Educational Media Reviews Online

Alan Magee: art is not a solace is a beautiful documentary film. Magee’s art, from his childhood drawings through his current work, is sometimes grotesque, sometimes meditative, sometimes tragic, but always engaging. The framing and filmography clearly and attractively showcases the still images of his work, archival footage, on-location action, and interviews. By the end of the film, the viewer has watched Magee’s journey as an artist, exploring both his thematic and artistic processes. Despite the visual strength of the film, it is Recommended with Reservations as a film suited only for upper division undergraduate art students or higher. It will likely be inaccessible to younger students or viewers with limited arts knowledge.

The film relies on the viewer’s understanding of art history and studio practice to fully understand the narrative. For example, the film assumes that the viewer is familiar with monoprint making. Magee’s monoprints play a significant role in his oeuvre, but the actual mechanics of printmaking are never described. To the artist or art student, the process is easily recognized, but the novice will still be unfamiliar with what a monoprint is at the end of the hour.

A challenge for all viewers is the lack of written labels. Speakers/interviewees are often shown without name or description on the screen. Most of the artworks shown are not titled, dated, or labeled with the artist’s name. At points, it is unclear whether the work on the screen is Magee’s or another artist’s creation that inspired him or provides context for his work. Transitions are similarly lacking. During one transition scene, Magee sings a song with an unknown duet partner. The song’s author and context are not discussed or labeled (information does appear in the end credits), so the scene’s purpose is unclear. The order of the film is somewhat haphazard as well. The story is non-linear, and segments on Magee’s current work are frequently spliced into segments detailing his earlier experiences.

Still, viewers with a good understanding of art history and studio practice will be able to piece together the narrative thread by supplementing what they see on the screen with their own subject knowledge. For upper division art students, graduate students, faculty, and other knowledgeable viewers, Alan Magee: art is not a solace will be worth the challenging watch. The artist’s work, his influences, and his message are visually and thematically stunning.

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