Critical Writing Index

Funny Games: Stuart Comer Talks with John Smith

by Stuart Comer

Artforum, May 2011, v. 49, no. 9, pp. 250-257

An interview with British film and video-maker John Smith. Major topics of discussion include Smith's "deft use of strategic ambiguity and disorderly humor," his play with narrative structure, metaphoric readings of place, and challenge to documentary guarantees. Smith admits to a penchant for funny audiovisual incongruities and "bad puns." The interview touches briefly on Smith's expedient transition from film to video in the early 1990s, and on his approach to producing work for gallery exhibition.

ITEM 2011.083 – available for viewing in the Research Centre

Videos, Artworks and Artists Cited

The Girl Chewing GumJohn Smith

WavelengthMichael Snow

AssociationsJohn Smith

The Black TowerJohn Smith

Hotel DiariesJohn Smith

Home SuiteJohn Smith

Flag MountainJohn Smith

TrianglesJohn Smith