Video

Pure Virtue

Tanya Mars

1985, 16:30 minutes, colour, English

TAPECODE 210.00

"My intention in making this tape is to investigate the broad topic of women and power. By conflating the historical image of Queen Elizabeth 1 with those of popular culture, I am able to illustrate how the relationship of women to power has not significantly changed since the 16th century. An aging Queen Elizabeth 1 talks to you about such things as virginity, love and deception. This fast moving, humorously provocative tape was adapted with the assistance of Colin Campbell from a performance of the same name which was first presented in the spring of 1984." -T.M.

Elisabeth 1ère parle à la caméra, sur le trône royal, dans la rue et dans la chambre à coucher: lieux publics ou privés. Vêtue d'un costume de théâtre, l'effigie élisabéthaine parle crûment et ironiquement d'un sujet intime, la virginité. Soliloque tiré du jargon féministe contemporain, entrecoupé de tirades du discours féminin traditionnel; théâtre vidéographique plutôt que vidéo-théâtre, Pure Virtue est une performance adaptée au medium. C'est à la fois la critique du théâtre traditionnel, celle d'une certaine parole féminine et un questionnement sur la fonction initiale du medium, l'enregistrement.

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Critical Writing

Theatrics have lead role in video art exhibit
by Liam Lacey. The Globe and Mail, 1998.
Tanya Mars
by Gordon B. Isnor. Butterbites, 1996.
5 Feminist Videotapes: Redefining the Female Subject
by Shonagh Adelman. C Magazine, Winter 1991, no. 28.
A Little Groening, a Little Allegory
by Randi Spires. The Toronto Star, Jan. 5, 1990.
Hot Tramp, I Love You So!: Rebel Girls: A Survey of Canadian...
by Christine Conley. Fuse, Fall 1989, v. 13, no. 1 & 2.
Three Sisters: In Her Trilogy of Performance Works, Tanya Mars...
by Elke Town and David Hlynsky. Canadian Art, Summer 1989, v. 6, no. 2.
Towards a Representation of Human: Only Human: Sex, Gender, and...
by Erika Sunderberg. Video Guide, 1988, v. 9, no. 4.
La vidéo via l'espace féminin
by Daniel Carrière. Le Devoir, Apr. 21, 1988.
Through Her Eyes
by Leila Marshy. Cinema Canada, Sept. 1987, no. 144.
Video In Drag: Trans-sexing the Feminine
by Dot Tuer. Parallelogramme, Feb. 1987, v. 12, no. 3.
Video Theatrics
by Daina Augaitis and Helga Pakasaar. Walter Phillips Gallery Exhibition Brochure, Aug. 4, 1987. Banff: Walter Phillips Gallery, 1987.
Video Theatrics
by Daina Augaitis and Helga Pakasaar. Video Theatrics, Aug. 4 Summer, 1987.
Cinémama '85: The New Unity Of Woman Kind
by Neil Wilson. Cinema Canada, Feb. 1986, no. 127.
The 1986 New Work Show
by Geoffery Shea. Cinema Canada, Nov. 1986.
Elizabethan Video
by Gary Kibbins. Fuse, May 1986, v. 9, no. 6.