CTRL - Z Tracking ideas and images of the state

This project examines the narratives and assumptions that people currently have of the state. The project actively integrates puppets, screens and users to gather diverse state related narratives. The project consists of two levels. One level refers to the gathering of narratives regarding the state through a puppet theater booth, where an interactive DVD will guide the users, who will share their experiences through the animation of puppets. These performances will be recorded by a video camera. The other level corresponds to the screenings of the various videos collected during the first phase of the project. The overall purpose is to reflect on the state, as an effort to describe how people perceive and interact with it, and a the same time constitute a space where people’s experiences and conceptions are shared. Key words: state, puppets, anonymity, ubiquity, ebodiment Statement

KeY concepts Ubiquity Anonymity Embodiment The state Understood as a cultural artifact, that is culturally constituted through everyday practices and representations (Gupta and Sharma, 11). The puppet as a mask, a body that grants freedom of expression to the user. “People relate easier with puppets” “presence everywhere or in many places especially simultaneously”

Related works La Juventud Titiritera (JUTI) A collective of Colombian young puppeteers, interested in puppet improvisation and in the exploration of new kind of interactions between puppets and spectators. Stuffed and Unstrung A puppet improvisation show by The Henson Alternative, the division of The Henson Corporation in charge of producing content specifically for adult audiences. This show uses puppets and screens to create a double show: the show of the puppeteers animating on stage and of the puppets on the screen. The Good Life/La Buena Vida Project by Carlos Motta, composed of video interviews with pedestrians on the streets of twelve cities in Latin American, around democracy and the United States government intervention in Latin America. The results of this project are displayed through a website, an installation, texts and articles.

Stuffed and Unstrung

Production -Design and construction of the booth / green screen -Selection and construction of the puppets -360  pan recordings -Site(s) of booth installation -Scripts for the video interface (DVD) Required elements: -Green Screen -Camera -Microphone -Screen -DVD / remote

DVD interface 1. Introduction and instructions -The first clip will introduce the topic of the state and will give basic instructions to the user on how to use the booth and its elements such as the booth, the camera and the puppets. -The user will choose from available 360  pans, previously recorded as backgrounds. -An initial question would be ask: country of origin and residence -This clip would be followed by a free and improvised puppet performance, that would also be recorded. The following clips (2-4) will introduce and formulate each one of the following questions. What and who is the state? How the state is made visible? What are the images of the state you have? What stories you recall having with the state? The DVD will consist of 4 clips:

Exhibition -Selection of screening locations -In case there are major concerns/difficulties to use public spaces, other kind of interior spaces can be considered (libraries, museums, institutions) -Ideally the booth will be available to gather new recordings, as well as a puppet dominated environment -All the final videos would be uploaded to a webpage for future reference and consultation

Thank you…