*Statement/Synopsis/Description-BootyMeat

-Let us all keep in mind that my titles are always working titles until the day before the crit.
-Length is not an issue to me right now.
-Taking Heide's advice and being more honest.
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BootyMeat is a video work compiled of appropriated footage,in which, women have recorded themselves dancing in front of a digital camera to the song of their choice. The vantage point of the shot is usually lower than eye level, from the rear and focusing on the neck to mid-thigh area of the body, including only the "important parts". Typically created in their own home, the women shoot and distribute the footage themselves via YouTube. In the original footage, she is the sole camera(wo)man, editor, producer, distributor, choreographer, makeup artist and wardrobe specialist.

The choice to appropriate footage comes as a result of my own fetishization of this type of video phenomenon. Issues regarding the validation of the self through others with like obsessions immediately surface as a personal motive for the collection of footage. The actions of the self are rationalized by viewing the actions of others. The personal mind set of myself as a maker and observer is an integral part of the creation of the piece.

Once the videos were collected and compiled, I contemplated the performers individual motives for creating their clip. Because of the mass amount of "booty" videos in circulation, the background of the performers, age, race, and social/economic class, it is impossible to settle on a collective motive for action and performance. Deciding on a motive was never an intended goal. It was immediately noted that the motives of the performers in relation to one another are all different, conflicting, and contradictory, much like my own motives for action. There is a piece of myself in each clip and a piece of each clip in myself. Is she doing it for attention? Is she in love with her own image? Is she insecure? Is she an exhibitionist? Is she dancing because she is empowered by it? Is she ashamed of it? Does she do this because she loves it and cant get enough? Does she do this because she hates it, but cant stop? The answer is yes.

The emphasis on the start/stop portion of the videos displays another layer: the characterization of the performer. The footage presented is not the intended performance, but rather, a glimpse into the moment right before and right after the performance. For those few frames, the viewer gets as close as they will ever get to the real woman choosing to put herself on display. Not much can be taken from those few seconds, since the performance began as soon as the decision was made to hit Record. However, those few seconds do suggest the existence of a real girl, outside of the act.