Reading Response VJ, Live Cinema, Live Audiovisual Performance —— Thea (Sang)

Compared with VJ and Live Cinema, Live Audiovisual Performance is a more generic and broader concept. It can be applied to a group of artistic performances that has common features. Not only VJ, Live Cinema, other performances such as expanded cinema, but visual music can also be regarded as the practice of the term Live audiovisual Performance (135). Basically, Live Audiovisual Performance is an artistic expression of live manipulated sound and image, defined as time-based, media-based and performative (131). It largely depends on technological and multiple installations to achieve “liveness”, “Realtime” and “interaction”.

As for VJ and Live Cinema, personally, both of them are the branches of the broader concept. But according to the article, Live Cinema seems to achieve a higher level than VJ. VJing always performs in the nightclub and more like a supplement to the overall atmosphere. VJing needs to achieve harmony and unity with other performers like DJs and lighting controllers and create a great atmosphere to entertain and lighten the audience. VJing presentation is treated more as wallpaper and people seldom emphasize the artistic value of VJing. Makela, who wrote “The Practice of Live Cinema” also implies that the threshold of DJ is relatively low and its artistic value is as high as Live Cinema.

Different from VJ which emphasizes the correspondence between hearing and vision, Live Cinema involves narrative and storytelling and “invite the audience to construct narrative and cultural critique” (89). At the same time, the Live Cinema is also deconstructed, exploded kind of filmmaking, which separated it from the traditional cinema. Whether from the aspects of the selection and organization of sources or the aspects of performing form, Live Cinema explores a deeper and wider territory of VJing and much bolder areas of cinema. I feel that Live Cinema is more like a complete and dependent performance with high aesthetic autonomy and vitality to touch audiences and interact with audiences. I appreciate its integrity. Not only the installation are the parts of Live Cinema, but the performer cannot be changed in order to maintain the aesthetic autonomy and impendence of the performance.

 
However, I still do not think there exists a natural hierarchy of value between VJ and Live Cinema. Both of them show the attitudes of artists and can deliver unique aesthetic values. Although Live Cinema is relatively complex and easy to show deeper thoughts, I believe the simple VJing presentation on the on hand, can also abundant, changeable and full of possibilities, even if it is only out of entertainment purpose; on the other hand, can also deliver great concepts or ideas by excellent artists.

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