Friday, 24 February 2012

Paul McCarthy Documentary

http://www.ubu.com/film/mccarthy_destruction.html
Drawing on the idiom and imagery of the consumer culture he grew up in, video artist Paul McCarthy distorts and mutates the familiar into the disturbing and grotesque as fairy tale narratives and foods are transformed into tableaus of abuse and violation.


Interesting portrait of the artist, he doesn't seem to give much critical standpoint on issues arising in his work. Its worrying when he says, "I don't know how much of the work is me personally". Its similar to that of a statement from some of the students here at Wimbledon that don't seem to really know why they are doing what they're doing. Another interesting point is when he talks about performance as the actuality of doing something as opposed to pretending to do it. I disagree with self harm and endurance in performative art works as the point can be emphasised just as well with simulation, and if the work is personal in this way, then why does anybody need to see it, why can't they do it on their own in their bedrooms. I also felt there was a lack of direct reference to consumer culture considering how much it came up when he was talking.