A Not Too Distant Past

Filmmaker and curator Marc Moscato presents a screening of "A Not Too Distant Past," a collection of short films that examine the radical social movements that helped shape activism as we now know it.
From Black Panthers to the battle for an 8-hour work day, Moscato originally debuted the collection on the 40^th anniversary of the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
The films include:

"Toxic Shock," 1983, "an experimental response to sweating out near death with Toxic Shock Syndrome."

"Jean Genet in Chicago," 2006, is a retelling of the 1968 National Democratic Convention from a queer perspective. It includes narratives from the Black Panthers, Chicago police, the Yippies, Allen Ginsberg and others.

"Hay! Market Research," 2003, is a short 3 minute video from a group committed to advancing knowledge about the 1886 Haymarket Riots and the struggle for an 8-hour work day.

"What the Fuck Are These Red Squares?", 1970, is about a group of students who meet at a Revolutionary Seminar at the Art Institute of Chicago to discuss the invasion of Cambodia and the U.S. government's killing of students at Kent and Jackson State universities.

"Fred Hampton: Black Panthers in Chicago," 1969, is a filmed interview with Fred Hampton, deputy chairman of the Illinois Black Panther Party, just a month before he was killed by Chicago police.

"The More Things Stay the Same," 2008, is an examination of the life of Hobo King, "Clap Doctor" and whorehouse physician Dr. Ben Reitman, who had an impact on labor issues, sex education and homeless issues during the early part of the 20^th century.