Lecture 06 Performance
ARTH3120 Contemporary Art

Travis Lee Clark
Utah Valley University

In this lecture I blather on for a LONG time about Critical Theory, the Frankfurt School, and a little bit about C.S. Lewis, but trust me, it's worth it. We explain how performance artists became the New Shamans of the era. We talk about George Maciunas and his radical ideas and how he organized FLUXUS to "purge" the world and how Performance Art was a big part of that. We then do a review of the incredible game of one-upmanship that is Performance Art in 60s and 70s as people take greater and greater risks. Honestly, it's amazing some of these people lived. Along the way I explain how Acconci turned stalking into art, and I also explain the Yoko Ono rule and why Yoko really should be remembered instead of that other guy with the glasses who wrote those songs.

Below are links to some of the performances I talk about:

Joseph Beuy's "I like America and America Likes Me" more commonly just called "Coyote"
   • Video  

Yoko Ono's "Voice Piece for Soprano"    • VOICE PIECE FOR SOPRANO & WISH TREE a...  
and "Cut Piece"    • Video  

Abramovic's "Rhythm 0" (72 Objects)    • Marina Abramovic on performing 'Rhyth...  

And finally, Chris Burden's "Shoot"    • Video