Remnants may remain

Mapping of a Medium in Decline

Types of Cinephilia

7 Avant-garde Cinephilia

Elitist-obscurantist, some auteurism of the hero worship kind present. Don't know much about them, a weird bunch. Self-selecting scene centered around self-selecting body of work. Centered around set of aesthetic choices, yet no fixed aesthetic canon. Opposition to narrative cinema and "middle" realism important anchors, yet even those might not always hold. Probably mostly defined by culture / self-image rather than aesthetic preferences. "Our cinema vs their cinema" basis of discourse, yet almost no interest in the particularities of "their cinema" beyond the broadest of generalizations.

Partly self-sufficient, yet also existing at periphery of larger institutions. No interest in moving to the center, tendency towards self-isolation.

Mostly practitioners, enthusiasts and a few academics. Political alignment might differ along sub-types, though mostly to the left, often hard-left.

Roots in 60s/70s sub-culture / radical politics mostly cut, yet remnants may remain, especially in sub-types focusing on identity politics issues.

Writing tends to be free-form and hermetic. Often somewhat gossip-centered, too, which mostly is a plus. Best when influenced by phenomenological traditions, worst when falling prey to its own messianic tendencies. Only type interested in film as material object. Not really welcoming to newcomers / visiting outsiders.