Samantha W

April 2 – tattoo party!

The idea I have is creating tattoos of the Minecraft poem as a nostalgia piece. The End Poem appears on the players screen at the end of beating the final boss, the dragon, in Minecraft. In one of my culture and technology classes we are looking at nostalgia and hauntology, a concept by Mark Fisher regarding the phenomenon of longing for the past and an unfulfilled promise of a good future. Nostalgia is so prominent while living in unprecedented times and looking back on “better” times, such as childhood, is not only desired but preferred. Using the Minecraft poem as a medium allows for the exploration of digital archives to be integrated into artwork. I think for a lot of people in my generation, Minecraft holds so many memories and this idea of hauntology. Companies profit off this with commodification of Minecraft and things like the Minecracft movie (which looks terrible but will receive popularity anyways due to nostalgic associations). Merchandise will be made, money will be regrettably forked over. Companies will profit over hauntology and this longing.

Printing the Minecraft poem as a one-time tattoo with each line only being tattooable only once will resists the commodification of nostalgia, as the lines of the poem will only be appreciated once rather than mass producing one line many times. There is a sweet feeling from the words of the poem and the context of a video game so many people have grown to know and love. Appreciating the game as an art form allows for it to be understood under a different context rather than for the purposes of capitalism.

March 31- tattoo planning

  • Spine tattoo
  • Tattoo about living
    • Made from nothing but milk and love
  • Minecraft poem^ ?
  • DNA sample tattoo (tagc pattern repeated)
  • Letter from dad tattoo

March 26 – Tattoos inspired by Micah Lexier

Micah Lexier, Arrow Piece, 2007, laser-cut steel, painted walls.

March 17- “parents video “love piece”

For my parents video I used old footage of my brother and I, recorded by my mom, that my dad helped me find over a Facetime callr. He has a lot of old family videos saved and as we went through them he emailed me the ones I thought could be of use for my project. Unfortunately, most of the files could only be played on Windows operating systems, and I would have had to either convert the files or use Resolve on my own computer. However one video, the one of my brother and I spinning, miraculously worked. After discussing with Diane my project ideas, I figured that if this was the only video file that worked, it must be for a reason. I spent careful time editing the loop video and setting up the tv’s for the Juried Art Show with the very generous help of Nathan. I had a lot of fun with this project and am very pleased with how it turned out. My parents and brother even came to see it in the show.

I think that this video means a lot under the pretense of parenthood. Not only is it a reflection of time but a reflection of the love my parents have for each other. My parents have made a great effort to ensure closeness between my brother and I. My dad is very proud of the sentiments he hears from friends and family about my relationship with my brother. He doesn’t boast, but I know it makes him very happy. Its nice to know that through anything in life I will have my brother with me. The sweetness of the moment of my brother and I, happy, as kids, lasts forever in the video loop. Theres something beautiful about the digitization and looping of footage that will eventually, run out of power, if it persisted through time, just as we will grow up and grow old. The laughter is almost sickeningly sweet as the repetition over and over only lets you listen for so long before your heart aches. Videos don’t last for ever, and moments with kids are very fleeting, especially as parents say, your children grow up right before your eyes. I’m not a parent, and I don’t know if ill ever be, but the looping video gives me a bit of a glimpse into the longing for sweet memories.

March 05- parents video planning

  • A L E X song in background
  • found footage of videos on my dads computer
  • (are we really separate)
  • video call, showing how to do something
  • make parents read brainrot
  • photos with voiceover
  • talk about pieces in the house
  • redoing dads videos for work
  • videos about singing, videos of me and my brother
  • “how is it that we talk and talk without saying what we really want”

Feb 26- bridget moser video

After reading the article by Lau and watching Moser’s video, I was able to see the work as an incredibly personal yet universal, uncanny, and poetic portrayal of living at home during the pandemic. Although eerie and lack of literal meaning, there was some sense of understanding. Particularly, the scenes of her body contorting on the couch, almost as if she was trying to fulfill the impossible task of getting up, and the scene of her buttering bread with facial cream.

