Video Reviews.

Shirin Neshat: The Woman Moves

A very moving video, "The Woman Moves" depicts the life on an Iranian woman that feels out of place in her own skin. Her art seems powerful enough to really challenge any thought of comfort in her own life and in the life of many Iranian women. She speaks for not only a nation of people, but a gender in that nation as well. Though her pieces are powerfully depicting of strong divisions, they bring together Iranian women as well at the same time.

Marlon Riggs: Tongues United

One never thinks about life outside of their own situations. This is why is was almost an awkward and uncomfortable experience watching this piece about a gay black man and his vision of the world through his experiences. Though some of his works were more lighthearted (the piece about snapping had me laughing pretty hard), the overtones of racial and sexist differences overpowered the themes of the video to become a work that makes it hard to watch his story with anything but guilt for being anything other than a gay black man.

Gary Hill: I Believe it is an Image

Hill was the only artist I watched and truly believed that a real progress was being made. He was very experimental, which I believe is fundamental when dealing with art, and discovering it. I enjoyed watching his trips through sound, light, and motion. It made me question a lot kore about what the art was, rather than having the meaning laid out for ke, which is not enjoyable in art in my opinion.

Analysis:

All three artists had very different directions that they wanted to take with their art. While one wanted to indulge in the arts themselves, the other two had more of an actual stance, and forced it upon their set in a way. Though this worked to show the pain and struggle behind the lives of a gay black man and an Iranian woman, it didn't do much to make me feel too happy about the messages they presented, like there was no hope for their situations. Instead, I found myself attracted to experimentation and carefree art that Hill presented. I guess I'm just a "glass half full" kind if guy at the end of the day.

Semiotics of the Kitchen

Watch the original video by Martha Rosler here: http://www.ubu.com/film/rosler_semiotics.html

This video, as represented by Martha Rolser, gives a contrast to women you would see on the Food Network.  As opposed to refined, elegant, and easy going with kitchen utensils, this piece uses an unorganized, over the top, and at times silly use of kitchen tools to give a not-so-typical rendition of a woman's place on TV or in the kitchen.  Basically, not every woman should act like what they see on television.  Not every woman belongs in the kitchen 24/7.

Chapter 4 Questions

1. As video emerged, women actively began to take their places in the art world with its use. What kind of "fingerprint" did this leave? In other words, how did womens' use of video as art make an impression on art culture, and does it still last today?

2. Video has an interesting place within not only the art world, but the mass culture as well. How do you think the artists' use of cameras has been used and even manipulated to fit in with a mass audience, if at all?

Impaired Judgement

Original Site: http://www.samueladams.com/index.aspx

Alcohol is indeed a legal drug that is effecting people more in a negative sense than in a positive one.  With every sip taken to have a good time, damage is caused to the body and mind.  However, we as a society glamorize it and make it seem like constantly going out partying and drinking and destroying yourself is the cool thing to do.  This page battles that notion in a satirical way, and begs the question... is it worth it?

Question on the Reading

1. Would the reading in general be considered dated at all? Afterall, since it was written, so much technology has been presented besides just television, radio, and the telephone. How would something like the internet be considered in a book such as this?

2. The idea that a "tribe" is created is very visual as far as bringing us together in a constantly shrinking world. Wouldn't it seem ironic, then, that as tribes are created through the destruction of actual face-to-face contact? Wouldn't these "tribes" then be considered tribes of individuals?

Mel Gibson, You Bastard!

http://vimeo.com/19463088

My piece for the Photoshop animation assignment was inspired by actual events... sort of.  Mel Gibson has a problem, and that is that he's insane.  He's not a fan of the Jewish community, and he chews people's heads off on a constant basis.  Therefore, the fact that Adam Sandler, AKA the funniest Jewish man ever, was right in front of him was a little too much for him to handle.  He starts off by killing him with his Mel Gibson shark teeth, which causes the paparazzi to catch the action, making the celebrities on top of them to topple, and the bottle of alcohol to shatter at the bottom.  Vanessa Hudgens gets scared and hides behind Eminem.  Meanwhile, the ladies on the left use the distraction to make a move on playboy Tiger Woods, who is happy to see that Miley Cyrus is right there to give him a smooch.

Not the most historically accurate piece ever, but still representative of the chaos that is Hollywood today.

Questions on the Introduction

1. Sure Benjamin found photos and copies to be worthless in an artistic medium, but can't it still be said that art that can be copied is still art, as long as the original is choreographed and built in a way that is specific to the art itself?

2. Do the advancements in technology directly undermine the idea of artistic expression of the past, such as painting or drawing?  Are they rendered "obsolete" now that there is technologies that can present an artist's message more clearly?