Primitive Diversity

Abstract

This chapter looks at the dialogue between Christian Schulte and Alexander Kluge wherein they talked about primitive diversity. “Primitive diversity” is an expression from the American East Coast for early film. The one- to two-minute films demonstrate the early form of cinema. Meanwhile, pre-Hollywood cinema is closely tied to the inventors of the film camera, who were also scientists. Primitive diversity encompasses the entire spectrum ranging from sensationalism, curiosity, and old greed to the abilities cameras themselves possess. Ultimately, this early cinema responds to the needs of migrant workers in the United States who come from many countries, are in need, and create their own public sphere themselves in the silent movies. Kluge claims that “astonishment as means of knowledge—that is primitive diversity.” The dialogue between Schulte and Kluge also ruminates on Kluge's indebtedness to the cinema of attraction.