John Cage – 4:33 (2004, 47MB, 9:23 min)
Wonderful video of the BBC Symphony Orchestra under
Lawrence Foster giving a performance of John Cage’s
notorious/ provocative/seminal/epoch-making 4:33.
Category Archives: tv
Wheeler Winston Dixon – Serial Metaphysics
Serial Metaphysics #1 (1984-86, clip, 6.4MB, 1:08 min)
Serial Metaphysics #2 (1984-86, clip, 5.9MB, 1:08 min)
Wheeler Winston Dixon is now a professor of film studies
at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. Before he did that he made
a lot of (on the evidence of these clips & others) really great short movies.
In particular these two clips from Serial Metaphysics, apparently almost
entirely constructed from TV ads, whet the appetite for a viewing
of the whole twenty minutes.
Dixon conjures fever dream magic from commercial banality.
Check in particular the end sequence of clip one:
David Lynch eat your heart out.
Douglas Fishbone
Towards a Common Understanding (excerpt) (2007, 9.4MB, 6:50min)
Douglas Fishbone is one of my favorite video art jokesters.
He leaves no stone unturned in his search for a common
understanding, which takes him to the furthest reaches
of the world wide web and back.
I have been trying to find a video of his online to
include here for a while now, then I just asked him and
he graciously sent me this video for the faithful DVBlog viewers.
Beware, there are many disturbing images in this video but none
of them on screen for more than a few seconds and all quite spectacular.
By Mica
Body Magic – Javier Morales and John Michael Boling
Body Magic (2007, 26MB, 2:25 min.)
From the old gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooogle.com
Music by Javier.
David Olmos//José M. Sánchez-Verdú – Paisajes del placer y de la culpa
Paisajes del placer y de la culpa #1 (2008, 119MB, 7:49 min)
Paisajes del placer y de la culpa #2 (2008, 74MB, 4:52 min)
José M. Sánchez-Verdú is a Spanish composer who creates richly textured and
sensuous music in an uncompromisingly contemporary idiom.
His richness is no frippery but properly fought for and won.
Here is a short movie, in two parts, made by David Olmos, about whom I can find
no information whatsoever, which blends a fictional narrative with footage of
an orchestral performance of one of Sánchez-Verdú’s works
Paisajes del placer y de la culpa – Landscapes
of Pleasure and Guilt.
The film is undoubtedly skillfully made but I remain slightly agnostic
about its premise or even necessity; however no such doubts about some
of the most extraordinary music of recent years.
I grabbed the film from YouTube and as you can see the image quality isn’t great
although in some ways the graininess appeals and seems apposite to the subject.
Samuel Beckett – Quadrat I + II
Quadrat I + II (1981, 4.3MB, 1:04 sec.)
Quad (Play), by Samuel Beckett.
by Doron Golan
Bob Ross is alive. The Joy of Painting..
Bob Ross is alive (2008, 22MB, 2:50 min.)
The Joy of Painting (2008, 15MB, 5:45 min.)
Bob Ross came to prominence as the creator of ‘The Joy of Painting’,
a program on public television in the US. Here are a couple of great parodies
that poke fun at Bob and his calm and enduring nature.
Top is from Dutch filmmaker Miron Bilski (from the viral video award)
Bottom is from artists Max Kotelchuck and Peter Nowogrodzki.
Jon Rafman – Ad-Vice for a Prophet
Ad-Vice for a Prophet (2005, 78.6MB, 6:59 min)
I wrote the text below in, I think, 2008.
[In case you didn’t notice we’re intermittently re-posting stuff previously
posted on weekends in line with our 5 day a week current policy
– it also takes a bit of the pressure off which, two old guys,
we feel, we feel].
Since then Rafman has gone on to achieve a measure of well deserved
celebrity, showing at the Saatchi Gallery in London amongst other
prestigious venues, especially with his 9 eyes of google street view
I notice the piece we feature here no longer appears on his CV or website.
A shame – it has many merits – not least of which is an embryonic
version of the sensibility which underpins his more current work
although I entirely understand why artists occasionally attempt
to take a broom to old work.
