Acconci's Video Art

Rush writes about the work of Acconci, focusing on one piece of video art in particular, where flirting with the audience is a key concept. Theme Song is 33 minutes of constant interaction and attention from Acconci to the undefined viewer. Acconci faces the viewer throughout and creates a comfortable environment, (a sofa can be distinguished behind him), aided by the music which he changes regularly. This intimacy can be too close however and borders on uncomfortable; his face is very close to the camera and on several occasions he wraps his body closer to the camera also so that even the ‘set’ behind is masked by his presence. The idea of flirting with the audience, inviting the audience to become lured into the piece and ultimately into Acconci, creates an intimacy and interaction which is crucial to video art. That the artist uses his body to flirt also, creates a physical element, another factor in claiming the piece as an example of video art.
The piece can be classed as time based, another defining factor of video art, in that there is no real narrative. Acconci uses different persuasion techniques which may be personal, accusatory or manipulative, but comes to no real conclusion in his narrative. He contradicts himself also, wanting pity from the viewer as he is lonely, but simultaneously reminding us that this type of tactic ‘won’t work’ and more importantly that we are in a different world: ‘I’m only kidding myself.. You’re not here’.
The piece is conceptual in that it intentionally engages the viewer in a personal event (Acconci constantly refers to ‘you’), of which we cannot directly participate. That Acconci implicates the innocent viewer makes the piece incredibly absorbing; whilst it is difficult to watch at times, it is more difficult not to watch. A further concept is thereby created that in the same way Acconci watches and implicates us, by our participation in watching, we directly invade upon Acconci, reinforcing the uncomfortable situation. Lines such as ‘You could be anybody out there’ take on a new, perverse meaning.