their relationship with archives and the impact that the burgeoning vaults of data are having and will have on contemporary and future societies.
https://www.screenworks.org.uk/archive/volume-15-2/the-lost-empires