Performers changing the world
So here we have a video. One of the more common forms of performance, but this one is special. It’s a thing of beauty for many, many reasons, not the least because the song makes you tap your feet.
- It’s all done in one take. One take. No editing, no fancy CG or slow motion. This is close to a live performance, and can you imagine how hard it would be to do this live? How about live on TV? (They did, at the MTV music awards, and pulled it off without a hitch.)
- This is a popular MTV video–in the top 20 for a while now. Where are the silicone-chested models? Where is the bling? Where are the fancy cars and such? It restores my faith, at least, that the aesthetic spirit of humanity has not been damaged beyond repair.
- Treadmills. One camera. One very creative choreographer, and some guys who are not afraid to work on this again and again until they get it right. It’s proving the old adage–literally–that "if you can walk, you can dance."
This video took all the MTV and generational stereotypes and blew them out of the water. It changed the way producers, artists, and treadmill enthusiasts everywhere look at music videos. Prediction: gyms will start offering TreadDancerCise classes.
On the other side of the performing arts spectrum, a bit of political theatre was pulled on Disney recently. The notorious performance artist Banksy (what? You’ve not heard of him? Well, now you have) managed to smuggle a mannequin dressed like a Guantanamo Bay inmate onto a feature ride. Why? Well, who knows, but if the goal was to remind people that September 11 is more than just a memorial, that there are other things going on right now that perhaps deserve our attention. I don’t think Banksy has anything against Disney per se–just wanted to let people know that there are a few more things to think about than the mouse.
Do you think it was a good idea? Or just somebody spoiling others vacation?
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