What are the shows on Jill's TV? - Hardware (1990) Discussion

[–] kemicon 18 years ago

I don't know it is a crazy mish mash, I know that they play Stigmata by Ministry when they show the GWAR video. As a kid I thought GWAR did the song until a friend clued me in.

The japanese stuff could be Tetsuo the Iron Man but I haven't seen Hardware in over 10 years so I'm just guessing.

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[–] carbohydrates 18 years ago

No, it's definitely not Tetsuo the Iron Man. That's one movie with which I'm very familiar. The Japanese stuff shown on Jill's TV is really something, though. Very wild and raw, with powder-faced performers grimacing, drooling blood, and I think there's some machinery involved...

I wish someone would know what this is. It looks so interesting!

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[–] drjborch 18 years ago

I kind of have guess or fictional idea. I know the other shows were of music and well known things. What if though the director created that powered man broadcast for a reason. Here is what I think:

We all know that there is some sort of war going on and the main actor just quit the marines. I really believe that the white powered man is the Tyrant or dictator of the country at the time. The way he looks could be a side effect of the war. I feel that his statements are meant to be some sort of speech to the narmy and nation....

This is my warped idea though....

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[–] lucy-causton 18 years ago

Artist and composer Monte Cazazza appears on the TV as the insane dictator with hat and sunglasses. This clip was probably from one of Monte's 1970s performance art films.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monte_Cazazza

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[–] carbohydrates 18 years ago

Well, no one seems to know the answer to my little query, but just in case, I thought I'd renew and clarify it:

At the exact moment that the M.A.R.K. 13 tears into Jill's mattress (she's just turned on the television, jumped up, and SLASH! his claws are tossing up feathers and mattress stuffing)...at that very moment, there's some unidentified program shown on the TV. It's some type of Asian experimental performance troupe, wearing pastey make-up, grey mud in their hair, grinning hysterically, carrying what look like crosses on their backs, tearing at each other, etc. It all looks very intriguing. What is it? It's not Monte Cazazza, it's not SRL, Psychic Television, GWAR, or Ministry. So what is it? Has anyone discovered the truth?

-Jason

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[–] absurd_planet 18 years ago

It's outrageous, that's what it is man.
This movie..along with other weird 90's VHS only flicks.

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[–] nnunley 18 years ago

Just viewed that scene. I'm pretty sure that it's from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096251/ (Tetsuo, the Iron Man) -- it came out in 1989, so the timing is about right for that sort of Industrial scene homage.

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[–] carbohydrates 18 years ago

Ah. I should have mentioned, again, that the scene is certainly NOT from "Tetsuo: The Iron Man", a film I've seen quite a few times and with which I am pretty familiar, to say the least.
I think the only chance I have of learning what the Hardware footage was from is if Richard Stanley himself passes through here and has a little free time to post the answer.
I wonder if there's any way to contact him directly via e-mail. If anyone knows anything, my e-mail address is: [email protected]

Hardware is one of my very favorite movies, and I must know everything about its history! This one loose end is killing me.

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[–] carbohydrates 18 years ago

It does seem reminiscent of some of Shinya Tsukamoto's earlier work, though, so you're not way off base with the Tetsuo guess - unless you've seen Tetsuo, in which case you know that there is no connection.
It always looks to me more like it's happening on a stage, like it's some kind of obscure Japanese theater performance group, filmed performance artists, etc. If that's the case, I'll probably never find out what it is.

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[–] blahsnarto 18 years ago

The Images are from a video release by Einsturzende Neubauten
Called 1/2 Mensch, The Director is:

Sogo Ishii
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0411025/
http://www.midnighteye.com/features/concertfilms_ishii.shtml
http://www.dvdmaniacs.net/Reviews/E-H/en_halber_mensch.html

If you havent picked up this video, i highly recommend it..

Hope this helps..

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[–] carbohydrates 18 years ago

YES! That definitely is the video! It's funny, too, because I recently purchased "Burst City", directed by Sogo Ishii, hoping that it would be the thing from Jill's TV.
I knew someone would have the answer. Can't thank you enough.

-J

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