"The World's Complicity: Nam June Paik's Whole Earth Politics" 

This talk aims to recast Korean-born artist, and video pioneer, Nam June Paik's (1932-2006) concept of "participatory art" as a world system central to both his theorization and invention of new media forms. Focusing on Paik's shift in the early 1960s from experimental composition, to the politics of communication, transmission, and televisuality in the increasingly networked culture of the 1970s, we'll examine his investigation of the utopian promise of satellite technology encircling the globe in collaborative projects with classically-trained cellist, Charlotte Moorman, including the opening of Documenta 6 (1977) and other "TV sculptures" they conceived and performed for decades. Paik’s belief in the humanizing power of technology is what grounds my talk, and as such, we'll take seriously his oft-cited dictum, “I use technology to properly hate it.” To Paik, the popular perception of television as only a mass commodity of entertainment, or as simply radio with pictures, was shortsighted-- we will track how he set out as an artist to both demystify and transform the medium as a whole earth politics. 

About the Speaker

Nicole L. Woods is a historian of modern and contemporary art, criticism, and cultural theory. Her research focuses on the Euro-American neo-avant-gardes, performance and conceptual art, intersectional feminism, critical theory, globalism and taste cultures, and the history of photography and time-based media.

About KaleidoLA

KaleidoLA is the Department of Art and Art History’s annual guest speaker series. For the past twelve years, KaleidoLA has been a vital connection between Loyola Marymount University and the Los Angeles arts community. For more information about the October event, contact Dr. Melody Rod-ari, Associate Professor and Chair of Art History, arthistorychair@lmu.edu.