Christie Milliken, "The Pixel Visions of Sadie Benning"

1. How is Sadie Benning's work related to general trends and characteristics in Riot Grrl subculture? How is Riot Grrl subculture similar to and different from punk subculture?

Riot grrl movement was like the punks in that they were untrained musicians using outdated or low tech equipment, but the riot grrls focused on the female, grrl power. Bennings use of the pixle vision and untrained stlye reflects this movement.

2. Why does Milliken refer to Benning's work as visual essays? What are the advantages of viewing the work in relation to this genre? What is meant by "radical feminist essayistic" form?
Sadie Benning's work is considered "essay" because of the highly personal nature of her films, which take confessional, autobiographical tones much like a diary. However, she does not limit herself to only making autobiographical films and her incorporation of fictional aspects to her stories make them more universal.


Keller and Ward, "Matthew Barney and the Paradox of the Neo-Avant-Garde Blockbuster"

3. What has changed in the gallery art world that allows Barney to describe his work as “sculpture”? In other words, how has the definition of sculpture changed since the 1960s, and why?
In the 1960's the definition of "sculpture" broadened to incompass many seemingly unrelated disciplines such as media-based works, performance, and architecture.

4. Tricky but important question: Why was minimalist sculpture seen as a reaction against the “modernist hymns to the purity and specificity of aesthetic experience”? In other words: Why do they say that minimalist sculpture is post-modernist?
Minimalist sculpture is post-modernist because it tries to eliminate the hand of the artist. The pieces seem like that could be recreated without that artist present. It emphasized the concept of the experience a viewer has while interacting with a particular work of art.

5. Describe the role of the body in the works of Vito Acconci and Chris Burden. You may wish to consult the following links to supplement the descriptions in the readings:


5. In the opinion of the authors, what are the key differences between performance art of the 1960s/1970s and Barney’s Cremaster cycle? What do they mean by the term "blockbuster" in relation to the gallery art world?

Barney's work pushed the human body to extremes, the 60's 70's did not torture the artist. Blockbuster refers to big budget and is unusual

Walley, "Modes of Film Practice in the Avant-Garde"

6. What is meant by “mode of film practice”? Give two well known examples of non-experimental modes of film practice. Why does Walley argue that the concept of the mode of film practice can help distinguish between the experimental film and gallery art worlds?

A mode of film practice is a specific style within avant garde, post modernism, classic hollywood are examples of non experimental film

7. What are some of the key differences between the experimental and gallery art worlds in terms of production and distribution?

Experimental films are more accessible and have more support than gallery. Universities, festivals and the web are ways people can be exposed and discover avant garde films. Gallery art is more exclusive and has less financial support