“Merce Cunningham and the Politics of Perception” Roger Copeland Presented by Liam Julian and Edited By: Laura Pratt and Dr. Kay Picart
Where did Pollock’s paintings get their inspiration? What are his paintings about? Lavender Mist Number 1, 1950
Pollock’s paintings were much like Martha Graham’s dance. How were they related?
Merce Cunningham Why did Cunningham leave Martha Graham? He sought out __________. They shared an objection to _________________________________.
What does Cunningham’s dance have to the outside world?
What does Cunningham hope to esacpe from? Is it possible to be detached?
“I force myself to contradict myself to avoid conforming to my own taste.” Uh oh, that is your own taste … wait, isn’t it? Is it really possible to consciously subvert desire, if the desire to subvert motivates the eventual subversion?
Why would one want to escape from emotion in art anyhow? Isn’t art supposed to be about embracing and communicating certain emotions and passions ?
Who’s to say that the subconscious is not molded by outer influences without the individual ever knowing it? Who’s to say that these “primal emotions” are not (gasp) social constructs?
Cunningham’s dance is an examination of what “feels” natural rather than a surrender to it. Who’s philosophy does he echo?