1. The reading talks about John Cage and his start of what was called Happenings. Basically, this is where random people in the streets perform or art events arise. Would the side shows and artist on the streets of San Francisco be consider part of a Happening? Is this term still used to this day?
2. My next question kind of goes with what we have talked previously about in class. As much as filming and video art has highly influenced art as a whole, and as popular as it was when it was first created; is there any chance that it is losing it's importance? As we talked about in class, going to a gallery and physically having to look at a painting and come up with your own idea about it takes a lot more effort than just pressing play on a movie or film. Is there a possibility that video art is being pushed back behind all other forms of art?
I would consider them a happening! On a social level, most of these performances would never be documented. They are mostly for the intent of gaining change for bus fare, I would imagine. The term I think is still in use today, though less intently. Referencing documentation again, the more capability we have towards 'filming' a moment, the less 'happening' it will be.
ReplyDeleteI would not say video art is being pushed back behind other forms. If anything, from some people's complaints, pushed above. Art as a big form likes to keep all tools and expressions on an equal playing field. No form is more important than the other. The only thing that is pushed back/above another in art are ideas relevant to what is happening in the world. Then, it is just a matter of what is the proper medium to interpret those events. My two cents.