Journal of Film Preservation - FIAF

calls for new attitudes, which don’t necessarily mean the embodiment
of its traditional ways. But then, whatever the differences and
irreversibilities, isn’ t it obvious that the founding groups were in
fact, and will always be, some of the few sure platforms and
references from which we may be able to create something new ?
And that their work and path are thus something we definitely just
need to turn into an object of serious history ?
What I am calling the founding groups were of course at least two
(those who started before and after the war, Jan belonging to the
second one) revealing contradictions between, and inside them. But,
having said that, isn’ t it also true that, over the years, whenever we
recall them, they gradually seem to resemble each other more and
more - as if the common part of their nature was slowly becoming
more and more relevant, showing different sides of one only thing ?
The interest and the need - for FIAF and for all of us, now and in the
future - to record and study this “thing”, is therefore also closely
linked to my personal memory of Jan de Vaal. We cannot but take a
collective “push” out of his (their) concern. Out of his (their)
commitment.
In Memoriam Erik Barnouw (1908-2001)
Patricia R. Zimmermann
On July 19, Erik Barnouw died at his home in Vermont. His wife
Betty was at his side. Erik had an inoperable cancer and had been in
hospice. Betty says he was ready for life’s next adventure. He was 93.
Erik was a legendary, foundational presence in our field. He was the
preeminent media historian of the twentieth century. His scores of
books include the International Encyclopedia of Communication;
Conglomerates and the Media; Tube of Plenty: the Evolution of American
Television; The Magician and the Cinema; Documentary; The Sponsor:
Notes on a Modern Potentate, and History of Broadcasting. His memoir,
a compelling and eye-opening journey through his amazingly rich
and full life, entitled Media Marathon, was published in 1996 by
Duke University Press.
Just a few months ago, Erik published Media Lost and Found with
Fordham University Press, a collection of his essays. Erik’s life and
writing spanned nearly the entire twentieth century. He published his
last book only months before his death. Erik Barnouw was a coeditor
of the Temple University Press book series, Wide Angle Books,
with Ruth Bradley, Scott MacDonald and Patricia R. Zimmermann.
The series is dedicated to retrieving the unseen and unknown
histories of the non-profit media arts sector.
Erik is considered by many to be one of the founding figures in the
field of university level communications programs and a person who
76 Journal of Film Preservation / 63 / 2001