Manny Farber

Manny Farber
Born
Emanuel Farber

(1917-02-20)February 20, 1917
Douglas, Arizona, U.S.
DiedAugust 18, 2008(2008-08-18) (aged 91)
Leucadia, Encinitas, California, U.S.
Occupations
  • Painter
  • film critic
Spouses
  • Patricia Patterson (1976–2008)
  • Marsha Picker (1950-1965)
  • Janet Terrace (1938-1946)

Emanuel Farber (February 20, 1917 – August 18, 2008) was an American painter, film critic and writer. Often described as "iconoclastic",[1][2][3] Farber developed a distinctive prose style [1] and set of theoretical stances which have had a large influence on later generations of film critics and influence on underground culture.[1] Susan Sontag considered him to be "the liveliest, smartest, most original film critic this country has ever produced."[4]

Farber's writing was distinguished by its "visceral," punchy style[1] and inventive approach towards language;[5] amongst other things, he is credited with coining the term "underground film" in 1957,[1] and was an early advocate of such filmmakers as Howard Hawks, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Werner Herzog, William Wellman, Raoul Walsh, Anthony Mann, Michael Snow, Chantal Akerman, George Kuchar, Nicolas Roeg, Samuel Fuller and Andy Warhol.[6]

Farber's painting, which was often influenced by his favorite filmmakers,[1] is held in equally high regard; he was dubbed the greatest still life painter of his generation by The New York Times.[1]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Grimes, William (August 19, 2008). Manny Farber, Iconoclastic Film Critic and Artist, Dies at 91. New York Times
  2. ^ Kiderra, Inga (August 21, 2008).Obituary: Artist and Critic Manny Farber, 91. UCSanDiego NewsCenter
  3. ^ Issue 40 Editorial. Archived July 11, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Framework
  4. ^ Manny Farber, 1917 - 2008. Archived July 18, 2009, at the Wayback Machine GreenCine Daily.
  5. ^ Hoberman, J.Manny Farber 1917-2008. Village Voice
  6. ^ Polito, Robert. "Other Roads, Other Tracks" Introduction. Farber on Film: The Complete Film Writings of Manny Farber. New York: Library of America, 2009. Xv-Xxxviii.