Experimental techniques to emphasise the aliveness of film itself?

ic-racer said:

Minox + Lith printing works for me.

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ICRacer: I like this photo a lot! Guessing it began as a long exposure through the windscreen of a car as you were driving down a highway at night....

BrianShaw said:

But what the heck do you mean by “indexicality of photography”?

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indexicality means something existed and reflected back into the camera and film registered or indexed it the indexical nature of photography roots it into reality cause things do not magically appear on the negative that did not exist in front of the camera unlike digital files not indexical so are they photography?

One way to emphasize grain is to overexpose heavily, e.g. Ilford HP5 on 35mm exposed +2 or +3....
Cross-processing (developing E6 film in C41) is also a great way to 'let the film speak'. Again, overexposure usually helps.

Shock-treating film with very cold and very hot water/chemistry during developement also might turn out some nice structure on your negatives.

ezphotolessons said:

indexicality means something existed and reflected back into the camera and film registered or indexed it the indexical nature of photography roots it into reality cause things do not magically appear on the negative that did not exist in front of the camera unlike digital files not indexical so are they photography?

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Any chance of explaining the above again in as simple a way as possible. I could your words quite clearly but I am afraid none of it make any sense to me. Put it down to my age. Pretend you are explaining it to your grandad

Thanks

pentaxuser