Grad Topics: Talent Show

"Talent Show" is co-taught by Sharon Lockhart
(Photo and Media) and Ariel Osterweis (Dance).
This is a course in practice and theory, and
explores topics such as amateurism, aspiration,
and adolescence. Working through questions of
format (stage, television), function (in schools
and community centers), audience and judgement,
documentation (photography, TV, film), geography,
and culture, students will collaboratively explore
their own latent or shrouded talents that lie
beyond their métier training and expertise as well
as visit with (or study) artists working through
these ideas. Artists include: Mike Kelley, Marnie
Weber, Jim Shaw, Phil Collins, Chuck Barris, Jack
Smith, Edgar Arceneaux, and more. With an eye
toward U.S. and global entertainment, this course
will interrogate the troubling relationship
between freak shows, circus, talent shows, and
reality TV. Fieldwork and research will be
conducted in multiple formats. In addition to
generating and documenting performance exercises,
students will have the opportunity to write in
several modes. This year, the semester culminates
with Talent Show at REDCAT theater! This course is
open to the Institute (with permission of
instructors), including selected BFAs, and all
interested MFA, MA, and BFA students must obtain
permission of the instructors.