Great piece by Jon Rafman.
I love the refusal to commit to a tone, the playfulness & humor, the wistfulness &
sometimes the vaguest air of menace too.
There’s a curious feel. An air of detachment, as if nothing can be said
directly but that everything is mediated & distanced by the act of editing
and presenting, serving up, (as with the ads).
The whole thing feels haunted by movie history.
I’m curious to know whether this is all found footage, whether some of it is
original or what.
Anyway, tremendous. Lots of other interesting
work on his site.
The One That Got Away – Marisa Olson
The One That Got Away (2005, 19MB, 9:02 min.)
In the Fall of 2004,Marisa Olson gained worldwide attention
while training to audition for American Idol
June Pak
June Pak – double (2002, 892 KB, 0:30)
June Pak’s work is innovative and breathtaking.
In double, one character disrupts the other’s stability
by changing the television channel but is nevertheless
oblivious to this effect. Pak says, “This exchange
between the two suggests the disjunction within
oneself caused by technology and boredom.”
The World's Largest TV Studio
The World’s Largest TV Studio (1972, 17.2MB, 7:10 min.)
A historic piece of political video from
the 1972 Miami Democratic Convention, this excerpt featuring an interview
with Michael Shamberg, author of Guerilla Television & founder member of Top Value
Television. (Also founder of Raindance & subsequently big shot Hollywood Producer).
Found in the broadcasting section of the Southwest Museum of Engineering Communications
and Computation, which is actually stuffed with goodies.
Buffies – First Season
Buffies – First Season (2002, 5.4MB, 1 min.)
Winsome bit of conceptual candyfloss from Chuck Jones in 2002.
One of his isolation studies, this piece comprises
‘Every utterance of the word ‘Buffy’ made during
the first season of ‘Buffy The Vampire Slayer’,
totaling nearly one minute.’
William Wegman & Steve Martin
Martin on Wegman (1999, 3.75MB, 2:09 min.)
The introduction to the identity program from the PBS series
Art in the 21st Century in which host Steve Martin is featured
in this charming and quirky video by the artist William Wegman.
Robert Ashley/John Sanborn/Kit Fitzgerald
excerpt from ‘Word Music Fire’ (1981, 8.7MB, 7:45 min)
Found at newmusicbox ,which also has lots of interesting interview footage
with the composer. Despite the low quality of this clip, it suffices to indicate
what a thrilling piece of work this (originally made for TV by Channel 13/WNET)
must be in its entirety.
I’ve been a bit of an Ashley agnostic until now, but this has really whetted my appetite
for more.
Partly it’s that, music aside, the vid by John Sanborn in collaboration with
Kit Fitzgerald is so great.
The Internet – Aaron Valdez
The Internet (2006, 5.3MB, 1:03 min.)
2006 report from Valdezatron Industries technology department.
from Aaron Valdez.
Guli Silberstein – Beach
Beach (2009, 64 MB, 4:57 min.)
“A happy family is shown on a beach in Tel Aviv, as 100 km away a girl runs
from the bombardment of a beach in Gaza. It’s a reality where tranquility may
turn into horror in an instant. The conflicting scenes on a TV on the blink raise
the impossibility of accepting an absolute picture of a reality.”
By Guli Silberstein.
Herbert Wentscher – All For the Best
Amazing
Amazing (2005, 4.1MB, 2:02 min.)
I found this in my DVblog to-do folder & embarassingly
I can’t remember when or from where I downloaded it.*
If anyone can oblige please mail us.
Anyway, it made me laugh quite immoderately.
* Update -the splendid Sam Renseiw rides to the rescue with
this link.
Derek Larson – Blank State
Danny Tanner (2010, 11 MB, 1:14 min.)
“Derek Larson is concerned with “working with his hands” in the sculptural space
inside video and in blurring the lines between social and media spaces.
He describes his intention to close his videos in a “culturally dependent,
feedback-loop” and, as a sculptor, is attracted to video’s infinite reproducibility.
