Cinema Frames, Videoscapes, and Cyberspace: Exploring Shu Lea Cheang's Fresh Kill
Cinema Frames, Videoscapes, and Cyberspace: Exploring Shu Lea Cheang's Fresh Kill, Fall 2001, v. 9, no. 2, pp. 401-422
Duke University Press, 2001
In this article, Gina Marchetti delves into Cheang's film Fresh Kill and analyzes it within social, political and digital frameworks. Referencing Donna Haraway's article A Manifesto for Cyborgs, Baudrillard's The Ectasy of Communication and Butler's book Bodies That Matter, the article forms a critical understanding in terms of the content of the film and discusses the film based on the the scholars's theoretical concepts and insights. Cheang's Fresh Kill challenges the viewer to become critically aware of connections that usually go unnoticed because they are buried by the speed and complexity of our contemporary global culture of ecstatic communication. Besides, the film comments on communication and attempts to teach the viewer new ways to perceive the world. Considering the narrative structure of the film, it's seen that Cheang employs the settings like Jean-Luc Godard's films and also makes close links with television, video art, performance and installation arts to create a postmodern effect. Overall, the film is about breaking in and challenging conventional understanding.
ITEM 2001.140 – available for viewing in the Research Centre
Videos, Artworks and Artists Cited
The Ecstasy of Communication – Jean Baudrillard
Fresh Kill – Shu Lea Cheang
Will Be Televised: Video Documents from Asia (1990) – Shu Lea Cheang
Brandon – Shu Lea Cheang
I.K.U. (2000) – Shu Lea Cheang
A Manifesto for Cyborgs: Science, Technology, and Socialist Feminism in the 1980s – Donna Haraway
Two or Three Things I Know about Her – Jean-Luc Godard
Weekend – Jean-Luc Godard’s
Numero Deux – Jean-Luc Godard’s
Cultural Dimensions of Globalization – Arjun Appadurai
The Wedding Banquet (1993) – Ang Lee
Fingers and Kisses – Shu Lea Cheang
Coming Home – Shu Lea Cheang
Transnational Documentaries: A Manifesto – John Hess and Patricia Zimmermann
Bodies That Matter – Judith Butler