Douglas Stan – “Television Spots & Monodramas” (1987-1991)
As someone who wants to create ads for a living, I really enjoyed Stan’s pieces. Having actually purchased ad space, the irreverent nature of his work was able to capture attention and make people wonder. (So much so that some people called the TV stations to ask what his “ads” were selling.) The fact that he wasn’t selling anything at all, and that some of the ads were so shocking, chilling, and even creepy, allowed him to interrupt the space and create powerful work. I particularly enjoyed the pieces that seemed to have no point – bank tellers having conversations about working overtime, men walking down a road to a “Stand By Me” instrumental, or a camera panning around men fixing a car whose logo you can’t see. At first, these made me angry for watching. It felt like a waste of time. But after thinking more, it almost becomes appreciated space where you can just watch something that doesn’t have a purpose.
Christian Marclay – “Guitar Drag”
This piece was particularly interesting in its sound editing and concept. Marclay’s rethinking of what an instrument is, is turned on its head. By using what appears to be a completely destroyed guitar to create and capture sound, the audience begins to rethink what music actually is. The sound is almost uncomfortable, but becomes more ambient the longer you watch the video. This piece is a great use of a simple camera angle and interesting concept.