Participation (1971): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1971, Participation is a documentary film directed by Woody Vasulka, running about 65 minutes.

What it’s about. This period compilation of documentaries shot with a Portapak camera from the early era of video experimentation offers an immediate view of the independent New York art scene (concerts and theater perfomances on the streets and in the clubs of downtown). It is a sort of summary of Steina and Woody Vasulka's first creative period, a period of fascination with the more bizarre aspects of "new American decadence". Thanks to the video camera and its revolutionary implications, the creators were able to penetrate into spheres where the documentarians of more classical media were neither allowed nor interested to enter, thereby helping to expand the ideas of documentary possibilities. Steina has remarked that she learned the craft of camerawork as documentarian thanks to these celebratory, countercultural scenes of the "sexual avant-garde"-- Participation also features a pulsing light show projection at the Fillmore East, and a scene from Off-Broadway drag theater.

Who’s in it. Participation stars Jimi Hendrix as Himself (Concert footage) and Ian Anderson as Himself (Concert footage).

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Participation page.

If you liked it. Fans of Participation tend to enjoy One Direction: This Is Us, Burn the Stage: The Movie, BTS World Tour: Love Yourself - Japan Edition and Senna.