Vito Acconci - Undertone 1972 (extract)

In this now infamous tape, exemplary of his early transgressive performance style, Acconci sits and relates a masturbatory fantasy about a girl rubbing his legs under the table. Carrying on a rambling dialogue that shifts back and forth between the camera/spectator and himself, Acconci sexualizes the implicit contract between performer and viewer - the viewer serving as a voyeur who makes the performance possible by watching and completing the scene, believing the fantasy.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Vito
• Acconci
• Undertone
• 1972
• Art

[friendlier]

The sound of traffic that pervades many of his tapes adds another layer to the public/secret aspect of his work.

[TheMessianicManic]

I LOVE Vito and his crazy, creepy shit.

[stefanienava]

I'm related to this creepster. He's my cousin. What a wack job.

[foobird58]

Applications

Vito Acconci 1)1970, 19:32 min, color, silent, Super 8mm film on video

A woman kisses Acconci's body, covering him in red lipstick traces. Acconci then rubs his body against another man (Dennis Oppenheim), transferring the stains onto him.

2) the artist's bare belly with a medium size cockroach just beneath his finger, crushing many into belly again and again

[terrorbytepresents]

So many art 'experts' out there. NOT! Rock on Vito!

[emmlio]

tienes que estar igual de trastornado que él.. to like this.

[demelumeestermad]

its so fucked how when people dont understand the underlying themes of performance art they call it pretentious. His angle was voyeurism and psychological content of space you silly, silly, cunts

[TheGiuliaRoma]

@slugmomighty Don't worry... I don't even think that this can be called "Art".

[TheGiuliaRoma]

Terrible. Like all his works.

[slugmomighty]

What the fuck is this pretentious bullshit? How do people actually appreciate this as a form of art?

[7redslipper]

brilliant