Flatscape Video: What is Culture Jamming

Flatscape Video: What is Culture Jamming

The final screeing in this year's Flatscape video Series is this Saturday, March 26, 8pm at the Baton Rouge Gallery CCA. This looks like the best one yet. The evening will start with Dara Birnbaum's 1978 video "Technology/Transformation: Wonder Woman”. I actually saw this video when Ms. Birnbaum gave a lecture at LSU a few years ago. It's an excellent example of deconstructing media and particularly compelling given the technology available at the time. Next is a more modern version of Culture Jamming from the group Animal Charm. This will be followed by a documentary on the topic from Jill Sharp, which appears to follow the exploits of the billboard liberation front (blogged earlier). You can check out a trailer for the film here.

In other BRG CCA news, the Movies and Music on the Lawn series is set to pick up where flatscape leaves off, now that spring has sprung. Movies and Music will start at the end of May and they are looking for musicians. If you are interested, you can contact the gallery brgalleryevents@yahoo.com, or say something to Janet at Flatscape.

Here's the press release (note: the release was made before permission to show Culture Jam the Film was granted).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, March 14, 2005

CONTACT: Janet L.U. Rudawsky, Special Events Coordinator 225.383.1470
Press Release – Public Service Announcement

What is Culture Jamming?

Baton Rouge- Flatscape Video Series is exploring the theme of culture jamming for this month’s program. Culture jamming is the appropriation and reassemblage of television images to present an altered meaning. Renowned video artist, Dara Birnbaum blazed a trail for later artists with her 1978 video “Technology/Transformation: Wonder Woman”. She edited portions of the popular 70’s television show to reveal the strong overtones of violence and sexuality. Her video is punctuated with a refrain of repeating explosions, and a wonder Woman trapped in a state of perpetual spinning. The video deconstructs this seemingly harmless, fun program. At the time the program was marketed toward empowering young girls. Birnbaum’s version shows the underlying absurdity of the program.

More recently, the group Animal Charm, has taken up where she left off. The gallery will show their “Videoworks:Volume 1” These artist are also trying to upset the hypnotic spectacle of television by displacing its logic. Animal Charm describes themselves as “a nomadic autonomous off-broadcast channel of absurdist deconstruction and video remix anarchy”. This group tours the country providing spontaneous performances, similar to a DJ in a club.

Although they will not be here in person to perform, the magic of video allows us to enjoy the product right here at Baton Rouge Gallery CCA.

Baton Rouge Gallery CCA is presenting these videos Saturday, March 26th,at 8 pm. Admission for non-members $5, members get in free. (Student annual memberships are only $20.) Come early as seating is limited.

The Baton Rouge Gallery is located at 1442 City Park Avenue and is open from 12:00pm until 6:00pm, Tuesday through Sunday, and is closed on Monday.

For more information please call Baton Rouge Gallery at 225.383.1470

This program is supported in part by funds from the LOUISIANA STATE ARTS COUNCIL and the LOUISIANA DIVISION OF THE ARTS, and by the ARTS COUNCIL OF GREATER BATON ROUGE through the DECENTRALIZED ARTS FUNDING PROGRAM. The Gallery also gets support from BREC, the COMMUNITY FUND FOR THE ARTS, and Mrs. Paula Manship.

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