"I wanted to mix things up,” [artist Tara] Mathison said. “I was just trying to think about fashion and how it relates to art and how pop culture relates to art and how all of these things have the power to make people do things.”Well, I didn't see it, so I can't comment, other than to say that I think the value of this sort of thing depends on the quality and detail of the performance. There's an early Eric Bogosian video where he -- dressed in jeans and a man's shirt -- dances in the style of a female erotic dancer, and it's quite brilliant and hilarious.
March 21, 2006
"Men in Speedos in poses customarily taken by women on MTV’s spring break programs and 'Girls Gone Wild.'"
It's performance art -- here in Madison -- inquiring into the meaning of Spring Break.
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12 comments:
Bogosian always cracked me up. He was a fair actor. I enjoyed him in Talk Radio. He was a fair bad guy in a Seagal movie, I think it was Under Siege 2.
I can't say as I have ever witnessed any performance art that lived up to the "art" part of the phrase.
Funny thing about Speedos. My family and I have stayed at resorts in Florida where quite a few Europeans stay. You can tell them rather easily. The men wear Speedos and the women wear very, very skimpy bikinis.
And don't fall for the meme that Europeans are svelt compared to Americans. Ever seen 350 pounds plus crammed into a Speedo? Or a string bikini? I am NOT kidding.
One of my favorite recurring segments on "Jackass" (yes, I'm a middleaged feminist lesbian, and I loved Jackass) was a dance routine. One of the guys, I can't recall his name, would go to a public place, a mall or somewhere, with a boombox of dance music, wearing a thong and a bowtie. He'd turn on the box, and start a little disco dance, aiming himself into close proximity with men who it visibly discomforted. It was highly entertaining.
"given how self-indulgent and worthless the bulk of twentieth-century art is."
Almost, but not quite, as worthless as the bulk of twenty-first century blog comments denouncing it.
Elizabeth, I'm a thirtyish gay man and I liked Jackass because brainless fratboys are hot.
I wish this Madison thing didn't require a login- are there pictures in the article?
Hmmm.... I hope that link does get you to the article! Anyway, there is a small picture.
Ann, weird, when I clicked on it this morning it said I needed a login so I didn't bother checking it again. Now it's fine, thanks!
Bony college boys! I should have guessed. Oh well.
Yes, well, I changed the link after reading your comment. I get an email alert each day from the Cardinal, and I used the link that came from that. I changed it to one from going to the site without the email. It was a good lesson to learn, so thanks. Anyway, was it worth it?
Elizabeth - That would be Pontius I think - AKA Party Boy.
I hate Jackass. I'm such a wimp and they make me cringe. But I've seen it a million times because my husband loves it.
Ann, it was worth it. But not as worth it as it could have been. If one is going for "Guys Gone Wild" (which actually exists in video form, and not as performance art) one needs close-ups. Hasn't this woman picked up a gay men's magazine or been to South Beach?
Well, I think you're bringing out the problem with this piece. The artist thinks she's critiquing the sexual objectification of women, but it doesn't quite play out that way, does it?
My favorite take on spring break comes from Arrested Development. Michael Bluth is amazed at how his secretary, and all of his grown siblings, still go spring break, despite the fact that none of them are in school, and none of them (except for the secretary Kitty) have a job from which to take a vacation. When his brother GOB asks him why he's not doing anything for spring break, Michael says: "Well, I'm not Orthodox . . . nevermind."
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