Critical Writing Index

Dark Ages: Le temps des indulgences

Rob Thompson: Dark Ages, 1996

Ottawa: The Ottawa Art Gallery, 1996

Rob Thompson: Dark Ages is the first solo exhibition of video artist Rob Thompson. His works, through the use of black humour, examine and raise questions concerning the social construct of "youth" in the pathological public sphere. He draws attention to the media's constructed, one-dimensional portrayal of youth violence and youth in crisis. He combines several elements from pop culture, "white trash" and post-modern irony to lay bare the artificiality and the social, legal and political manipulation of this "felt crisis." These complex works focus on the struggle for power and representation, the maintenance of social order and the retention of privilege.

ITEM 1996.049 – available for viewing in the Research Centre

Videos, Artworks and Artists Cited

Diary of a Neo-FacistRob Thompson

A Porno MortisRob Thompson

Spick and SpanRob Thompson

Heroin is Good for YouRob Thompson