I think that the reference to mass consumption in Moser’s video is very prevalent as a theme. In the article, Lau points out ” [the] tableaux of consumerist, bourgeois junk—such as a rose-gold makeup mirror, white and gilt decorative ceramic objects, and a bottle of pink Himalayan salt—parodies displays of ‘haute’ consumerist taste”, which are some examples of common trends in beauty products and décor. The usage of tapestries in the video, such as the sausage fingers and the anatomy body suit are almost seen as advertisement-like, as she observes them before she wears them herself.

The colours she uses throughout the video reminded me of a recent trend called “clean girl aesthetic”, which was the idea that less is more, and beauty comes from a clean, polished, look. Practices such as minimalism, “no makeup-makeup” looks (which is the process of applying makeup to appear like you aren’t wearing any makeup), were quickly criticized as people online debated over conceptions of beauty and cleanliness. Seeing this in Moser’s video shows how almost unnatural the clean, tidy, meticulously curated lifestyle is imperfect.There is some visceral experience when watching the video, she adds depth to what would be incredibly flat scenes. A familiar feeling comes from the large empty rooms, being very reminiscent of the pandemic. Although there is a lot of discomfort in some scenes, such as the sausage fingers, the focus of each clip being so singular, and the length of the clips, allows for you to sit with your feelings as they arrive.

I think that allowing for people to think about their own experiences and see themself in such ambiguous footage gives opportunity for many interpretations. Especially because the audio is not necessarily directional or relational to the scenes themselves. Lau says, “While Moser’s work has been described as prop humor, it also fleshes out the relationship between comedy and sex through an exploration of objects with fetishistic appeal”. While I was watching the video, I could see some allusions to sex, but it wasn’t on the forefront of my mind. The scenes on the couch are similar to a well known meme about pornography and its scripted nature. Its interesting how after understanding there could be sexual connotations, I was able to see how differently the video could be interpreted. The delicate intricacies and her empty expressions kind of act as a foundation for people to find pieces of themselves in, whether its comfort, disgust, or shame.

Feb 07- recipe for brain nurturing

My internet video piece, titled recipe for brain nurturing, is a commentary on the current climate of social media trends and reoccurring meme formats. In recent years, media known as “brainrot” swept the internet, including perpetual images of un-educational, useless, dry-humored memes. Through this trend, emerged “hopecore”. These media formats include the font Papyrus and  filter Rio de Janiero, both having oversaturated, angelic effects. Hopecore memes and posts rejected and critiqued the vast, endless abundance of terribly strange, absurd, and oftentimes annoyance of brain rot content. My video, recipe for brain nurturing, showcases the hilarious media that has gained popularity from this genre. The video’s length also goes against the norm to cater to short attention spans, feeding to the pre-existent depth and emotionality behind the satirical, comedic memes. The ways online culture has dealt with unprecedented times has changed over the years, and by navigating through an era of media that literally, rots your brain, we have created a beautifully ridiculous genre of hopeful, whimsical memes. Showcasing how this ties in with real topics and discussions of life and happiness, highlights the importance of “hopecore” as a means of finding the good in everything.

vidfinal.mov

Jan 24 – Field Trip !

Aaron Fowler’s, Live Culture Force 1’s (2022)

I think that Fowler’s work was a complete masterpiece in terms of cultural relevance and execution. There in an immense attention to detail from the steering wheels inside the shoes to the way the laces thread. I really aspire to have a creative eye like this work demonstrates; being able to see connections between life and art and material objects is something I aspire to do. Mixed media sculpture is very interesting to have displayed in galleries but I think the use of objects that have a different purpose, such as these autobody parts, has a shock factor that goes beyond what people see on their own. I think that Fowlers work not only holds an important place in the Culture exhibit, but as a piece that radiates creative inspiration. Seeing this piece made me want to create art, to get my hands dirty, to bend and reconstruct materials through my own eyes. Placing this in the centre of one of the many exhibit rooms made it stand out as a piece of time in humans history and the impact on brand culture. 

