Origins of Video Art

I really enjoyed the article by John Hanhardt. It better explains the reasons for why video art started and the commercialization of the TV at that point. I thought that the corporation controlled TV signals was a more recent evolution, but it seems that it started earlier than I thought. I also realize how the works of Paik was a rejection of the elitist minimalism of earlier art movements and was trying to comment about how the device affects all of the public. Its also the ultimate example of the readymade.

I have been wanting to build a device now for a while that could interact with an incoming cable signal. It seems that Vostell may have beaten me to it though. I was going to create a commercial blocker, but after researching product placement, I would have to block everything. Maybe a box that blocks all content could be my piece.

I enjoyed global groove yesterday when I watched it. It had a great ability to suck me into it. I really felt this video was the reason that MTV could come into existence. I worry that this piece that was meant to break the rules of TV, was picked up later down the road and was the rule of TV at that point. Its problematic when work is hijacked by businesses and a concept turns into something 'cool'.