Documented American Fraud: Issue 3, Fall 2019 (Cinematic Codes Review)

This issue features four paintings, including the piece utilized as cover-art, by Nawwar Morelli (member of Latakia Plastic Artists). It also includes six essays from the Editor, Anna Faktorovich, in the first part, called “Fraud in American Documentaries”, of a two-part “Theoretical Film Studies” project. The topics covered are: Walter Benjamin’s annihilation of quality in mass cultural reproduction in Gasland Part II; Bernard Stiegler’s “Star” in Steve Burrows’ bleeding mother; Adorno and Horkheimer’s “idiotic plot” and representations of Elizabeth Holmes’ fraud; Slovoj Zizek’s “subject’s conception” and “death” in the tragic arc of Leaving Neverland; the fraudulent hoax of the “Banksy” art myth; and Luce Irigaray’s “loss of identity” and female empowerment through a skiing legend. The collection concludes with a regular installment of film reviews by Susie Gharib.