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While typical movie-goers bring snacks to the show, those in line outside of the Michigan Theater this past Wednesday<\/a> toted construction hats. Fans of the new wave electronica band DEVO, also known as \u201cspuds<\/a>,\u201d amassed outside the theater doors for the premiere of \u201c50 Years of De-Evolution, the Restored Films of DEVO (1976-1984).\u201d<\/p>\n DEVO, the band credited with hits like \u201cWhip It\u201d and \u201cUncontrollable Urge,\u201d became a staple of Midwest punk pop when they earned recognition from the likes of David Bowie and Iggy Pop, but for those more familiar with the group, the significance of DEVO was never just the music. The band was formed at Kent State University in 1970 after<\/a> the Ohio National Guard killed four and injured nine unarmed students protesting the Vietnam War. The American new-wave pop group began making films and music with the intention of critiquing this wave of government repression and dehumanization. In \u201c50 Years of De-Evolution,\u201d viewers are treated to a playlist of brand new and updated footage of the band, restored by film archivist Peter Conheim and Cinema Preservation Alliance, ensuring that DEVO\u2019s valuable messages will continue to impact generations to come.\u00a0<\/p>\n The screening of the film opened with Conheim speaking on the importance of DEVO, as well as the restoration of archival footage. Film stock is susceptible to decay<\/a> over time and preservation protects films from disappearing forever. With \u201c50 years of De-Evolution,\u201d Conheim went to great lengths to preserve widely unseen footage of the bands\u2019 early years. He stressed the importance of keeping the film as close to the original as possible, as parts can be lost with a transfer from analog to digital. This is often why movie-buffs flock to theaters when a 16mm or 30mm version of a film is showing \u2014 because it\u2019s usually more representative of the artist\u2019s initial vision than digital copies. Films are reflections of culture and experience, so they\u2019re valuable historical artifacts that need to be preserved in their original form for future generations. Preserving historic footage of DEVO was Conheim\u2019s primary goal, and he concluded his speech with a plea for\u00a0more funding for film preservation<\/a>, as there is a growing number of films that need to be conserved. He left the stage after advising audiences to keep those analog videos, because there\u2019s no permanent digital format that replicates the artist\u2019s work.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201c50 Years of De-Evolution\u201d displays a curated collection of the band\u2019s performances and music-centered films highlighting their performance art as a method of resistance to capitalism and the repression of information. They used exaggerated depictions of anti-art executives and American propaganda to critique existing systems that favor profit over people, which Conheim then stitched together to make that message even more crystal clear. The videos use lots of colors and costumes, painted backgrounds and absurd dance moves in order to highlight the importance of self-expression in a culture of conformity. The freedom of expression is embedded in every aspect of the videos, allowing rudimentary transitions that remind viewers of a middle school PowerPoint to combine witty skits and carefully crafted music performances. Each of the dozen-or-so videos speaks to the audience as a peer rather than pandering to viewers solely as consumers. The band makes clear that the purpose of their art is not monetary success but the ability to speak to an audience. At times, it might seem difficult to dissect the meaning of each video, but the charm is that the band trusts its audience enough to understand each critique.\u00a0<\/p>\n