His works appropriate the methodologies and deadpan humor of tactical media while
drawing a focus on its formal qualities and relationships in lieu of fixed and pointed content.”
LOUIS V. E.S.P.
Sacha Baron Cohen – Borat on Politics
John Berryman – Dream Song #14
Dream Song #14 (1967, 8MB, 1:43 min)
Life, friends, is boring. We must not say so.
After all, the sky flashes, the great sea yearns,
we ourselves flash and yearn,
and moreover my mother told me as a boy
(repeatedly) ‘Ever to confess you’re bored
means you have no
Inner Resources.’ I conclude now I have no
inner resources, because I am heavy bored.
Peoples bore me,
literature bores me, especially great literature,
Henry bores me, with his plights & gripes
as bad as achilles,
who loves people and valiant art, which bores me.
And the tranquil hills, & gin, look like a drag
and somehow a dog
has taken itself & its tail considerably away
into mountains or sea or sky, leaving
behind: me, wag.
Another Dream Song.
For details see original post
John Berryman – Dream Song #29
Dream Song #29 (1967, 11MB, 2:20 min)
There sat down, once, a thing on Henry’s heart
s
Deaf Swedish Beaver TV
Deaf Swedish Beaver TV (2010, 9MB, 1:03 min)
Sooooo un-PC on just soooo many levels
and quite quite wonderful too, a great Lumière from
DVblog’s own Brittany Shoot.
Keith Schofield – 3 Commercials
Elephants (2008, 9MB, 1:19 min.)
Flatheads (2008, 2MB, 30 sec.)
3 commercials for Samsung, Axion and Fruit Roll-Ups
by inspiring director – Keith Schofield.
Verizon – Never Stop Working for You
Couldn’t figure out if this commercial is a spoof or for real.
Eileen Maxson – Tonite (Reprise)
Tonite (Reprise) (2009, 13 MB, 3:16 min)
By Eileen Maxson. Exhibited at video_dumbo 2009.
Warhol TV at La Maison Rouge
Warhol TV (2009, 40MB, 3:35 min.)
La Maison Rouge in Paris presents an exhibition about Andy Warhol
Egg Meat Cheese – Aaron Valdez
Egg Meat Cheese (2006, 11.6MB, 2:38 min.)
Aaron Valdez brings us this excellently
selected sampler from the American media diet.
(Videoblogging Week 2006, Day 2. Recorded 1:40 AM – 2 AM)
By Mica Scalin.
More School of Athens – Eddie Whelan’s James Burke
James Burke (2009, 168MB 5:53 min)
There’s something -I don’t know –insouciant about these School of Athens folks.
That’s one of the definite links, a kind of throw away, thrown together quality, that teases
because I’d be equally unsurprised to learn that every second was laboured over mightily.
(Think not though, but of course that’s not a criticism. )
Of course the styles of the various “members” differ somewhat too.
Eddie Whelan seems to specialise in a rather garish but fetching pop surrealism.
I like the somewhat in your face and worn at the edges motion graphics as much
as I find genuinely evocative the appropriated beach (eclipse?) footage.
Also, what’s not to like about a movie featuring a minor BBC cult
science reporter of the 80s…
Whelan’s idosyncratic way with spelling engages rather than irritates
which for me at least is a bit of an acid test.
Good.
More from Eddie the Wheel in the next days and weeks.
Neighborhood Nuclear Superiority
Neighborhood Nuclear Superiority (50’s, 15MB, 1:35 min.)
Stumble upon this funny 50
A Taste Of His Own Medicine
talking asshole (2006, 1.5MB, 35 sec)
William Burroughs thou shouldst be living at custom essays uk this hour!
Not perhaps the most subtle of satires but
highly enjoyable nonetheless.
‘I commend your frontier justice’, or similar, said
a comment on Teddy Stern‘s blog.
Prince – The Artist – Cinnamon Girl and American Bandstand
Eugene Mirman – Comedy Shorts
Mr. Robot (2004, 2.8MB, 2:31 min.)
