Reading Responses (catchup)
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Word of Mouth: Christof Migone’s Little Manias presented some very philosophical ideas on language. It touched upon finding identity and losing identity. I find the concept “The whole is a hole inside of which individuality if formed” very interesting. Language is so intact to our “self”. As a child, as we learn our first words, we slowly form our individuality and our connection to our society. Language in a sense allow us to be unique individuals as we are able to express ourselves in our own unique way. In the same time, language takes away our individuality because under the same system of speech, we become limited to our expressions and unified.
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Reading Sophie Stevance’s work really made me think about the credibility and originality of creating art using ready made. I believe every art showcases the Artist’s creativity to the audience. Any piece of work can be recognized as art from the audience when they see creativity input in them. The problem for ready made may be that because they are usually familiar objects from our daily life, it is more difficult for the audience to spot creativity in the work. Hence the hard part of creating art using ready made is how can one dig into the unexpected manipulation and usage of the object to spark creativity and make the audience question the definition of the object. I think ready made art can be as credible as originally made art when one is able to let the audience see the creative inputs within the ready made work.
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One thing that I really like about Neuhaus’s works as I read through Alex Pott’s Moment and Place is that as Neuhaus “envisioned his work as impinging on everyday experience… and integrate with everyday life.” Many of his works does not stand out and would easily be ignored if one doest pay attention to the aural environment. Especially in today’s society, so many people are wearing headphones or earphones as they walk on the streets. “Listening to the voice of the city” has became the unusual for an impetuous generation now. And it is in these times, in my opinion that shows the importance and significance of Neuhaus’s art because they encourage us to “live in the moment” and pay attention to the art that exists in our daily life.
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In Seeing, hearing: Fluxus, I see how Cage approaches sound art as a very inclusive concept that can be found in everyday life and our human body. I find it very interesting in how his “Spanish Card Piece For Objects” performance piece puts the “intentions” behind people’s gestures, actions in daily life into theatrical context. He mentioned that when people walk down the streets, everyone is moving with intentions. The intention can be the direction in which people are walking towards, the gestures they are making with their body, the expressions on their faces, their outfit, the sound… etc. It is a very interesting concept that made me think and see more about human behavior. Also, it is very interesting to me in how he uses the cards and instructions as a “tool’ to observe people’s subconscious decision in their voice.
Note:
Reading through Brandon’s I am Sitting in a Room, I find the idea of “voice being in control and out of control” very interesting. He mentioned, “voice reveals agency in the words spoken, which from commands, pleas, and invitation, and, in return, it dissolves agency” I is very interesting to me that how rarely we think about how our voice manipulates our voice and hence our agency even though we use it everyday. But how can our voice go out of control? How hard is it to control your voice? I thought manipulating out voice was easy hence questions arise from my mind. However, when I read through the passage, I realized I was wrong. Later in the passage when Brandon mentions, “… leaving the speaker depleted, helpless, and unable to conjure words so as to enter conversation and the power plays of voicing…” I reflected on my own experience when I struggle articulate myself and gets really “helpless” and even frustrated about myself. It happens almost everyday actually. We are not in full control of our voice. There are always a big part of it that is out of control.