Week 3: The phenomenal world (Sept. 24)

WORKS

Terry Fox—The Children’s Tapes

Bruce NaumanElke Allowing the Floor to Rise Up Over Her, Face Up (1973)

Nancy Holt & Richard SerraBoomerang (1974)

Bill ViolaChott el=Djerid, A Portrait in Light and Heat (1979)

Joan Jonas—Left Brain Right Brain

Peter CampusThree Transitions (1973)

Gary HillSite Recite (1989)

Charlemagne PalestineFour Motion Studies (1974)

EXERCISE: THE PHENOMENAL EVERYDAY

Capture a two-minute video that depicts an everyday, ephemeral phenomenon usually too “unimportant” to be paid any attention to. Explore the idea that video is like thinking, “brain time.” Notice how you notice through the filter of the camera lens. Ask yourself what your perceptual system gains qualitatively and quantitatively with the help of your chosen optical technology. Can you separate your perception from what your device makes possible?

CONSTRAINT: This exercise focuses on the process of observation; consequently your actions should be restricted to capturing a phenomena in the world (and not performing an action in front of the camera).

NOTE: Given the nature of phenomena, your video might be much longer than the allotted duration of 2 minutes. In that case, you can extract a continuous 2-minute segment from the longer video.