Single Channel

On page 18 there is discussion on the different experiences in viewing video works. I thought it was interesting to hear the opinions of different artists on the different environments that house video works. One making the comment that the museum is the home for dedicated film thinkers with nowhere else to go. Then right after that the UK based Otokith group said how they preferred their work to be shown in galleries based on their content. I always found the museum space to be a space closest to that of a cinema. Often museums have screening areas (depending on the films) which are really just big black boxes that can house you and the work. I always proffered that viewing because I could be isolated from people and other works and allow my brain to concentrated only on the one work. With works that are shown more within a gallery setting I find are harder to watch from start to finish. Galleries, at least in my experience, are often very social places. And while that may be good to be able to watch the film while also being able to talk about it, I find it harder to watch the work in its entirety. That discussion is continued on page 19 where critic Dargis explains the effects of experiences films in a traditional format, such as the cinema. I think they do a good job in explaining the effects this time of environment has on the viewer, and the ways it allows the viewer to feel free enough and relaxed enough that they can pay their full attention to the screen. I thought that was also a really good point where it is stated how when viewing a work within a cinema like setting we are kind of forced to watch the whole thing in its entirety, as opposed to watching something within a gallery type space where we might just watch as much as we feel we need to in order to "get the point" of the work.

On page 21 a concept of "distracted viewing" is presented to us. This concept refers to the way we can experience works within a gallery setting,  and how that may be the mist appropriate way for our current distracted culture to absorb works. It seemed like it was being argued that getting just an idea of what the film is about holds a certain power in itself, and makes the work more conceptual? I was a bit confused by it but thats kinda what it read to me.