From: konrad (email suppressed)
Date: Tue Sep 06 2005 - 21:43:05 PDT
On Tue, 6 Sep 2005, James Kreul wrote:
>
> [...] given the limited resources discussed in this thread and
> others I also think it's worth thinking about strategy and how
> to use ones time. I just don't think it's a good strategy to
> attack video art (or the aspects you disagree with), I think
> it's a better strategy to advocate what you do want to see by
> making it and developing audiences for it.
Well, right. But that's what should turn it all the more
quickly to what drives it: a discussion about aesthetics,
not politics or social structures or even medium specificity
(except as it is an aesthetic question, a condition of
really being able to see something).
In my opinion, and i think we're in agreement, the best thing to
do is make the best work you can make. If your 'work' is making
shows, tapes or emulsions. My remark about the Olympics of Art
wasn't meant to criticize your stance, as much as to say, we're
getting bogged down here.
Not that the opinions aired in this discussion (it's really
several overlapping ones) are 'wrong' to have or express, but
that to me the best point of those that Michael is making is
that people should discuss (and of course write about) what they
think is great, and why in specific. Pablo's great rant from
Buenos Aires is so welcome! But it's hard to do that, because
sometimes it's precious to one, and one doesn't want to have to
crank up the aggression to defend one's taste or allegiances or,
for fuck's sake, WORD CHOICE! "Pardon my French."
Whether or not Pip's project succeeds (will success spoil
experimental film or will it just quietly slip out the back door
after relishing the free drinks at the opening?), whether or not
Michael's web site gets more attention, or people start
submitting reviews to Frameworks or their local papers, or grad
students are writing their theses on the social networks that
keep experimental film on the respirator: keep *showing* work,
keep using that wonderful medium, the AIR, to talk about it,
criticize it, praise it, propose utopian or dystopian
adventures, come to blows verbal or physical over what's good
work or not. But don't bleed away the energy on divisive
questions. Let your actions writing, filming or programming
exceed your intentions and leave the sorting out to the
audience.
konrad
^Z
"All in all the creative act is not performed by the artist
alone; the spectator brings the work in contact with the
external world by deciphering and interpreting its inner
qualification and thus add his contribution to the creative act.
This becomes even more ovbious when posterity gives its final
verdict and sometimes rehabilitates forgotten artists"
M. Duchamp
__________________________________________________________________
For info on FrameWorks, contact Pip Chodorov at <email suppressed>.