This session will examine notions of environmental degradation, ecological collapse, sites of exclusion and anxities of nature’s revenge.

Godzilla vs Hedorah (1971) ‘ゴジラ対ヘドラ’ Directed by Yoshimitsu Banno, 85 mins

An ever evolving alien life-form arrives on a comet from the Dark Gaseous Nebula and proceeds to consume pollution. Spewing mists of sulfuric acid and corrosive sludge, neither humanity nor Godzilla may be able to defeat this toxic menace.

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(Untitled) Human Mask (2014) by Pierre Huyghe, 20 mins

Huyghe’s film is shot in a location ravaged by the recent tsunami and ensuing nuclear disaster at Fukushima. A singular inhabitant wanders through a gloomy interior wearing a traditional Japanese theater mask, a woman’s wig, a white shirt, and a dress resembling a school uniform. We soon realize it is a monkey, although the creature’s attentive, anxious attitude and body language suggest an ambiguous humanity.

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For those that wish to participate, the screenings will be followed by a group discussion of the films and assigned reading, found here: www.are.na