Paracinema identifies cinematic properties realized in non-filmic media, without the standard film apparatus

Jonathan Walley’s concept of paracinema (developed from Ken Jacobs’ performances) describes works that are cinematic without using film as a material. Paracinema recognizes cinematic properties outside the standard film apparatus — qualities like projection, duration, movement, spectatorial darkness — and realizes them through other means. This connects to Pavle Levi’s ‘cinema by other means’: the conceptualization of cinema as a type of practice that has always had a history of execution through non-filmic media. For AV performers, the concept is practically useful: it provides a theoretical frame for claiming cinematic status for work made entirely with laptops, projectors, and generative code, without needing actual film.

Examples

A live-coded visuals performance where the performer assembles projected narrative sequences in real time — no film, but cinematic logic of shot, montage, and duration.

Assessment

Identify two cinematic properties (in Walley’s sense) present in a live AV performance and explain how they are realized without film.