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21-87

Name: 21-87
Director: Arthur Lipsett
Released: 1963
Duration: 10 min

Representation Score

4.9/10

Fair

1963

Not Rated

Director

Arthur Lipsett

Runtime

10 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Arthur Lipsett’s *21-87* is a postmodern collage that prioritizes systemic critique over character-driven storytelling. By utilizing found footage and experimental montage to examine a machine-dominated landscape, it lacks the traditional narrative framework needed to depict specific demographic identities. The film excels in its high-level deconstruction of Western industrial structures and capitalist alienation. This intellectual depth provides a unique form of cultural commentary that transcends standard representation. However, the abstraction of the medium results in low scores for racial, gender, and LGBTQ+ representation. The focus on urban textures and industrial decay obscures individual identities, making the work a study of societal systems rather than human diversity.

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Category Breakdown

Does 21-87 have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film's abstract, non-narrative structure prevents the depiction of specific sexual orientations. It focuses on societal alienation rather than interpersonal relationships.

How does 21-87 portray gender?

Fair

By removing domestic frameworks, the film avoids reinforcing traditional gender hierarchies. However, the lack of gendered ability to act limits its ability to subvert traditional roles.

How racially and ethnically diverse is 21-87?

Limited

Rapid-fire montage and industrial footage obscure specific racial or ethnic identities. The focus remains on the socioeconomic condition of the masses rather than distinct representation.

How does 21-87 represent religion and culture?

Excellent

The work offers a profound critique of Western industrial capitalism and the alienation of modern progress. It deconstructs the organized, rationalist Western worldview through systemic chaos.

Does 21-87 include disability representation?

Fair

The film lacks characters with specific disabilities but functions as a visual metaphor for sensory overload. It mirrors the disorientation of the modern human condition.

Present on Screen

Provides a profound critique of Western industrial capitalism and the alienation of modern progress.
Avoids reinforcing traditional gender hierarchies by removing domestic and interpersonal frameworks.
Uses sensory overload as a powerful visual metaphor for the disorientation of the human condition.

Limited or Absent

Lacks intentional diverse casting or distinct ethnic representation due to its abstract nature.
Provides no presence of LGBTQ+ characters or narratives due to its non-narrative structure.
Fails to present active gendered ability to act, limiting its ability to subvert traditional roles.

Official Synopsis

This short film from Arthur Lipsett is an abstract collage of snippets from discarded footage found by Lipsett in the editing room of the National Film Board (where he worked as an animator), combined with his own black and white 16mm footage shot on the streets of Montreal and New York City, among other locations. A commentary on a machine-dominated society, it is often cited as an influence on George Lucas's Star Wars and his conceptualization of "The Force."

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