There, There Square and So Is This and the readings

I can't figure out why I didn't like There, There Square. The graphic element of it wasn't exceptional, but the author was going for that effect. I think I didn't like the concept as a whole. As the shots moved from text statement to text statement, they didn't make any sense to me. I couldn't figure out if Jackie Goss was just trying to be so abstract that she wasn't making any sense at all, or if in fact there was some really "deep" meaning that I entirely missed. To me, she was making statements that may or may not have been autobiographical, but nevertheless involved "you" in the storyline, and didn't make any cohesive nor memorable statement. I was focused too hard on trying to make some sense out of something until I concluded that I must not have enough substance to understand the underlying profound statement that the video was making.

With So Is This, though trying oh so hard to create deep meanings out of the word "This," it had a message and a reason for the critic to see it. There was an intellectual, and maybe even an emotional value in watching the author's words pop up one by one. It did get tiresome, and the overwhelming comfort of the seat and blackness took over me right before the end, but I might still say that I got something out of the film and can respect the effect that the author, Michael Snow, was trying to achieve.

As for the readings, I thought the most about the first article regarding amateurs and professionals. In a sense, the first couple paragraphs instilled a sense of pride in myself as a reader for being an independent amateur, champion of the "underground." It attempted to ignite the experimental artist's rebelliousness and anti-authority attitude, and encouraging defience against "The Man" and the hypnotising power of money.

On the other hand, money is crucial. For whatever art one pursues. For whatever life activity one pursues. I used to have this mentality of, "I'm so punk because I don't have any money and I live in a punk house in Riverwest and my drums are all beat up and my Chucks have holes in them and everything I do embodies chaos and destruction." Well, maybe not that extreme, but the real necessity of earning a living eluded me for a long time. But after numerous attempts to implement an artistic inspiration, I began running into walls. My camera sucked. I didn't have enough money to own the necessary equipment, software, or computer. I had freedom, but no support, monetary or otherwise. Being an amateur in the underground definitely has its alure of adventure and a gritty edge, but railing too hard against structure and money as a whole is a dangerously stifling attitude.

None of the other articles incited as much thought or minimally, any interest upon first read. Perhaps I'll give them another run-through over the weekend. That's all for now.

Mary

For Sarah Buccheri

Film 201-Intro to Experimental Media Arts Blog!

Hooray!

xoxo

Mary