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The Discipline of D.E.

Name: The Discipline of D.E.
Director: Gus Van Sant
Released: 1982
Duration: 9 min

Representation Score

5.9/10

Fair

1982

Director

Gus Van Sant

Runtime

9 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Gus Van Sant’s experimental approach uses the philosophy of 'Doing Easy' to challenge conventional, goal-oriented storytelling. By focusing on William Burroughs' prose, the film moves away from Western capitalist values of frenzied productivity. The film's strength lies in its meditative disruption of societal structures. It favors a rhythmic, ritualistic existence over the rigid discipline typically found in mainstream narratives. While the film lacks clear demographic markers, its subversion of traditional archetypes provides a nuanced view of human ability to act. It replaces dominance with a more fluid, less hierarchical mode of interaction with the world.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Discipline of D.E. have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

While there are no explicit LGBTQ depictions, the film's connection to William Burroughs and Gus Van Sant hints at a subversion of traditional heterosexual norms.

How does The Discipline of D.E. portray gender?

Good

The film avoids aggressive masculine stereotypes by emphasizing a philosophy of gentle, relaxed movement, challenging the hyper-masculine clichés typical of 1980s cinema.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Discipline of D.E.?

Fair

The synopsis does not provide clear evidence of a racially diverse cast or specific racial narratives. The film seems focused on a localized, philosophical approach.

How does The Discipline of D.E. represent religion and culture?

Excellent

The film incorporates non-Western philosophical ideas through a 'Buddhist noir' style, critiquing capitalist productivity by promoting a relaxed, non-materialistic state of being.

Does The Discipline of D.E. include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no specific mention of characters with visible or invisible disabilities.

Present on Screen

Challenges Western capitalist notions of productivity and efficiency.
Subverts hyper-masculine clichés through a philosophy of gentle movement.
Incorporates non-Western philosophical frameworks into a cinematic narrative.

Limited or Absent

Lacks explicit evidence of racial or ethnic diversity within the cast.
Provides no clear representation of characters with disabilities.
Does not offer overt depictions of specific LGBTQ identities.

Official Synopsis

"The Discipline of D.E." is a short 16mm film directed by Gus Van Sant. It’s based on a story in “Exterminator!” by William Burroughs that at times reads like Buddhist noir: "DE is a way of doing. DE simply means doing whatever you do in the easiest most relaxed way you can manage which is also the quickest and most efficient way, as you will find as you advance in DE. You can start right now tidying up your flat, moving furniture or books, washing dishes, making tea, sorting papers. Don't fumble, jerk, grab an object. Drop cool possessive fingers onto it like a gentle old cop making a soft arrest.”

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