ruth

Performance: A Hidden History

In this reading, the author explained a little about the history and development of performance art to give us, the audience, a better understanding of it. The author shares with us that the purpose of performance is to push the limits to the maximum to make the audience question ideas from a different perspective. This article also tells us how this medium has been evolving and how it continues to do so even today. Finally, the reading also talks about the struggles of artists to define what can or cannot be considered performance art since the concept has expanded as time goes by.

MOTION

For this project, I decided to focus on studying time and motion. I found the readings of the last module really interesting, so I wanted to continue putting them into practice. For my performance, I wanted to do something simple but at the same time meaningful. For me, recording myself while doing homework in the park symbolizes a criticism of the time spent on things that are sometimes not so important. Simultaneously, I wanted my audience to watch how the world goes while I focused for hours on things that may not be as important. While doing homework, I could hear families passing by and enjoying quality time with their loved ones. It made me feel a bit nostalgic. Watching the multiple recorded videos allowed me to see the grass, trees, and clouds, moving as time passed.

At first, I wondered if recording myself doing homework could be considered a performance; however, after reflecting on it, I persisted with my initial idea because there are many thoughts and issues to analyze behind this short video. Finally, I concluded that this is what performance is about, pushing the limits to change the perception of what can be considered art.

Feminism in Mexico

For this project, I focused on feminism again, however, this time, I chose to tell the story of the Mexican feminist movement. In Mexico, there is this problem that the government does not really take action to reduce violence against women. Consequently, as of March 8, 2020, women began to take to the streets to protest against machismo, violence, and government incompetence. The president insists that these protests are led by other "conservative" politicians and parties that want to attack his "fair" government. President Lopez Obrador does not believe that there is a problem with violence or that it correlates to machismo. Simultaneously, he constantly disparages and discredits this fight and the women who are part of this remarkable movement.

For this video, I used a meaningful song for the feminist movement in Mexico called "Canción sin Miedo" by Vivir Quintana. At the same time, I used a series of videos of the president and some journalists in which they talk about this movement and mention the term "feminism." Finally, I also incorporated small clips from the protests of past years to give this shortcut more emotion and realism.

I really liked this project because I got to play with the tempo, duration, and color of some clips to make the composition more dramatic.

I put subtitles in English and Spanish if you're interested in knowing what they're talking about.

Videos used:

-https://youtu.be/8AJe_kqucWQ

-https://youtu.be/gzle9uPR96Q

-https://youtu.be/UqcEsbF7HRw

-https://youtu.be/aNJ04ijbpxc

-https://youtu.be/Mnjv4a4crY0

-https://youtu.be/nuk3ghnHkWA

Of waves, to peel, and of tension.

For this project, I chose a music video that I love called "Sensei" by Caloncho as my audio. For the visuals I used different clips of nature that I found on youtube and I mixed them with a videoclip that I like called "Días Impares" by Carlos Sadness. I enjoyed playing with the tempo, order, and duration of some of the cuts from the original videoclip.

One Year in 40 Seconds.

Above the Clouds Sunrise

Lotte 0 to 20 years

Troye Sivan - WILD. This one uses implied time.

Cubitt shares his perspective on projection by talking about some examples that parallel his beliefs. Some that stood out to me were the one of an ancient Greek legend and another of a Buddhist myth. I found it clever how he approached his argument because, despite choosing two completely different narratives, both share an idea: how art is a projection of human absences. The author talks about how the world is constituted by the projection that we have created and built. Also, he discussed how projection is about distortion and experimentation on a level beyond the conventional—experimenting with textures, elements, or the use of other media that make each individual's experience unique.

I love how, through experimentation, each of the artists mentioned in the article manages to express time and movement in different ways. Barrett exposes the various dimensions of time. In the reading, the author tells us a little about some aspects of time, such as chronology, narrative, duration, and tempo. Also, the article talks about how time can be measured as actual time, implied time, or recorded time. I liked reading this article because it made me realize how important it is to analyze time when observing and/or creating art in any of its forms. Now I have a lot of questions when it comes to analyzing artwork. What does the artist want me to see? Why does the work of art last as long as it lasts? How long am I supposed to look at the artwork? Should I observe the piece over and over again? Or is it enough to experience the artwork ephemerally and exclusively once?

Simultaneously, I enjoyed reading the author's arguments regarding motion and how it can be actual or implied. I find it admirable how through their use of colors, textures, and lines, etc., artists manage to make their audience experience certain events just the way they want. However, it makes me want to ask myself, am I living the experience as the artist would have wanted? Am I focusing on what I should?

The title of this series is “intimacy at a glance.” For this project, I used different music videos that repeated the same concept I was looking for; two people whose connection and intimacy were so noticeable that the audience could feel it. I have always been fascinated by the power of human beings to communicate so much through their eyes. As they say, “The eyes are the window to the soul.” Through the characterization of their characters, these actors manage to convey this deep connection that allows them to see through the other. They managed to replicate this feeling of genuine closeness that touches the audience because it seems that the individuals have a very close and strong bond. When analyzing the clips, I began to study the similarities between them and what made these scenes so special. After a while, I discovered that all these images follow the same sequence and rhythm. Individuals repeat aspects of each scenario, such as the closeness of their bodies, eye contact, eye movement, and physical touch.

HI created a GIF about a scene from “My Neighbor Totoro.” I wasn’t sure what moment was the best one, but I decided on the one where Satsuki gives Totoro an umbrella to avoid him from getting wet. I just find this scene adorable. I really enjoyed rewatching this movie; however, picking a specific moment was difficult.

Hopefully, I made it right.

I really like this GIF. It’s so funny.

I really like GIFs that can show some type of reaction that emoji’s can’t.

This is a popular meme that I use often.

Haha this is another GIF that I use to communicate a specific reaction through messages when I’m talking to my friends.

This one as well.

This is an iconic scene from Drake and Josh.

This was an iconic line from the popular show Euphoria.

I always use this GIF when I don’t agree with what my friends are saying.

I just think that this GIF is genius. I love the way they created this mixture between something realistic and transformed it into something digital.

I find that the history of GIFs is fascinating. GIFs have evolved to become a form of expression that not only qualified artists can make but ordinary people can also be creators. As the article "How GIF Trash Became Internet Culture Glue" mentions, GIFs became popular because they have concepts that are easy to digest for people. In most cases, a person doesn't need to be an expert in general culture or specific topics. Still, usually, the short video shows identifiable images for the audience.

Something that I found interesting is the marketing of these. Although they are a little more complex processes, I appreciate that this is becoming a thing. It is a way of giving authorship to the creativity of the people who have created these works. I still don't fully understand how this new form of business works, but it looks pretty fair and necessary. Hopefully, there will come a point where people and artists can get credit for their clever work.

"Bonding Cycle"

Analog Approach

The title of this series is “Bonding Cycle” and it’s an analog collage on paper. As human beings, we build and undo affective ties throughout our lifespan. Through this series of collages, I capture the cycle of human relationships. "The encounter" is when two people cross each other's paths and voluntarily--or involuntarily--establish a bond, it can be friendly, romantic, etc. "The union" captures the moment where both parties consolidate and strengthen a bond through experiences, knowledge, or affection. Finally, in "The consummation," is when the relationship comes to an end.