Subversive Play

Date of Award

2010

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Humanities

First Advisor

Anderson, Kim

Keywords

Interactive Art, Queer Theory, Power Play

Area of Concentration

Art

Abstract

This thesis is composed of four different groups of artwork that are divergent from one another, yet reflect on a similar inquiry; how can a limited agency be mediated by strategic play? In this thesis the term agency refers to the ability to possess reflexivity or the capacity to recognize forces of socialization. In my artwork I hope to use play as a way to invoke agency and also to question forms of power relations. Through play among participants I hoped to create a connection between interpersonal power relationships and larger systems of structural power. I attempted to do this through several projects, each of a different media: installation, drawings as well as video. The initial project began with the intent of calling attention to unobserved physical spaces, and developed into a commentary on power dynamics between hidden and observed. In this piece I transformed the child�s game of hide and seek into a subversive commentary on power, visibility, and control. Investigations into the experience of control and interpersonal systems of power are examined in relationship to the art of Chris Burden and Vito Acconci. Similarly, a series of interactive performances further investigated power and control in participatory social games where rules and goals were implied through the object props. In a series of drawings titled Space Ship Wishlist I explored themes of escape and futility manifested through imaginary vehicles. Video projects investigated escapism as an outlet used to mediate positions of social limitation. Although these groupings of work are divergent both in their media and conceptualization they all comment on individuals' places in systems of power and the subversive potential of play.

Rights

This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law.

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