Intro Reading Response:

"The sumptuous texture of indexical media is unquestionable seductive, but its desirability also arises from the impression that it is scarce, rare, precious.�
-Claire Bishop
What is authenticity? What is attractive about it? I was having a conversation with my housemate the other day about why people seem to be collecting and consumer VHS tapes more and more (because I have a small collection of them). The first thing I linked it to was those who collected vinyl records--as if that was some kind of reasoning. It isn't different at all. People I ask about vinyl always say "its warmer" and "i like having something physical i can look at, touch, smell etc". VHS tapes are no different. But i feel like the amount of time its taken to start gaining popularity has to do with when it first came about. That is, the people who grew up on VHS are now becoming old enough, the memories becoming further and further away, that they now evoke nostalgia in those inner childs, many of whom to happen to be my age. Or... maybe not. VHS has been around since before the 90's, after all.

History Reading Response:

Below: Untitled Film Still by Cindy Sherman and a fake ad I made for my facebook profile Cindy Sherman imitated young actresses in her series of photos Untitled Film Still(s?), calling attention to the roles women would play in films as well as calling attention to the genre itself. She inserted herself into a scene, taking every measure to create feeling that the photo was not the work of a photographer but instead the work of a filmmaker.

When I made this parody of an internet ad, I wasn't thinking very much about art, genre, technology or anything beyond the joke. But then I realized the pieces have a lot in common, even if they do stop at the cause behind the art. I did want to imitate those silly ads, and took the time to make it look at least somewhat convincing. But the effect is also different because while Cindy Sherman's art could fool a viewer into thinking it was real, but the content of my photo is too silly to really convince anyone. Both are self portraits imitating a genre in order to call attention to it.

a lil.
u kno