Video

Astroturf

Michael Balser

1987, 25:00 minutes, colour, English

TAPECODE 222.04

Astroturf is comprised of four short tapes, each of which uses science as metaphor for the discussion of a variety of contemporary issues - i.e.: censorship, relationships, electronic evangelism, television broadcasting, environmental issues. Each uses a different visual style. In "Homework" actors perform the roles of Galileo and Copernicus in the style of historical drama. "The Thing" aliens discuss interstellar communication and television, addressing the camera in a childlike fashion. In "Binary Systems" a relationship is analyzed in terms of metaphor. In "Singularity" a Girl Guide creates a map of the universe and sings evangelical songs which summarize the information in the overall tape.

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Critical Writing

Sometimes Video Art Might Resemble Television
by Andrew James Paterson. Lola, Spring 2000, no. 6.
Another World
by Colin Campbell. Fuse, Fall 1987, v. 11, no. 3.