Comments on: Day 11 | Vagner Whitehead

By: Kevin W

Kevin W — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 00:06:00 +0000

I think I liked this video better after having read the comments. Heather, thank you for helping me connect the dots with death and Detroit. I also enjoyed the text overprint on the video.

By: heather

heather — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 16:26:00 +0000

I believe that this work is understood on a different level when contemplating the area of Detroit and the issues of the artist, Whitehead, to be transplanted there. -opposed to viewing the pieces out of context- The series of videos are definitely a process of self-examination while in transition. The video, “Dead” especially strikes me and creates a mood as that is how I feel when driving through the old town that used to be so glorious. “Paradise” and “Dead” compliment each other well. However, the addition of all the videos in this series allow a lighter air and room for hope. There is an overall sadness to this work and that draws me nearer.

By: Amber

Amber — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 22:21:28 +0000

I enjoyed Vagner Whitehead’s use of text within his videos. The words he chooses are very simple yet they have a big impact on the video, not only in its concept but as a visual too. I felt the most connection to the video Dead. The visual and the sounds are very stimulus.

By: Elizabeth M Sant

Elizabeth M Sant — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 22:13:38 +0000

I thought “French” was particularly fun. To define one’s self in coordination with location, but not necessarily the location to one’s self is interesting. There is a story line in the film “Paris je’tem” that is about an American tourist in Paris where she is able to define and understand herself by taking a vacation in Paris.
I suppose that one way to understand yourself is to venture out into an unknown.

By: Adrienne Marks

Adrienne Marks — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 22:12:17 +0000

I know that “nadar” means to swim in French (and Spanish), but my first thought was the French portrait photographer Nadar. I’m not sure if that was intentional, but it works (especially with the minimal, black and white look of the video) since Nadar believed that minimal backgrounds allowed for the true “self” of the sitter to come through the portrait, which is what Whitehead is trying to get at in away.

By: Kevin G

Kevin G — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 22:09:33 +0000

the short clip “dead” impressed me because the use of the body along with the chaos of the sirens went together well to give the feel of death itself. When i personally see flashing lights on ambulances and police vehicles i think of trauma or problems. So with the sirens and the body i felt there was something bad happening. quality video

By: Nate Bell

Nate Bell — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 22:07:21 +0000

The cinematography was interesting, using different filters to express the different feelings. The french section’s idea was a good concept. I feel that part of the video skips when watching it. The process of learning to the statement was a key factor. The nadar clip was also a good concept. Nada to nothing then Nadar for swim. The feel I got from it was when the subject was curled up in a ball they felt as if nothing. Of course there was a good play on words.

By: jackie

jackie — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 22:06:49 +0000

my favorite video is “french”; it starts out very simple like a children’’s book. it seems very nice and silly at first, but when he says “i am not narrow, i am not straight, i am not Detroit” he is describing himself very well in very few words. He is acknowledging that he is not what is seen as mainstream beautiful, that he is not heterosexual and that he feel like he doesn’t belong in the place he lives, Detroit.