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  Once Upon a Time Down Clark Street

  Blog

  Twenty-four years after the release of Down Clark Street, a documentary uncovering the now bygone Clark Street of the 1960s and 70s, legendary filmmaker Tom Palazzolo has released a new book of photographs revealing yet another remarkable and candid glimpse at a street integral to Chicago’s history. Simply titled Clark Street, the book contains dozens of photographs taken by Palazzolo himself in addition to essays by artists who have known both Palazzolo and Chicago for decades. In 1962, Palazzolo moved … Continue reading →

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  The View from East Germany

  Blog

  The media has given much attention to the 30th anniversary of the Berlin Wall’s collapse, lauding the often-facile narrative of democracy over communism, of freedom over tyranny. Yet, the reality of historical events and their impact on the lives of ordinary people is never quite so simple. Often lost amid the spectacle of politicians, policy makers, and the mass media are the ways that ordinary people have grappled with their extraordinary circumstances, ranging from the heroic, the tragic, and the … Continue reading →

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  Nixon Resigns: The Legacy of Impeachment

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  August 8, 1974.  It was a different world, a different president and an unprecedented American crisis.  That was the night Richard Nixon sat in the Oval Office and made the surprise announcement that he was resigning as President of the United States. Some independent video producers obtained a videotape recorded in the moments before the speech.  It was the European pool feed, never intended for broadcast: a rare glimpse into the curation and production of a president’s image. We think … Continue reading →

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  Chicago teachers have gone on strike 11 times since 1969

  Blog

  The Chicago Teachers Union plans to vote at 6pm today to end a 10-day strike. The deal is contingent on Mayor Lori Lightfoot agreeing to allow the lost school days to be made up, which she has not yet agreed to do. Chicago’s teachers have gone on strike 11 times since 1969. The longest strike, in 1987, went on for 19 days. This video from 1975 documents full-time teachers and substitutes on the picket line. The 11-day strike resulted in … Continue reading →

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  “We need to understand how the media and politicians divide us all…”

  Blog

  Democracies around the globe are in peril as systematic disinformation campaigns divide well-meaning communities and wear away public trust.  Widespread protests around the world have led to state crackdowns on free expression.   Here’s how Media Burn is fighting back. We have been creating international partnerships of journalists, media makers, students, and teachers to investigate and speak out about media distortion and how it damages democracy in all countries. We started this alliance between concerned colleagues in St. Petersburg, Russia … Continue reading →

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  10/10/19: Chicago Lost and Found: Public Housing edition

  Blog, Events, Lost & Found

  Thursday, October 10, 6-8:30pm Jane Addams Homes, 1322 W Taylorfree! dinner provided! Join Media Burn and the National Public Housing Museum for a truly special evening of cinema under the stars. As part of the Chicago Architecture Biennial, NPHM has activated the last remaining building of the Jane Addams Homes by inviting South African artist Malose Malahlela, along with Jim Duignan and Jeff Kowalkowski of Chicago’s Stockyard Institute, to create the installation Listed, which considers themes of place and loss … Continue reading →

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  In 1976, TVTV Tapped Into a World Obsessed With Violence

  Blog

  In 1976, pioneering video collective TVTV created a mini series called Super Vision. Each of the ten episodes took a satirical poke at the cultural impact of television. “Shoot-Out!,” one of the short videos in the series, was (unfortunately) prescient. It’s about our addiction to TV, even when two armed invaders are holding you hostage in your living room. It rings true to today, 43 years later when TV news every day is inextricably bound to gun violence, with mass shootings almost … Continue reading →

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  8/31/19: Wind Down the Summer in Humboldt Park

  Blog, Events, Lost & Found

  At Home In HumboldtSaturday, August 31, 9:30pm east side of Humboldt Parkon the lawn near the boat housefree! Join Media Burn, Chicago Film Archives, Chicago Film Society, and the Chicago Park District for a special evening celebrating Humboldt Park history. Curated by Dalina A. Perdomo Álvarez and Raul Benitez, this collection of archival, found, and home movie footage explores the neighborhood and highlights the people, places, and events that have shaped Humboldt Park through the years. Bring your blankets and … Continue reading →