Critical Writing Index

"In These Times of Diminishing Visual Returns ...:"

by Karen Henry

Video Guide, Mar. 1989, v. 10, no. 1, pp. 3 & 18

Karen Henry reviews the collaborative, erotic works of video artists Michael Morris and Vincent Trasov. Henry describes the artists as "unabashed sensualists, searching for a glimpse of a steamy chest, the arch of an underarm, the hollow of the knee, isolating erogenous zones and visually caressing them." The six pieces examined in this article are "classic video" in that they are candid, accessible, real images rooted in performance. Using Laura Mulvey's analysis of cinematic voyeurism as a guide, Henry critiques the woks for their clichés, representations of women, objectification, and eroticism.

ITEM 1989.120 – available for viewing in the Research Centre

Videos, Artworks and Artists Cited

Das Videoschen – Michael Morris

Das Videoschen – Vincent Trasov

Video Narcissus – Michael Morris

Video Narcissus – Vincent Trasov

Video Wansee – Michael Morris

Video Wansee – Vincent Trasov

Female Feet

Female Feet – Michael Morris

Standchen – Vincent Trasov

Standchen – Michael Morris

Female Voices – Vincent Trasov

Female Voices – Michael Morris

Vincent Trasov