Conclusion: Essaying the Future

In this conclusion, I provide a concise summary of the previous chapters, reiterating my conception of the cinematic essay as an experimental and self-reflexive form of filmmaking that critically examines moving images and the context in which they circulate. I emphasise the importance of recognising the influence of digital technology on the construction of essayistic discourse and argue that material engagement with digital tools of production enables forward-thinking essayistic filmmakers to meditate upon the ways in which new media has transformed the aesthetics, ontology, and material constitution of moving images. I reflect on the ways in which Chris Marker, Jean-Luc Godard, Chantal Akerman, and Harun Farocki have creatively embraced digital tools to explore the landscape of moving images in the twenty-first century, thus demonstrating some of the ways in which digital technology has opened new avenues of formal and thematic exploration for cinematic essayists. In the final section of this conclusion, I identify potential avenues for further research.