Scotch and Soda (2005, 4.4MB, 2:10 min.)
Eugene Mirman is a comedian, writer, and film maker based in
New York City. Eugene has appeared on several TV shows, including
Late Night With Conan O
Uffe Ellemann-Jensen in Tokyo
Uffe Ellemann-Jensen in Tokyo – (2008, 5.1MB, 1:18)
Bear with me here: have you ever felt lost? I don’t
mean existentially. I mean alone in a place that was
not your own, a foreigner in a strange land, a stranger
in a foreign land. I have on several occasions – including
during a solo trip to Japan a few years ago – and when
this commercial came on my TV about a month back, I
couldn’t tear myself away. No, it isn’t net art or experimental
animation, but it’s beautiful and haunting and something I
certainly see far too little of on television. If you think a little
Lost in Translation, you wouldn’t be wrong for that. The guys
behind the this piece admitted in a recent interview that they
paid special attention to reproducing LiT details for fans of the film.
Other facts: this is a commercial for SAS featuring former
Danish Secretary of State, and two more similar follow-ups
are running/forthcoming (though not featuring Ellemann-Jensen or Japan,
sadly). The startlingly mournful music is appropriately from Babel.
The tagline reads, in English, “Almost home” or “As good as home.”
MoTV News, Episode 1 – Marisa Olson
MoTV News, Episode 1 (2005, 13.6MB, 6:20 min.)
During her American Idol audition training process,
Marisa Olson asked MTV News veteran Tabitha Soren to interview her and
then critique her
Kelly Mark – A Man & A Woman
Kelly Mark – A Man & A Woman (2007, 4.5MB, 8:10)
Hilarious piece from the very funny, very talented
Kelly Mark.
Mark says: While working on my 2 hour mash-up
movie REM I kept a log book of every movie I watched
during this time. The text for “A Man & A Woman” comes
from the movie synopsis listed on the cable tv menu.
The piece starts off with one word descriptions and
then more and more adjectives are added.
Two Moon July – David Byrne and Phillip Glass
David Byrne – Report from L.A. (1986, 49MB, 4:30 min.)
Phillip Glass – Mad Rush (1986, 29MB, 3:17 min.)
Both of these pieces, although incredibly different in feel and nature, were
preformed for the “multidisciplinary event” which showcased “experimental
video, film, visual art, performance and music in a theatrical framework”.
Shot at New York City’s infamous Kitchen, and broadcast on television sets
across the states in 1986, the production “reflects a moment when art centers
were experimenting with new modes of presenting the arts for television.”
Read more and see more here.
“More fun than you can shake your stick at”
Recent work from Paul Kelly
The Video Artist (2004-8, 15.5MB, 1:19 min)
Corporate Flag (2008, 47.2MB, 4:06 min)
Narrative (2008, 19.9MB, 1:35 min)
We’ve featured a number of pieces by Paul Kelly
in the last year, although in terms of their date of
making they stretch over some 4 years.
Looking back it seems to me there’s a very striking
sense of development.
The language and technique here is leaner, tougher
& more focussed, though without any loss of the
delight in the beauty & mystery of the everyday
that is a keynote of all the work.
As a little aside I know Paul has been making stuff
for Brittany (of this manor) & Andreas’s
Lumi
PES – Sneaux Shoes – Human Skateboard
Sneaux Shoes launched a consumer-generated video campaign
with a stop-motion video of a human skateboard. The TV ad
features a skateboarder using a kid as a skateboard and performing
classic tricks like ollies, grinds and 360s.
PES who directed the video made it entirely in-camera (Canon D20)
and on location through the use of a stop-motion animation technique
known as pixilation. Says PES: “This spot is a great example of the
breadth of stop-motion. If something exists in the real world, it can be animated.”
Editing and sound design was done by Sam Welch at Homestead, New York.
Sacha Baron Cohen – Borat – Throw the Jew Down the Well
Peace (2005, 19.7MB, 2:46 min)
This Borat performance at a country-western bar in Tucson, Arizona
provoked a sharp letter from the Anti-Defamation League.
