Course Description

How are performance artists pushing the boundaries and expanding the definition of performance art and media? How does performance art communicate and participate in social and political discourses, meanings and values? What is the impact of the recording lens on performance art? The "On Camera" course is designed to support the creative and intellectual growth of students. We will examine works by cutting-edge artists and consider the conceptual and technical aspects of new media and performance artwork. Students will be exposed to a wide array of visuals and reading materials. The class is structured around individual projects, in-class exercises and writing activities. The discussions are centered on student works, artists' writings, and theoretical texts about performance and new media art. Students are encouraged to develop conceptual and creative links between student production and the work of other artists. Students are given a variety of tools and techniques which will allow them to push the boundaries of their creativity, intellect, and imagination.

Objectives and goals: 

Build conceptual and technical skills for the creation of performative lens-based and virtual work
Experiment with new forms in performative video
Understand historical and cultural issues in performative video
Develop a critical vocbulary for discussing and critiquing performative video
Acquire an inter-disciplinary and intermedia approach to performative video
Create an original work of performative video work

Syllabus

Rah Eleh is a video, net and performance artist based in Toronto, Canada. Rah's work focuses on and critiques the visual stereotypes and performative aspects that shape female gender identity and national and ethnic identity. She is interested in how race and gender are performed from multiple layered perspectives: exilic, decolonial, queer and diasporic. Rah has lectured and exhibited extensively internationally at institutions including NYU Tisch, The New School, Alfred University, Dalhousie University, Images Festival (Toronto), Museum London, Carleton University Art Gallery (Ottawa), Williams College Museum of Art (Williamstown, MA), Miami Art Basel, Nieuwe Vide (Haarlem, Netherlands), Pao Festival (Oslo, Norway), Kunst am Spreeknie (Berlin, Germany), Kunsthaus Graz Museum (Graz, Austria), and Onassis Cultural Center (Athens, Greece). Rah is represented by VTape, Canada's leading artist-run distributor for video art.