About a Theological Situation in the Society of theSpectacle

Masayuki Kawai: "About a Theological Situation in the Society of the
Spectacle" (Japan, 2001, 6'30", DV)

Presented by guest curator
Cristine Wang as part of the inaugural "Asian Contemporary Art Week" an
initiative of the Asian Contemporary Art Consortium, spearheaded by The
Asia Society & Museum. 3-6pm Directions: By Subway, Via # 7 Flushing
IRT, exit 111th Street Station. South on 111th Street to Park entrance
at 49th Avenue. Follow yellow signs to the Museum, which is located
next
to the Unisphere. A fifteen-minute walk. By Car, Via the Grand Central
Parkway, exit at Shea Stadium and follow signs to the Museum. Free
parking.
About the work: "About a Theological Situation in the Society of the
Spectacle" takes as its point of departure, the seminal work by the
French situationist theorist Guy Debord: "The Society of the
Spectacle",
which remains today one of the great theoretical works on modern-day
capital, cultural imperialism, and the role of mediation in social
relationships. The artist states: "I use Augustinus' theology "the
Trinity" as an analogy to analyze and critique the situation, and quote
images from the spectacle to adopt a form of exaggerated imitation of
mass media techniques such as quick cutting & text slogans." This is a
critique of the myths of "life" or "personality" in contemporary
Japanese pop culture.