Ghost in the Machine
Much has been written about psychic photographer Ted Serios — mostly by Jule Eisenbud, a psychiatrist who subjected the unemployed bellhop to rigorous controlled study over the course of three years. Eisenbud’s book, published in 1967, was a full-throated endorsement of the uncanny abilities that had so captured the public imagination (as well as some observations about underlying personality disorders). Sadly, an article in Popular Photography debunked Serios’ psychokinetic powers, and his star fizzled. Yet evidence of those experiments remains archived — not only Serios’ moody Polaroids, but also test footage revealing his alcoholic rants, ruminations, and fits of head-banging fury. From this unique source material, filmmaker-cum-archival-archeologist Rebecca Baron has composed Detour de Force, a fascinating portrait of a slightly demented charmer. “Thoughtographic Studies of an Extraordinary Mind” is co-presented by UC Berkeley, where Baron is guest lecturer. The movie is followed by Jim Haynes’ multimedia homage, 18 Films About Ted Serios, which integrates shortwave radio transmissions, strobe lights, surveillance camera footage, wiretaps, and the sound of wasp wings with Serios’ mental projections.
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