From the 1920s til today, artful videos and video art have evolved, becoming combination that proves to be very effective and still remain tasteful to that of art. Although both started out in the mid to late 1920s, video art can be seen in such films as Fritz Lang’s masterpiece Metropolis, to the Triadic Ballet. The films adapt their own style and experiment with color, sounds, and the end product dances on the screen with lavish costumes and dramatic acting.
I could go on forever talking about the two genres, but I would like to speak to you about just video art. We all know what an artful video is, it is as mainstream as the movies we see at the theaters or music videos we see on MTV. Video art is something special. It doesn’t even need a plot to get its message across. The duration of the film is much shorter, ranging anywhere from a few minutes to an hour or two. The budget for these films, it is far from box office money, yet the simplicity of the design (particulary the set, actors, camera) adds a touch that gives the film a nice rough finish that the artist can render and the audience can interpret. It is beautiful in its entirity because it is a creation that although may not be original, has a personal touch that is recognizable by the particular artist. The Brothers Quay for instance, created short stop motion films whereas they create characters that come alive and engage in activities that would be deemed unusual. The elements they deal with, the material they construct themselves, they have control of all their medium. Unlike artful video, the artist is in control of all the aspects: they are the set designer, the actor coordinator, the actor themselves in some cases, the costume designer, the lighting specialist, the video editor, the list goes on and on.
Video art does not have to make sense. Chris Kasper’s F’Art is brillant because he takes a simple taboo action and goes along with it. To some it might be offensive, to others it might be hilarious, but in all it is art. Bill Viola’s work has no plot to it, the work itself speaks through the filming technique and the sounds he creates. Maya Derin’s pieces are beautiful as well, but there is not a storyline, just actions. This is where I see video art.
So what do I think video art is all about now? Video art is an expression of the artist’s interdepth most thought. It is a mixture of art and movie glamour. Whether it is a fifteen minutes of fame as Warhol’s actors strive for identity or Derin’s spiritual connection and film intertwined, each idea is unique to the artist. They all follow a culture which they have lived upon or try to imitate a culture they want to study. Video art becomes similiar and closer as time goes to becoming like artful video, yet the combination is nice. I feel that it is important to spread this media and educate the masses. These works inspire reaction, they can be tasteful or trash. It is not for the fame of the artist or the reputation, it is for the continuation of arts into this society.
Video art is the most advanced form of art, apart from the internet, that utilizes the latest technology that we can work with. It is from a different perspective, these people are not theatrical, they are artists. Although theatre and the arts fall into the same category, we must differentiate the two. We are all people with common ideas, but the way we manipulate things puts us into these categories. Video art is this manipulation and it is done with the paints, sculptures, drawings, renderings that society gives it. It must advance with technology and time, and with the two it will become like artful video as more media is given to it. Luckily, video art illicits a reaction in a few moments instead of 2 hours and it is a love it or hate it relationship.
From the canvas to the screen, it is art.
