Audience

Barbara Hammer’s Audience is a unique documentary that offers a raw glimpse into the reactions of viewers at retrospectives of her films during the early 1980s. This 16mm diary captures the vibrant lesbian scenes across various cities, revealing how different audiences engage with Hammer’s work. In San Francisco, the women are bold and raucous, while the London crowd displays a more reserved demeanor. The Canadian audience shows polite criticism after initial hesitance, providing a diverse range of perspectives.

The film serves as an invaluable historical archive of its time, documenting not just audience reactions but also the cultural context surrounding Hammer's work. It highlights Hammer’s significance as a figure in lesbian culture and her ability to inspire discourse about representation. Collectors interested in LGBTQ+ history and documentary filmmaking will find this film to be a substantial piece of Barbara Hammer's legacy and its impact on the art world during that era.