Touch : sensuous theory and multisensory media

In Touch, Laura U. Marks develops a critical approach more tactile than visual, an intensely physical and sensuous engagement with works of media art that enriches our understanding and experience of these works and of art itself. These critical, theoretical, and personal essays serve as a guide to developments in nonmainstream media art during the past ten years-sexual representation debates, documentary ethics, the shift from analog to digital media, a new social obsession with smell. Marks takes up well-known artists like experimental filmmaker Ken Jacobs and mysterious animators the Brothers Quay, and introduces groundbreaking, lesser-known film, video, and digital artists. From this emerges a materialist theory-an embodied, erotic relationship to art and to the world. Marks's approach leads to an appreciation of the works' mortal bodies: film's volatile emulsion, video's fragile magnetic base, crash-prone Net art; it also offers a productive alternative to the popular understanding of digital media as "virtual" and immaterial. Weaving a continuous fabric from philosophy, fiction, science, dreams, and intimate experience, Touch opens a new world of art media to readers. Laura U. Marks, associate professor of film studies at Carleton University, Ottawa, is a critic and curator of artists' independent media. She is the author of The Skin of the Film (2000). "Proposes a revolutionary approach to the interpretation of art, film, and the digital. In Touch, Laura U. Marks develops a critical approach more tactile than visual, an intensely physical and sensuous engagement with works of media art that enriches our understanding and experience of these works and of art itself. These critical, theoretical, and personal essays serve as a guide to developments in nonmainstream media art during the past ten years-sexual representation debates, documentary ethics, the shift from analog to digital media, a new social obsession with smell. Marks takes up well-known artists like experimental filmmaker Ken Jacobs and mysterious animators the Brothers Quay, and introduces groundbreaking, lesser-known film, video, and digital artists. From this emerges a materialist theory-an embodied, erotic relationship to art and to the world. Marks's approach leads to an appreciation of the works' mortal bodies: film's volatile emulsion, video's fragile magnetic base, crash-prone Net art; it also offers a productive alternative to the popular understanding of digital media as "virtual" and immaterial. Weaving a continuous fabric from philosophy, fiction, science, dreams, and intimate experience, Touch opens a new world of art media to readers."--Publisher's website In Touch, Laura U. Marks Develops A Critical Approach More Tactile Than Visual, An Intensely Physical And Sensuous Engagement With Works Of Media Art That Enriches Our Understanding And Experience Of These Works And Of Art Itself. These Critical, Theoretical, And Personal Essays Serve As A Guide To Developments In Nonmainstream Media Art During The Past Ten Years -- Sexual Representation Debates, Documentary Ethics, The Shift From Analog To Digital Media, A New Social Obsession With Smell. Marks Takes Up Well-known Artists Like Experimental Filmmaker Ken Jacobs And Mysterious Animators The Brothers Quay, And Introduces Groundbreaking, Lesser-known Film, Video, And Digital Artists. From This Emerges A Materialist Theory -- An Embodied, Erotic Relationship To Art And To The World. Marks's Approach Leads To An Appreciation Of The Works' Mortal Bodies: Film's Volatile Emulsion, Video's Fragile Magnetic Base, Crash-prone Net Art; It Also Offers A Productive Alternative To The Popular Understanding Of Digital Media As Virtual And Immaterial. Weaving A Continuous Fabric From Philosophy, Fiction, Science, Dreams, And Intimate Experience, Touch Opens A New World Of Art Media To Readers. Contents......Page 6 Acknowledgments......Page 8 Introduction......Page 10 1. Video Haptics and Erotics......Page 24 I. The Haptic Subject......Page 44 2. Animal Appetites, Animal Identifications......Page 46 3. "I Am Very Frightened by the Things I Film"......Page 64 II. Haptics and Erotics......Page 78 4. Here's Gazing at You......Page 80 5. Love the One You're With: Straight Women, Gay Porn, and the Scene of Erotic Looking......Page 96 6. Loving a Disappearing Image......Page 114 III. Olfactory Haptics......Page 134 7. The Logic of Smell......Page 136 8. Institute Benjamenta: An Olfactory View......Page 150 9. J's Smell Movie: A Shot List......Page 164 IV. Haptics and Electronics......Page 168 10. Video's Body, Analog and Digital......Page 170 11. How Electrons Remember......Page 184 12. Immanence Online......Page 200 13. Ten Years of Dreams about Art......Page 216 Notes......Page 240 Filmography and Videography (with Distributor Information)......Page 264 Publication Information......Page 270 A......Page 272 C......Page 273 E......Page 274 F......Page 275 I......Page 276 M......Page 277 P......Page 278 R......Page 279 S......Page 280 V......Page 281 Z......Page 282 Contents 6 Acknowledgments 8 Introduction 10 1. Video Haptics and Erotics 24 I. The Haptic Subject 44 2. Animal Appetites, Animal Identifications 46 3. "I Am Very Frightened by the Things I Film" 64 II. Haptics and Erotics 78 4. Here's Gazing at You 80 5. Love the One You're With: Straight Women, Gay Porn, and the Scene of Erotic Looking 96 6. Loving a Disappearing Image 114 III. Olfactory Haptics 134 7. The Logic of Smell 136 8. Institute Benjamenta: An Olfactory View 150 9. J's Smell Movie: A Shot List 164 IV. Haptics and Electronics 168 10. Video's Body, Analog and Digital 170 11. How Electrons Remember 184 12. Immanence Online 200 13. Ten Years of Dreams about Art 216 Notes 240 Filmography and Videography (with Distributor Information) 264 Publication Information 270 Index 272 A 272 B 273 C 273 D 274 E 274 F 275 G 276 H 276 I 276 J 277 K 277 L 277 M 277 N 278 O 278 P 278 Q 279 R 279 S 280 T 281 U 281 V 281 W 282 X 282 Y 282 Z 282