Sarindar Dhaliwal, Indian Billboard (2000)

I was really sad about missing Dhaliwal’s exhibit, When I grow up I want to be a namer of paint colours at the AGO, because of how much I loved the title of the exhibition. It spoke to me so closely and gently, and so when I found that a few of her pieces remained on display I was elated. This piece was so bright and colourful and beautiful to see in person compared to the pictures I had seen on their website. Uncovering every detail the longer you look is what makes it such a beautiful piece. This piece also provided me with  inspiration to create new works that can sing as beautifully as it does. I often work with collage materials and so being someone that notices many different things at once, it was beautiful to see this work in such a large scale and masterful technique. I think that the AGO holds many amazing historical works which are always fascinating to look at and learn about, and works that hold place for deep, narrative experiences which are crucial to be viewed in a gallery setting, but every now and then it’s interesting to stumble upon a piece that you can see parts of yourself as an artist in.

Jan 22 – Amusing ourselves to death

Postmans ideas are definitely relevant to todays age of media consumption. I think its really interesting how he can view television from a completely external lens, not only as a consumer but as an observer. He manages to discuss many ways how profit and production are everyones top priority when it comes to television and how not looking at it from that standpoint is very detrimental to ones perception and intake on information. I also really enjoyed reading Postmans son’s Introduction and found his perspective really interesting because he accounts for time being very critical of the piece but also its transection being crucial to acknowledge especially from younger generations.
Some quotes I really liked and highlighted from the text I placed below,

When Postmans son discusses criticism and the views of television being a very important and fundamental part of many newer generations lives, it reminded of a podcast I recently listened to with Duncan Trussell and Pendleton Ward. They talked about animation and television and how so much of whats being released is “garbage” content and merely produced for immediate entertainment and pleasure, yet still, there are cases where beautiful, thought provoking, intelligent, art pieces of media are released into the sea of hellish content and have the capability to bring enlightenment, and intellectual prosperity to an audience (in this case, discussing Ward’s show, Adventure Time).
I think this is a very solid argument against Postmans beliefs especially because of how much television has become so influential on culture and livelihood that its bound to fall into the hands of very talented people.
Postmans quote about IQ and intelligence being categorized and numericized is very relevant in the discussion of social constructions, which we discussed in another course I am in, Data and Difference. Knowing how much people are fir into categories and labelled and how it has become such a necessity and habitual process where in reality there is not much real humane truth behind any of it. Similar to video culture itself, where its so innate to consume and believe and watch when a screen is turned on even if we know what we are consuming is rooted in falsehoods.
Postmans sons quote about consumerism and the flow of media becoming incoherent and psychotic is incredibly relevant today as well as the work we are looking at in class and the criticism of dramatizing menial information and the “flattening” of emotionality. The ability to recognize ourselves falling into these patterns of consumption is important but inherently, changes how we view all media, even if it is approached through an aesthetic, artistic eye. If everything is marketable then how are we expected to watch traumatic news reports or absorb any information when so much of it is false? How can we consume when we are only marketed towards as a profitable source? Things haven’t changed since the introduction was written. Its hard to imagine ways of turning back from what has existed for so long.

Additional quotes I saved:

Jan 20 – Project Planning

  • Idea 3: Creating a “affirmations” video
  • Idea 2: Using windows 96 to explore old meme culture
  • Idea 1: Hopecore video

Jan 13 – Banner Project

I chose the quote “safe and exposed” because I like to believe that people could find their own interpretation in the intimacy. Often, only under the most safest conditions do we feel the freedom to be ourselves. Feeling exposed typically holds a negative connotation where safe usually is seen as the opposite, and so together they could be a variety of juxtaposing settings or personal experiences. Relationships with people are often safe and exposing, becoming used to the comfort of another person. Being at home or in the shower lends the privacy of closed doors and walls as safety, safety to be alone, completely unfiltered and exposed to ones most private thoughts or actions. The safety of friendship or a familiar face allowing you to laugh the most naturally. “Safe and exposed” becomes a statement as a state of feeling rather than an observation or question.
I thought that choosing bright colours would oppose the quote’s dramatic and ambiguous understanding. Bringing reminiscence of childhood and a playful, toy-like banner I hoped would allow for comfort in the piece in a home setting. Given the opportunity to remake this project I would use thicker markers to stand out on the paper or maybe even a larger banner style.

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