“Happenings in the New York Scene” Betsy Gooch LCC 6310

Who & What Allan Kaprow – an American painter, assemblagist, and pioneer in establishing concepts of performance arts Allan Kaprow – an American painter, assemblagist, and pioneer in establishing concepts of performance arts –First coined the term happening in the Spring of 1957 at an art picnic at George Segal’s farm to describe the art pieces that were going on

Who & What Happening - a performance, event or situation meant to be considered as art Happening - a performance, event or situation meant to be considered as art –take place anywhere –multi-disciplinary –often lack a narrative –frequently seek to involve the audience in some way –some elements of happenings are planned, but artists sometimes retain room for improvisation

According to the Article “Happenings are events that, put simply, happen” “Happenings are events that, put simply, happen” Unconventional theater pieces - not accepted by devotees of theater Unconventional theater pieces - not accepted by devotees of theater –Need to widen the concept "theater" to include them to understand them better Qualities that Distiniguish Happenings from Usual Theater Works Qualities that Distiniguish Happenings from Usual Theater Works 1.Context 2.Lack of plot and "philosophy" 3.Involvement in chance 4.Impermanence

The Context The place of conception and enactment The place of conception and enactment –“Habitat” - not only a space - a set of relationships to the various things around it, and a range of values, but an overall atmosphere as well, which penetrates it and whoever experiences it. –“This organic connection between art and its environment is so meaningful and necessary that removing one from the other results in abortion” No separation of audience and play No separation of audience and play –Invite us to cast aside proper manners and partake in the real nature of the art and life

Lack of Plot and “Philosophy" No written plot No written plot No obvious pre-determined meaning or message No obvious pre-determined meaning or message Improvisational Improvisational No absolute medium No absolute medium –May not have words, and even if they do, they may not make sense or mean what they usually mean (could be about the sound of them rather than the definition)

Involvement in Chance Chance - deliberately employed mode of operating that penetrates the whole composition and its character Chance - deliberately employed mode of operating that penetrates the whole composition and its character –the vehicle of the spontaneous Implies risk and fear Implies risk and fear –Concept of “good” art vs. “failure” –They run the risk of creating something outside what is considered “good” art If artists accept the idea of chance, then its methods needn't invariably cause their work to reduce to either chaos or a bland indifference, lacking in concreteness and intensity, as in a table of random numbers. If artists accept the idea of chance, then its methods needn't invariably cause their work to reduce to either chaos or a bland indifference, lacking in concreteness and intensity, as in a table of random numbers.

Impermanence Cannot be reproduced Cannot be reproduced –Not necessarily the same people participating in each performance –The work is over before habits can be begin to set in –The physical materials used to create the environment perishable Thus is fresh for better or worst Thus is fresh for better or worst

What is Art The are a moral act whose professional status as art is less a criterion than their certainty as an ultimate existential commitment The are a moral act whose professional status as art is less a criterion than their certainty as an ultimate existential commitment “Weakness of much vanguard art is the assumption that art exists and can be recognized and practiced” “Weakness of much vanguard art is the assumption that art exists and can be recognized and practiced” –Not so sure whether what we do now is art or something not quite art

Questioning the State of Success Unable to accept rewards for being artists, because it has been sensed deeply that to be one means to live and work in isolation and pride. Unable to accept rewards for being artists, because it has been sensed deeply that to be one means to live and work in isolation and pride. Once artists have been recognized they are “capitulated to the interests of good taste” Once artists have been recognized they are “capitulated to the interests of good taste” –They no longer produce art for themselves, but rather for audiences – creates a “stillborn art”

Melodrama The myth of success is a pseudo-problem of the artists' own making The myth of success is a pseudo-problem of the artists' own making –It is not the patrons' and the publicists' moral obligation to protect the artists' freedom –Doesn’t account for why our tastes change from fad/movement to fad/movement Much of the positive character of America can be understood by the word melodrama via archetypal personages Much of the positive character of America can be understood by the word melodrama via archetypal personages Referring more to the hard and silly melodrama of their lives and almost farcical social position Referring more to the hard and silly melodrama of their lives and almost farcical social position –Famous only after they die –Adventure is everything - the tangible goal is not important

Melodrama Today vanguard artists are: Today vanguard artists are: –Given their prizes very quickly instead of being left to their adventure –They are led to believe that this was the thing they wanted –Now they must die (at least spiritually) to keep the myth intact  Thus the creative aspect of their art ceases

Embracing Melodrama Happenings are the purest melodrama and embody the myth of nonsuccess Happenings are the purest melodrama and embody the myth of nonsuccess Happenings have emerged as an art that can function precisely as long as the mechanics of our present rush for cultural maturity continue Happenings have emerged as an art that can function precisely as long as the mechanics of our present rush for cultural maturity continue –They only exist as long as people are interested in them

Embracing the Melodrama Negative: Negative: –Some of artists will probably become famous it will probably destroy him or her Positive: Positive: –As the new myth grows on its own, the artist may achieve a beautiful privacy, famed for something purely imaginary while free to explore something nobody will notice