The Machinist's Lament

The Machinist's Lament

2014
18m
8.0

8.0/10

1 votes

"In factories, everyone has their place."

Overview

"In factories, everyone has their place. Western industrial production is a site of magical thinking: an old history that will never return, an idealized construction that never really was. It's impossible to know what the true costs would be if it were to return - societal, environmental, and psychological – and yet, entire political campaigns are built around this. This piece speculates on re-industrialization, and is a sequel to my 2013 video, Safety First (Bad, Don’t Touch, Mercy!). Like its prequel, it posits a non-specific future populated by female factory workers. The geometric aesthetics of power and the romance of industrial-era alienation, are paired with theoretical and fictional texts about alternate social economies. Video footage was shot in Ohio, animation and soundtrack by the artist. Voiceover text sources include Industrial supply catalogs, OSHA safety manuals, Monique Wittig’s Les Guerilleres, and Adorno’s Minima Moralia." -Taken from Jen Liu's Vimeo page.

Status: Released

Language: EN

Production Information

Production Countries
United States of America
Spoken Languages
English

Quick Facts

Release Date December 31, 2014
Status Released
Language EN
Website Visit Site

Cast

Wang Si
Wang Si

CHOREOGRAPHER / MASK DANCER / TEST SUBJECT

Xu Mengchen
Xu Mengchen

Test Scientist

Joelle Lingat
Joelle Lingat

Test Chorus

Katherine Hamilton
Katherine Hamilton

Test Chorus

Key Crew

Jen Liu
Director