Mischa Kuball – Public Square


Mischa Kuball – Public Square (date unknown, 4.4MB, 2:41)

Do you miss the public square, the everyperson
common space? Yeah, so did Mischa Kuball. So
he made this. It’s quite fantastic. Enjoy.

Cindy Sherman – Doll Clothes


Cindy Sherman – Doll Clothes (1975, 21.2MB, 2:24)

One of Cindy Sherman’s first Super 8 films.
An excellent early view into the overtly
feminine, introspective work of the artist
that would later follow.

Kinetocast in autumn


Kinetocast – To Watch In Preparation For The Deep Fall (2006, 8.5MB, 1:25)


Kinetocast – To Watch For Help Getting Through (2007, 16.9MB, 2:55)

Two more from the endlessly delightful kinetocast,
conceptual pieces about existential moments.

2 from Bernard Gigounon


Bernard Gigounon – Looking Down (2005, 4.9MB, 2:21)


Bernard Gigounon – Rem

Zach Kmiec – mmmff


Mmmff Activities Workshop 2006: Call for entries (2006, 10.1MB, 1:58)


Mmmff Activities Workshop 2006 (2006, 13.8MB, 3:44)

Here’s the setup:
Jennifer Proctor taught a videoblogging class at the
University of Iowa in 2006. Every student set up
his/her own videoblog and made vloggy goodness.
Then, many abandoned their work, though I’d
personally expect nothing less.

While I knew one of the students in the class
(UI is one of my alma maters), a guy I didn’t
know – mmmff – caught my attention more.
Using a cell phone I’m pretty sure he just found
somewhere, Zach then made collage videos of the
five seconds or less the phone would capture in every go.

In the first video, the premise of the phone and
its limitations are introduced, and in the second
follow-up piece, the plan – to make a compilation
of activities you can do in 5 seconds or less – is executed.

It’s pretty much the opposite of boring, predictable,
talk-to-your-camera vids that litter so many hosting
services these days.
This is video functioning within constraints.
It’s also wildly hilarious.
Some of the very best random and weird videoblog
work I’ve ever seen.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights


Seth Brau – The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (2008, 18.1MB, 4:31)

Really lovely piece of moving typology from
Seth Brau of the Human Rights Action Center.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
turns 60 this year. Read the full text here.
Music from Rumspringa.
Video via Osocio

Sharon Hayes – Symbionese Liberation Army Screeds #13, 16, 20 & 29


Sharon Hayes – Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA) Screeds #13, 16, 20 & 29 (2002, 7.4MB, 2:49)

Between 2001 and 2002, artist Sharon Hayes
reenacted four tapes from the SLA Patty Hearst
abduction in 1974. These respeakings were
performed before an audience, mostly memorized,
but the audience was instructed to correct or feed
Hayes a line when she made a mistake.
Entertaining, reflective, and somewhat moving.
A real treat whether you lived through the original
events or not.

What Is – The Cupcake – or – King of the Hill


What Is – The Cupcake – or – King of the Hill (2005, 11.1MB, 2:58)

Very funny war film spoof from defunct vlog What Is.

Will Luers – Commute


Will Luers – Commute (unnamed one of eight) (2001, 3.6MB, 1:00)


Will Luers – Commute (unnamed one of eight) (2001, 3.5MB, 1:00)

I set myself the task of recording the same route
to work (Brooklyn-Manhattan) eight different
mornings from winter through spring. Each
segment was edited to exactly 60 seconds.
The linear and cylical experience of the urban
commuter lends itself to the database structure.

Will Luers, also known as Taylor Street Studios and
various projects under the name SolubleFish, has a
great history of making web video. Sometimes artists
are a little miffed when we post their older work, but
I think respecting your own history is important.
Luers’s work is no different. This piece from 2001
might seem obvious in 2008, when taping your
commute seems pedestrian (hah) and obvious.
But these vignettes – eight in total – are a lovely
reflection on repetition, routine, and subtle change.

Simon’s Cat


Simon’s Cat – “TV Dinner” (2008, 8.8MB, 2:35)

Award-winning sketch (Best Comedy at British
Animation Awards), of the several available,
this is my favorite video. Each is equally
endearing, and I’m particularly fond of the
amusing vocals.
From London’s Tandem Films