Futurism, Happenings, Performances, Installations, etc.

When stripped to the barest bones, these three writings [The Founding and Manifesto of Futurism, Interview with Allen Kaprow (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allen_Kaprow) and Performance Art: (some) Theory and (selected) Practice at the End of This Century] all essentially deal with performance art, including its variations, influences, practitioners, contributers and evolution. The first writing about futurism is an explanation of the birth of futurism and its principles, written in an authentically futurist manner. The other two writings are more reserved insights into the performing art world provided by insiders. I found the futurist view of museums to be particularly compelling. While I don't necessarily agree 100%, I think it's an intriguing point of view and sometimes find myself wondering whether fewer museums could make the works in them more important. At times, I think that the sheer multitude of museums (http://www.museumca.org/usa/alpha.html) isn't a testament to mankind's inability to distinguish valuable works from others and/or let go of the past. Something in which I have a harder time seeing legitimacy is the statement by Martha Wilson that artists have had little impact upon the political/social/economic/philosophical life of the twentieth century. I feel almost like this statement isn't worth arguing as there are many examples to its contrary. Primarily, all of the art discussed in any of these writings directly influences the curriculum at this very college (TCNJ), which consequently influences anyone involved with the program; basically releasing a group of students into society every year with the effects of these artists.  

http://youtube.com/watch?v=X402kBJv7mc&feature=related

futurism in the aughts: http://youtube.com/watch?v=1ioKLRa-yNk&feature=related

your responses & my office hrs

Hey all,
Fabulous to read your thoughtful responses to the time questions. Interesting that no one seems to lose track of time while making art (????!!)

BTW: My office hours are Tuesdays 12-3 and the best way to contact me is email

I'm culling some of your answers and posting below:

- I lose track of time when I am under the influence or focused on something. Time drags on when I am confined. constrained or unhappy. Waiting makes you notice time and so does anticipation. When I am, focused on something time does not exist. The distinctive factor in any instance is relative focus.

- When I listen to music I completely loose track of time.  I feel like I can just get lost in time itself and completely loose a sense of time.  Music keeps all my attention and away from whatever the clock time is.

- The last occasion where time seemed to drag on was when I was when I was waiting sitting through a movie a disliked. It seemed like it would never end.
The last time I felt like time went too quickly was when I was at my Aunt's house spending time with my family. Since I do not get to see them often I wanted to spend as much time as possible. I was enjoying myself so much that it felt like I had only spent a short while with them.

- I feel I am more comfortable with event time. My days usually consist of a structured schedule that includes class, meals times, track practice and time for homework. I feel i work better like this.

- A great example of when I lost complete track of time was the last time I was playing video games.

- Time dragged on impossibly long during a morning class. // Time went too quickly when I was getting ready in the morning to go the class. The difference is that before class, I had many things to do to get ready
and I had a deadline. During class, I had nothing to do but listen to a lecture. There was no sense of urgency on my part.

- I lost track of time walking in the woods by a riverside this winter.

-  Usually when I play sports is when I usually lose track of time. Not only do you lose track of the artificial time for the sport you're playing but the game itself also seems to take up more time than i think by the end.