[quote]Pryings
16:16 1971
This extraordinary performance carries a wealth of associative meanings in the sexual dynamics of privacy and power—man and woman pitted against each other in a struggle for mental and physical control.
"In Pryings, one of his earliest and least verbal tapes, the artist is seen trying to force open and gain entry into any and all of the orifices of a woman's face. His persistence outlasts the running time of the tape, as does the persistence of the woman under attack, who manages to persevere in her attempt to guard her metaphysical privacy."
—David Ross, Studio International[/quote]
[quote]Theme Song
33:17 1973
In a vile and ingenious way, Acconci pleads with the camera/spectator to join with him, to come to him, promising to be honest and begging, "I need it, you need it, c'mon... look how easy it is." Acconci addresses the viewer as a sexual partner, acting as if no distance existed between them. The monitor becomes an agent of intimate address, presenting a disingenuous intimacy that is one-sided and pure fantasy, much like the popular love songs in the background that Acconci croons along with. "I'll be your baby, I'll be your baby tonight, yeah, yeah."[/quote]
[quote]Open Book
09:10 1974
Acconci's open mouth is framed by the camera in an extreme close-up, bringing the viewer uncomfortably close. A desperate sense of strained urgency comes across as Acconci gasps, "I'll accept you, I won't shut down, I won't shut you out... I'm open to you, I'm open to everything... This is not a trap, we can go inside, yes, come inside..." Acconci continues to plead in this way for the length of the tape, his mouth held unnaturally wide open. The pathological psychology of such enforced openness betrays a desperate struggle to accept and be accepted by others. The sustained image of Acconci's open mouth also evidences a sinister, vaguely threatening streak that is more or less evident in much of Acconci's work.[/quote]
These three works were recently "remade" by Paul McCarthy in his video Fresh Acconci,
which will be shared next week more or less (stay tuned).
THE LINKS:
Vito Acconci - Pryings - 1971.avi 
Vito Acconci - Theme Song - 1973.avi Vito Acconci - Open Book - 1974.avi 
