Critical Writing Index

Not Dead Yet: Celebration or Obituary?

by Karen Knights

Video Guide, Mar. 1985, v. 7, no. 2, pp. 8-9

Ruth Taylor and Edward Mowbray's documentary Not Dead Yet made its west coast premier in Vancouver on December 15,1984. It was screened at The Convertible Showroom, a co-presentation by The Convertible Showroom and Video Inn. In the documentary, the producers have allowed the subjects to speak for themselves with not much editing, the intention being not to represent the Toronto punk movement as they wish it to be, but only as it is. With reference to video art history the film and the video artist has been critcized for making an attempt to break into the television market especially with with a subject dealing with counter culture. Mowbray believes that it is the subversive act of infiltering the air waves of public TV which will give new life to Video Art. The writer Karen Knights feels that the documentary fails to break any new ground except in the most superficial sense.

ITEM 1985.102 – available for viewing in the Research Centre

Videos, Artworks and Artists Cited

Not Dead YetRuth Taylor

Edward Mowbray