ojoj
it’s SAMSHOW
“It’s SAMSHOW” would be a polymorphic web show created and marketed entirely by me. While the content presented will be plenty subversive the show’s primary goal is to be entertaining. Episodes will be short form (2-5 minutes) and will vary both in structure and execution. I will also make a website and participate in all that social network nonsense.
Before leaving the country for Japan I spent three months trapped in the Basement of my mom’s house. While there I attempted to do two things: maintain a blog and grow a beard. The process of keeping up a blog was intriguing to me – with no outside motivation what kind of work would I produce? The beard was also intriguing but mostly took care of itself.
As part of my blog I made a few videos. These videos allowed me to act out on all the things I love – awkwardness, peculiarity, and comedy. Without the pressure of art school I created something that managed to be subversive without being overtly message driven and funny without being desperate.
“it’s SAMSHOW” episode concepts:
INTERVIEWS WITH STRANGERS
I will put out fliers on the street (plus craigslistings etc.) asking for anyone with an interesting story to be filmed and interviewed. I will make them uncomfortable.
SAM TEACHES YOU THINGS
Want to know how to do things? Too bad ‘cause I’m gonna tell you how anyway! Viewers send questions asking me how to do things and I make up an answer.
SAM LOVES YOU
If you paypal me $20 and give me a picture of you I’ll make a video talking about all things I love about you. Seriously.
“it’s SAMSHOW” is the natural evolution of the work I began in the spring – with the added motivation of a deadline. It taps most obviously into the humorous and performative aspects of my previous works. It will also work as a confrontation with the concept of “the expert” online. I – a man with no expertise on anything – will be presenting myself as an expert on everything. Fun follows.
Implementation will consist of performing and filming sketches – as well as the creation of a website / facebook page / twitter account/ etc. . Little to no material will be written however there will be themes. As the concept evolves a camera crew may be required however I intend to begin primarily in the green screen room.
Since this carries off of work I have already been doing my primary challenge will be in recording and editing this video on a weekly basis. I have a basic understanding of recording and editing techniques however I still have a lot to learn.
M(AXE)
data viz + alternate realities
data viz stuff can be pretty labor intensive - enough for me to be too intimidated to try it
but if you’re willing to learn all that programming craziness than god bless ‘ye!
don’t feel like you have to do something culturally subversive or force yourself to make a social statement
I feel like the beauty of data visualization is that the user can come to his own conclusions
vague enough, non?
alternate realities are awesome - like DnD for the modern age. the toughest part, I think, is convincing people to actually participate.
good luck!
ALEX
Disco boxing looks awesome.
Seems like you’re in a position for something to “come to you.” I think as long as you keep an open mind and keep well aware of the skills you have you’ll come up with something compelling.
I’m interested in the use of base electronics to stimulate an emotional response. You don’t generally think of a lightbulb as being tender - but why not? We all have fond childhood memories of them. They produce warmth.
Ben
Psychadelia, 60-70s game shows
psychadelia as institution?
fun.
Side note: Carsten Holler looks awesome.
Link to childhood via psychadelia / psychadelic imagery.
I feel like adults are always looking for a reason to act like children: drugs, booze, cults or what have you. It might be interesting to bring these things back around - find a link between childrens’ things and adult’s childrens’ things.
Psychadelic toy truck heroin playset.
or something like that
oh also here are some TV shows I watched in Japan - I’m not sure of the names
Chelsea
Fascinating: the combination of technology and nature.
Where is the intersection of nature and technology? Is there one? Should there be one?
I think if you can figure out where you stand in the mashup of nature and tech you’ll know what to do.
Do you want to create a program to inspire people to explore the outside world or an outright replacement for that world?
If you really want to meet people half way I think your challenge will be giving both parts equal importance. I can think of ways that nature could impact a website but I’m excited to think of the ways a website could impact nature.
