Strange Culture

Strange Culture is a 2007 documentary film directed by Lynn Hershman Leeson and features a score by The Residents.
== Synopsis ==
Strange Culture examines the case of artist and professor Steve Kurtz, a member of the Critical Art Ensemble (CAE). The work of Kurtz and other CAE members dealt with genetically modified food and other issues of science and public policy. After his wife, Hope, died of heart failure, paramedics arrived and became suspicious when they noticed petri dishes and other scientific equipment related to Kurtz's art in his home. They summoned the FBI, who detained Kurtz within hours on suspicion of bioterrorism.As Kurtz could not legally talk about the case, the film uses actors (including Tilda Swinton and Thomas Jay Ryan) to interpret the story, as well as interviews with Kurtz and other figures involved in the case. Through a combination of dramatic reenactment, news footage, animation, and testimonials, the film scrutinizes post-9/11 paranoia and suggests that Kurtz was targeted because his work questions government policies. At the film's close, Kurtz and his long-time collaborator Dr. Robert Ferrell, former chair of the Genetics Department at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, await a trial date.
As of late May 2008, the Buffalo Prosecutor has declined to reopen the case within the 30-day window in which he was allowed to do so. So, Steve Kurtz is free.
== Soundtrack ==
The documentary features a soundtrack by The Residents, which was first released by the group alongside their rejected score for Haeckel's Tale (an episode of the Showtime series Masters of Horror), in 2010 on the Robot Selling Device under the title Film and Video Series 2. 
It has since been reissued twice (digitally and on Klanggalerie), compiled with other soundtracks such as Haeckel's Tale and The Rivers of Hades.
==== Strange Culture (Six Film Cues) ====
# Strange Culture Cue 1 (Title) (2:43)
# Strange Culture Cue 2 (2:23)
# Strange Culture Cue 3 (0:40)
# Strange Culture Cue 4 (1:41)
# Strange Culture Cue 5 (2:37)
# Strange Culture Cue 6 (5:25)
== See also ==
* Haeckel's Tale
* Hades
* Ten Little Piggies
== External links and references ==
* Official website
* Strange Culture on IMDb
* Film and Video Series 2: Strange Culture/Haeckel's Tale on Discogs
* Strange Culture/The Rivers of Hades/Haeckel's Tale on Discogs
Category:Film and video
Category:Soundtracks
Category:Strange Culture