Khan Academy Performance Art - An Introduction
Bill Viola - The Crossing
This piece stuck out to me because it’s all about taking back time. The Crossing is a room-sized, multi-track video installation. The each open with a figure walking slowly towards the camera, his body dramatically lit from above so that it appears to glow against the video’s black background. He then pauses near the foreground and stands still, facing forward and staring directly into the lens, motionless. I like the use of technological experimentation and the fact that he uses recording devices to explore a variety of different gestures, sounds, and expressions. I like his intent to reignite the relationship between artistic and spiritual experience.
Shiraga Kazuo, Challenging Mud (Doro ni idomu)
This performance connects body/mud where Shiraga molded, smeared, and grappled with a different combination of cement, as well as sand and gravel. This is the first instance of modernist abstraction that brought shock to the community that initially saw it. Nine months after this performance, Shiraga illustrated a manifesto that defined what he termed creative individualism with a series of documentary photographs from his second and third performances. His artwork lives forever through photography and his writing. He heavily talks about the need to nurture self-expression in order to create “psychic individualism,” a recognition of individual autonomy, to guard against cultural restrictions.
History from The Art of Activism by Steve Duncombe and Steve Lambert
“Humor is a key element in successful artistic activism. Where polemics and assertions put people on guard, and ask them to either agree or disagree, humor works more obliquely and doesn't demand that a person take a stand, at least not immediately. As such, humor allows us to reach people who would otherwise shut us and our message out.”
Shiraga Kazuo, Challenging Mud (Doro ni idomu)
This performance connects body/mud where Shiraga molded, smeared, and grappled with a different combination of cement, as well as sand and gravel. This is the first instance of modernist abstraction that brought shock to the community that initially saw it. Nine months after this performance, Shiraga illustrated a manifesto that defined what he termed creative individualism with a series of documentary photographs from his second and third performances. His artwork lives forever through photography and his writing. He heavily talks about the need to nurture self-expression in order to create “psychic individualism,” a recognition of individual autonomy, to guard against cultural restrictions.
History from The Art of Activism by Steve Duncombe and Steve Lambert
“Humor is a key element in successful artistic activism. Where polemics and assertions put people on guard, and ask them to either agree or disagree, humor works more obliquely and doesn't demand that a person take a stand, at least not immediately. As such, humor allows us to reach people who would otherwise shut us and our message out.”
This quote stuck out to me because it reiterates the fact that humor is allowed to be in serious spaces if it’s doesn’t respectfully and intentionally. Making serious topics lighthearted is sometimes the way to get more interactions, as long as it’s intentional.
“When we act in order to bring about social change, it’s important not only to “demonstrate” what we are against in the here and now, but also to create a vision of the world we would like to bring into being in the future.”
“When we act in order to bring about social change, it’s important not only to “demonstrate” what we are against in the here and now, but also to create a vision of the world we would like to bring into being in the future.”
The present is all about planning for the future and in order to bring social change, one has to work for it. The work that you do in the present will greatly affect the future and that’s rewarding but also extremely challenging to comprehend.
"The principle: style matters. People associate the message with the messenger, and how we appear in public communicates a message that is often more powerful than the words on the pamphlets we hand out.”
Having the right attitude and aura for what you want to convey is extremely important. If you are trying to get positive reactions, you’d want to act in a way that makes the audience feel positive. The messenger is just as important as the message.
"The principle: style matters. People associate the message with the messenger, and how we appear in public communicates a message that is often more powerful than the words on the pamphlets we hand out.”
Having the right attitude and aura for what you want to convey is extremely important. If you are trying to get positive reactions, you’d want to act in a way that makes the audience feel positive. The messenger is just as important as the message.
Widewalls | Yoko Ono - A Groundbreaking Artist, Activist and Fighter
“The simplicity of her work may have been derided for years, but it is exactly that which makes it greatly accessible.”
This line stuck out to me because of her work being accessible. She makes art for the public, not the 2%. Her art is simple, yet extremely effective and groundbreaking. She changed the way people viewed activist art because of her devotion to making her art accessible.
“Yoko Ono has been, without a doubt, one of the most misunderstood artists in the past 60 years.”
People dwindle her fame and success down to the fact that she was John Lennon’s partner. They blame her for the death of the Beatles even today, yet refuse to look into the world-changing work that she’s done within her lifetime. It’s interesting how people can completely disregard her work just because of her romantic status.
This line stuck out to me because of her work being accessible. She makes art for the public, not the 2%. Her art is simple, yet extremely effective and groundbreaking. She changed the way people viewed activist art because of her devotion to making her art accessible.
“Yoko Ono has been, without a doubt, one of the most misunderstood artists in the past 60 years.”
People dwindle her fame and success down to the fact that she was John Lennon’s partner. They blame her for the death of the Beatles even today, yet refuse to look into the world-changing work that she’s done within her lifetime. It’s interesting how people can completely disregard her work just because of her romantic status.
Hispanic Executive | Interview with Shaun Leonardo - Performance, Pedagogy, and Philosophy “Somehow, I [don’t] recall ever being dissuaded [by the fact] that those “masters” were all dead white men.”
This quote reminded me of Kimberly Drew’s experience in college. The two acknowledged on day that they’re being taught the same type of history.
“I don’t know what drove me to identify as an artist because it wasn’t within my familial background—not that I know of anyway.”
“I don’t know what drove me to identify as an artist because it wasn’t within my familial background—not that I know of anyway.”
Going against what your family has planned for you is never an easy task, yet Leonardo does it. He does the unexpected and he succeeds and it is incredibly impressive.
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