‘Somewhat of an affectation’: Bach, Vivaldi, and the Early Films of Pier Paolo Pasolini

Abstract Critics and film theorists have frequently drawn attention to the use of J. S. Bach’s music in Accattone (1961), Pier Paolo Pasolini’s first film. Many noted strangeness musical choice particular its sociocultural disconnection from film’s setting borgate, deprived areas on outskirts Rome. second film, Mamma Roma (1962), similarly focuses lives an underclass pimps, prostitutes, scroungers, yet Antonio Vivaldi has elicited little study. This article explores imbalance critical responses context political aesthetic. I argue that imposing figure Bach distracted commentators, Pasolini is less interested cultural associations individual composers compositions than formal properties Baroque music. Close analysis films reveals careful correspondences between show both potential limitations when applied moving image.