''The Cult of Sincerity'' is an
independent film
An independent film, independent movie, indie film, or indie movie is a feature film or short film that is produced outside the major film studio system, in addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies (or, i ...
about
hipster culture and
postmodernist
Postmodernism is an intellectual stance or mode of discourseNuyen, A.T., 1992. The Role of Rhetorical Devices in Postmodernist Discourse. Philosophy & Rhetoric, pp.183–194. characterized by skepticism toward the " grand narratives" of moderni ...
irony set in
Williamsburg in Brooklyn. It was released in its entirety on YouTube on April 8, 2008, making it the first time that YouTube had partnered with filmmakers for a film premiere.
The film was later released as a digital download, with some of the proceeds going to the charity Fount of Mercy.
Production
The filmmakers collaborated with
Amie Street
Amie Street was an indie online music store and social network service created in 2006 by Brown University seniors Elliott Breece, Elias Roman, and Joshua Boltuch, in Providence, Rhode Island. The site was notable for its demand-based pricing. The ...
, a digital music site for indie musicians, to help pay for the production.
Plot
When his mother informs Joseph that she's divorcing his father Joseph enters into a protracted
existential crisis
In psychology and psychotherapy, existential crises are inner conflicts characterized by the impression that life lacks meaning. Some authors also emphasize confusion about one's personal identity in their definition. Existential crises are acc ...
. Unhappy with the way society is moving, Joseph decides to attempt to turn back the flow of
cynicism
Cynic or Cynicism may refer to:
Modes of thought
* Cynicism (philosophy), a school of ancient Greek philosophy
* Cynicism (contemporary), modern use of the word for distrust of others' motives
Books
* ''The Cynic'', James Gordon Stuart Grant 1 ...
with a series of well-intentioned gestures and a slogan that he can put on a t-shirt. As Joseph struggles to find that slogan, he quickly realizes that it is not very easy changing the world.
MUBI
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See also
*Digital distribution
Digital distribution, also referred to as content delivery, online distribution, or electronic software distribution, among others, is the delivery or distribution of digital media content (media), content such as Sound recording and reproductio ...
*New Sincerity
New Sincerity (closely related to and sometimes described as synonymous with post-postmodernism) is a trend in music, aesthetics, literary fiction, film criticism, poetry, literary criticism and philosophy that generally describes creative works ...
*Postmodernist film
Postmodernism is an intellectual stance or mode of discourseNuyen, A.T., 1992. The Role of Rhetorical Devices in Postmodernist Discourse. Philosophy & Rhetoric, pp.183–194. characterized by skepticism toward the " grand narratives" of moderni ...
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cult of Sincerity, The
2008 films
2008 comedy films
2008 YouTube videos
American independent films
Films set in Brooklyn
2000s English-language films
2000s American films
Films released on YouTube