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Artist's Biography on Film
Filmmuseum Amsterdam
1 November 2004

The international symposium The Artist's Biography on Film will discuss
several aspects of the phenomenon of the so-called biopic. Films about the
lives of real artists are always a combination of fact and fiction. To what
extent can the life of an artist be dramatised without loosing its
historical foundation? During the symposium, the speakers will discuss the
advantages as well as the difficulties and boundaries of the genre. What
sources does one use when making a biopic: biographies, letters, fiction?
What artists are regular protagonists? Are they always portrayed as the
stereotype of the romantic, troubled artist? How much historical truth is
needed to make a biopic convincing?

The speakers have different professional backgrounds; film, history, art
history, media studies and film theory. This symposium should be of interest
to a broad range of specialists working in many different disciplines.

Programme

Monday 1 November 2004

10:15 Reception

10:45 Opening
Ivo Blom, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

11:00 Introductory lecture
Lives of the Artists on Screen
Sandra Kisters, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

11:45 Celluloid Hagiography: Reading the Cinematic Mobilizations of
Rembrandt
Thomas Y. Levin, Princeton University / Getty Research Institute, Los
Angeles

12:30 Lunch

13:30 Basquiat on Scarlet Street: Notes on the Bad Reputation of the Modern
Art World in American Films
Ansje van Beusekom, Utrecht University

14:15 Imagining Vermeer: Fact and Fiction in Girl With A Pearl Earring
Peter Webber, Film Director, London

15:00 Coffee/Tea

15:15 In Praise of the Biopic (with reference to Frida)
Robert A. Rosenstone, California Institute of Technology

16:00 Discussion

16:30 Drinks at Vertigo

The symposium is supported by the Dutch Organisation for Scientific Research
(NWO), the Faculty of Arts of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) and the
Dutch Postgraduate School for Art History (OSK).

Organisation:
Sandra Kisters (Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam), Ivo Blom (Vrije
Universiteit, Amsterdam), Ruud Priem (Dutch Postgraduate School for Art
History)

Applications:
Applications can be made here or by E-mail via <osklet.uu.nl> or regular
mail addressed to Secretariaat Onderzoekschool Kunstgeschiedenis, Kromme
Nieuwegracht 29, 3512 HD Utrecht, mentioning Symposium Filmmuseum.

Costs:
Admission to the symposium costs Euro 10, payable at the entrance of the
Parisienzaal.

Number of participants:
The number of participants is limited to 80. Applications will therefore be
dealt with in chronological order based on postmark date. Confirmation will
be sent to participants upon receipt of application.