Sacha Baron Cohen – Borat – Wine Tasting
wine tasting (2002, 28MB, 3:57 min.)
British chameleon Baron Cohen as Borat – the spoof Kazakh television presenter.
more Borat here.
Marc Greenfield’s drought
Marc Greenfield – Toothbrush (2004, 5.5MB, 0:31)
Emmy winner Marc Greenfield’s public service
announcement about Denver water
via Food Chain Films
Sex Pistols – Anarchy in the UK
Anarchy in the UK (1976, 18MB, 3:32 min)
The Sex Pistols performing Anarchy in the UK in 1976
on the Granada TV show ‘So It Goes’.
From Bedazzled
PS In case you missed it first time round check this out too 🙂
The assassination of John F. Kennedy
Kennedy Assassination (1963, 300k, 28 sec.)
“The assassination of John F. Kennedy, the thirty-fifth President of the
United States, took place on Friday, November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas,
at 12:30 p.m. CST (18:30 UTC).
John F. Kennedy was fatally wounded by gunshots while riding with his wife
Jacqueline in a presidential motorcade through Dealey Plaza.
The assassination is still the subject of widespread speculation and has spawned
numerous conspiracy theories.” – from wikipedia.
Close-up, extract from the Zapruder Film.
Men’s Feilfri Footware
Stunning CGI from royalelastics.com.
Saturday Night Live with Al Gore
Saturday Night with Al Gore (2002, 7MB, 4:02 min.)
President Al Gore delivers a special message from the Oval Office
in the opening skit on Saturday Night Live.
from del.icio.us
The Movie Movie – Errol Morris
The Movie Movie (2002, 17MB, 4:16 min.)
A four-minute film produced by documentary filmmaker Errol Morris featuring
quick-cut interviews with celebrities and regular folks alike was screened
during the opening segment of the Academy Awards in 2002. The film, which
was introduced by Tom Cruise, featured such luminaries as First Lady Laura Bush,
former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, writer Susan Sontag, Phillip Glass,
Iggy Pop of the Stooges, Lou Reed, Donald Trump, Walter Cronkite and the Rev.
Al Sharpton. Morris interviewed close to 120 subjects in New York, Los Angeles and Boston.
2 gigabytes of ipod Mary?
Rather unusual, this: a clip from the BBC’s putative yoof
channel, BBC3, that is both funny & smart.
Apple – Hello 2007
Hello 2007 (2007, 3.6MB, 30 sec.)
The new iPhone commercial from Apple.
Apple Think Different – 1998
Think Different (1998, 10MB, 1 min)
The famous Think Different commercial, featuring Einstein, Ghandi,
Amelia Earhart, etc. Probably one of the most influential commercials of 1998.
Borat on Politics
Borat on Politics (2004, 25MB, 3:31 min)
Official Borat Homesite.
The Phil Collins Singalong Hour
The Phil Collins Singalong Hour (2006, 96.5MB, 9:17 min)
Art Pt. 1 (2006, 52MB, 8:50 min)
Utterly wonderful & deranged work from Jamie O’Brien.
Up there with the best – well… er… entertainers
in terms of comedic edge & timing & chutzpah & derring-do
but at the same time this work has the imaginative
breadth & the sheer smarts that lots of wannabe
performance artists could only dream about…
House of Cosbys
House of Cosbys (2005, 10MB, 5 min.)
from Channel 101.
This video should recieve lots of attention because it is really really
funny. Instead, it made the papers because Bill Cosby’s lawyers
threatened Channel 101 and their video hosting service with
cease and desist letters.
By Mica Scalin.
Sacha Baron Cohen – Borat response
borat response (2004, 1.9MB, 54 sec.)
Sacha Baron Cohen’s Borat provided
lots of Controversy and created Conflicts
with the Kazakh Government.
Sacha Baron Cohen – Borat – American Football
American Football (2003, 10.1MB, 4:30 min.)
British chameleon Baron Cohen is portraying a spoof Kazakh
(Kazakhstan) television presenter Borat in his Da Ali G Show.