The Machinist's Lament (2014)
In factories, everyone has their place.
"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.
Cast
- Wang Si - CHOREOGRAPHER / MASK DANCER / TEST SUBJECT
- Xu Mengchen - Test Scientist
- Joelle Lingat - Test Chorus
- Katherine Hamilton - Test Chorus
Keywords
feminist, industrial
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is The Machinist's Lament about?
- "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.
- Who directed The Machinist's Lament?
- The Machinist's Lament was directed by Jen Liu.
- Who stars in The Machinist's Lament?
- The Machinist's Lament stars Wang Si, Xu Mengchen, Joelle Lingat, Katherine Hamilton.
- How long is The Machinist's Lament?
- The Machinist's Lament has a runtime of 18m (18 minutes).
- Where was The Machinist's Lament produced?
- The Machinist's Lament was produced in United States of America.