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Australia

Anthea Behm
2010

This performance for video comprises the artist watching the Hollywood movie Australia (directed by Baz Luhrmann, 2008) and translating its cinematic form into spoken language. Made specifically for exhibition in both Australia (single channel version) and the United States (double channel featuring the moving image of the original), the set of linguistic rules adopted for the project involved using the pronouns we/they in order to explore the shifting parameters of cultural identity and personal identification. The labour intensive solo performance is a counteraction towards the Post-Fordist splitting off of production inherent in the contemporary Hollywood form, as well as a transformation of that which is culturally obtuse - yet requires large amounts of human and economic resources for its production - into a form of greater social use-value.

Duration
video
157 minutes
HD
Anthea Behm, Australia; documentation of set from performance, first/single channel, colour photograph, 2010, dimensions not set
Anthea Behm, Australia; documentation of set from performance, first/single channel, colour photograph, 2010, dimensions not set 
Anthea Behm, Australia; still from Australia, directed by Baz Luhrmann, 2008, at 55 minutes 38 seconds, second/double channel, 2010, custom blur for reproduction on internet, 2011, dimensions not set
Anthea Behm, Australia; still from Australia, directed by Baz Luhrmann, 2008, at 55 minutes 38 seconds, second/double channel, 2010, custom blur for reproduction on internet, 2011, dimensions not set